Phoenix Temple

I've never lived in an area where there was opposition to a temple being built. The temple in Idaho Falls was built in the early 1900's, and all the temples in Utah had been there a while, up until the last few were built. There is a temple being built in North Phoenix, not too far from Matt's school. We are excited to have the temple built so close to us, and look forward to the opportunity to go there. Here is a news story about the temple that was posted online. It's funny to me to see how people are opposed to such a wonderful building. Some of the things they have problems with is the traffic that the temple will bring and the lights on the temple. When I see or hear people on the news complaining about the lights on the temple, I can't help to wonder if the think the temple is going to look like a Las Vegas attraction with all the flashy lights. Have they not ever seen a temple?

City council OKs addition to Phoenix LDS temple

A Phoenix City Council zoning meeting has determined the fate of a controversial Valley Mormon Temple.
The Council voted unanimously Wednesday to allow the LDS church to add 10 feet of height to its proposed temple, to be built near 51st Avenue and Pinnacle Peak Rd, adjacent to the church's current building.
The building will stand 40 feet high, despite typical residential zoning laws preventing buildings from exceeding 30 feet in height.
"Being legally allowed to do something doesn't mean you're being respectful to the neighborhood," said Scott Anderson, who spoke on behalf of neighborhood protesters after the vote Wednesday night.
Anderson said a group of neighbors will not give up their fight to get the issue to voters.
According to city leaders, a group must gather 9,798 legitimate petition signatures from registered Phoenix voters within thirty days in order to push the issue towards the ballot.
Supporters, meanwhile, say they are anxious to move forward with their plans.
"We're going to make every effort to make peace with the neighbors," said Paul Gilbert, an attorney representing the temple supporters.
Gilbert said the temple supporters have already made several concessions regarding the proposed addition, including agreeing to turn the lights off at 10 p.m. and changing the color of the exterior paint they had intended.
Residents living nearby have expressed concerns about the proposed 126-foot high steeple which they say will obstruct their mountain views.
On Sunday, November 22, dozens of protesters picketed services at the north Phoenix LDS church.
Thirty people lined the north Phoenix intersection, letting passing drivers know of their opposition to the church building a temple.
"We respect their right to worship, this isn't about religion," said Anderson. "What it's about is a building that's incompatible with the neighborhood."
Neighbors like Don Egigian have also expressed frustrations with the proposal.
"Their impact as far as making our neighborhood better is zero," Egigian said.
Neighbors say, for one, the temple will bring in additional traffic which they claim the roads in the area can't handle.
"Anytime you put a high intensity, large project next to low intensity homes, it creates problems," Anderson said.
Most residents take issue with the temple's height; proposed plans have it at 40 feet with a 78 foot spire with a light on top.
"Lighting is a huge issue, it'll be lit until 11 o'clock at night," Egigian said.
Many neighbors say a building of that height doesn't belong in a residential community. There is also concern the light at the top of the steeple could be distracting.