I submitted this to the Dallas Morning News a little while ago. It was not selected for publication, so I thought I would at least share it on my personal blog.
During my most recent work trip to DFW on August 6, I learned on late local news of the then-in-progress Fairview Town Council meeting debating the proposed temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a former resident of Collin County and as a lifelong member of the Church, my interest was piqued enough to tune in online to see some of the marathon town council session.
I express appreciation to the Fairview town council for allowing a platform for all to share their views, even though this caused the proceedings to go late into the night. I was pleased that with few exceptions, the discourse I heard was civil and respectful. In today’s polarized society, it was a testament to the ability of people to share their passionate views and express disagreement without shouting and demonizing the “other side.”
To a degree, I understand the views of those residents of Fairview who have concerns with the possibility of a large lighted structure going up near their homes. My Church teaches us to be good neighbors, even to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ to love our neighbors. Part of that, I think, is to really listen to my neighbors and to try to put myself in their shoes. Over the last few days I have been going through the thought exercise of how I would feel if an organization sought to build a large lighted structure in close proximity to my home. When I do this, I think I can see to some degree where the residents of Fairview are coming from in voicing opposition to the proposed plans for the temple. Those viewpoints are reasonable.
That being said, because the town council and others expressed that the Church could build a smaller temple, I do want to share my perspective of the meaning behind the size and prominence of temples of the Church. While our regular chapels are sacred spaces, those buildings are much more utilitarian in nature. Those churches have a chapel where weekly public worship services are held, but most also include a basketball court, a kitchen for serving food, and other spaces for activities and classes. Our temples, on the other hand, are locations where the sole purpose is to worship in sacred services and for individuals to enter into covenants with God. The architecture of these temples is intentional and is in and of itself a form of worship for Latter-day Saints. High ceilings, ornately ornamented, are intended to remind worshipers of heaven.
Furthermore, even from the outside our temple buildings are intentionally prominent. With few exceptions, temples built by the Church have spires to remind us to “think celestial,” pointing us heavenward. When I am driving around and see a temple, even from miles away, it is a reminder to me that I have made promises in a temple to follow God, covenants that I believe make me a better member of my community and society at large.
Seeing a temple while I am out and about also is a reminder of the peace I feel when I am in the temple. Temples to me are a tangible reminder of an eternal perspective – that mortality is but one small part of my eternal existence, even as I may struggle at times through temporary difficulties. Gary E. Stevenson, a senior leader of the Church, once taught, "You are never lost when you can see the temple." The larger size of temples allows for their visual reach to extend further than standard chapels. Seeing a temple provides me a small but powerful reminder of the peace I feel inside the temple.
And Latter-day Saints desire to share this peace with the community. I hope that if and when this temple is built, residents of Fairview and the surrounding communities will take the opportunity to enter the temple during the open house before its dedication. A recent visitor to one of the Church’s temple open houses expressed, “I did not know quiet like that existed in the world; I simply did not believe such stillness was possible.” I am confident that those who attend the temple open house will feel some measure of that same peace.
I am optimistic that a solution mostly acceptable to all sides of this issue can be reached. Whatever the end result, though, I hope that additional understanding on both sides can be achieved, even if the final result is different than desired on either or both sides.
