The Bukowski Family

Why a temple is just a bad idea.

So. There is this cute Mormon church down the road from my mom’s house. Next to that Mormon church is some vacant land. For the past few months, the battle in the neighborhood has raged on about whether or not that parcel of land should be the future home of the Phoenix Mormon Temple. On December 2nd, they are one step closer to getting their wish for a temple. Even with the opposition of the neighborhood, who feel the 12 story temple with its 78 additional feet of a Spire that will be lit up until 11:00pm conflicts with the neighborhoods ”dark night ordinance” and single story home majority neighborhood, the city council unanimously agreed for re-zonement of the area. In a neighborhood that has existed for 40+ years that have voted for no street lights, no sidewalks because it encroaches on the neighborhood’s “mountainous” feel- the city showed little consideration for the neighbors. Except to say that the temple cannot be white. It has to be some “Pinnacle Peak Mortar” color.

Now don’t get me wrong. I am NOT against the Mormon’s having a temple. I am not even against Mormon’s, period. Every person has the right to practice whatever faith, religion, etc they want. What I am against is a temple, who the Mormon’s say will benefit the community when the majority of that community cannot even go in to the temple and a temple where a BEAUTIFUL church already exists. If you have ever been to the Mesa Mormon Temple (and I have) it is not located directly in the heart of a neighborhood on a two lane road. What will this do to traffic? Oh sure, the LDS provided it’s own traffic study. What happened to third party surveyors? The city council didn’t want to hear it.

I am not a “bible-thumping Christian” as they say. I haven’t attended church in some time. Yet,  I don’t think that’s what God is concerned about. I don’t think he needs a 12 story building with a spire brightly lit proclaiming his glory. In fact, I think he cares more about our daily lives and how we live those lives. Just because you may go to a run down, 1 room church building, does that make you any less important in the eyes of God than the person who attends a church that’s 12 stories? I really don’t think it does.

It’s sad to think that the people who were voted into their offices by the neighbors of that community show absolutely no concern for the wishes of those citizens. “A church can basically be built anywhere” they say.  If that’s the case, why waste the time with having zoning laws? I have to wonder though, if the same council would have approved a 12 story Southern Baptist Church or an Assembly of God Church? I can’t know for sure, but I’d like to think I have an idea.

In time, the temple will be built and we’ll see how it benefits or hurts the neighborhood.  I hope those who will benefit from this temple realize what a wonderful thing they have been granted and I also hope that they know- it’s not the size of your building but the belief in the Father that will ultimately matter.