Some US states resist the Mormon building boom

SOME US parts are resisting the historic building boom of big, bright temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon faith.

In Las Vegas, homeowners in a rural foothills neighborhood complain the size and lighting of a temple that won city approval will forever change the environment. Some feel trampled, believing church and city officials rushed to approve the project. "… It soured people's taste to see how they steamrolled the neighborhood," said homeowner Matthew DeLoe.

Most temples the faith built have been well received, but the Las Vegas fight mirrors objections over construction plans in Texas, Wyoming and the religion's home state of Utah. Officials insist they consult with locals and carefully design temples for each environment. The battles are forcing the church to explain to non-members why the lavish temples are so vital to their beliefs.

A construction fence secures the site where The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints plans to build a new temple near Las Vegas, Sept. 27, 2024. PHOTO BY TY ONEIL/AP

Church spokesmen say the temples draw their faithful closer to God, and they are places for sacred ceremonies, such as weddings sealing couples for eternity and baptisms bringing deceased family members into the fold. Temples are separate from the church's 20,000 worldwide meetinghouses, which welcome everyone and gather members for Sunday services. They allow only devout members who follow church rules inside.

Thousands of supporters and opponents packed planning meetings for months before the Las Vegas City Council unanimously approved a three-story temple in July. Larger than the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, its golden steeple will soar nearly 200 feet.

Some who want to sue to stop the project insist their concerns have nothing to do with the faith's religious teachings, which include eternal families, tight-knit congregations, and bans on alcohol, coffee, gambling and same-sex relationships. Sue Kristensen of the Nevada Rural Preservation Alliance says the problem is the building's size: «It's blocking everyone's views of beautiful Lone Mountain. Monstrosity is the best word that I can think of.»

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