I’m angrier than a resident who likes things nice and quiet over this next story that continues to develop in Las Vegas. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the “Mormon” church, is seeking to build its second Vegas temple. Full disclosure: I am a former member of the church.
Last month, I discussed the church’s plans and things are starting to turn in the church’s favor, despite numerous residents coming out and telling the church that it and its perverted practices are not welcome in their neighborhood.
Despite objections from residents, the city’s planning commissioners, with a 6-0 vote, approved the church’s plans to build a temple and meetinghouse near Lone Mountain. The plans will move forward depending on what the City Council decides.
This isn’t the end, however, as the residents have vowed to continue to fight the disruptive church’s arrogant plans. It’s bad enough that the city approved one temple, but the area does not need a second temple, especially given that such a building would drag down the quality of life in the neighborhood.
I, for one, hope the residents win the fight. They’ve worked tirelessly to develop their quiet community and no church should be allowed to disrupt their lifestyle.
A Mormon temple will always bring lots of traffic, especially on Saturdays and Sundays. But temples are also open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, so there would be a serious disturbance in the force every day except Mondays.
The fact that there would be a temple and meetinghouse would mean that a lot of activity would be going on during the week from the early morning hours until late at night. Las Vegas’ residents deserve better than that!
Having been involved with the church for over thirty years, I know firsthand how most Mormons, myself excluded, don’t know how to read the room. They don’t know when they’re not welcome and they keep pushing on and on, even when they’re told that they’re not welcome. So it is in this case.
The church should simply walk away, knowing that they’re not welcome in this community. But they won’t. They’ll keep on going no matter who they hurt. It’s what most Mormons do.
It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out. The church’s victory is not set in stone. There are still ways that the church could be stopped dead in its tracks. I hope that the community prevails, in court if necessary.