Mormonism has finally gone too far. It happened in Fairview.

[Analytics]

Do we have any idea how much this temple will be used?

This was almost 30 years ago now, but I used to live in East Lansing Michigan, and drove a couple of hours to the temple in Chicago a few times a year. Including my wife and me, there would be, on average, perhaps 3 or 4 people in the session. At least once there were exactly two of us.

From a community point of view, a temple isn’t a community building—only a select minority of members of one minority religion are allowed to use it. I’m just imagining this big ugly building that is almost always empty.

I’m glad it’s not in my backyard.

[Kishkumen]

I watched all of the town halls. There were no anti Mormon sentiment, bigotry or even anti temple expressions. The complaints were all reasonable, framed within longstanding town zoning ordinances. It’s such a shame. This was literally the church coming in, lawyers blazing, under the banner of “we can buy anything with money.” The town buckled out of pure financial reality, and said as much. That will be on public record forever. In my view the big loser is the church’s image.

Too bad. And so needless. Oh well! The LDS Church is not looking for our ideas or approval.

[Doctor Scratch]

Having spent a summer in that area visiting friends in the 1990s, I know a little about the goodness of the people in McKinney and Fairview. The city council and members of the community were nothing but patient, honest and generous. They received bullying, deception and rudeness in response. Shame.

It looks like the globe-trotting expert over at "SeN" has carefully assessed your point of view, Dr. Moore:

In proof that the Church has behaved badly in Fairview, one ex-Mormon critic points out that he spent a little bit of time in or near that town back in the 1990s, and that the people that he met there were nice. Perhaps he’s forgotten that, during his time in the Church, several Latter-day Saints were nice people, too. (I’ve met two or three myself!) American public discourse is too frequently toxic today, and not only on the presidential level nor even only in partisan politics.

Chalk up another victory for the "Hitchens File," I guess?

[drumdude]

DCP added nothing to the discussion, per usual.

[Dr Moore]

Having spent a summer in that area visiting friends in the 1990s, I know a little about the goodness of the people in McKinney and Fairview. The city council and members of the community were nothing but patient, honest and generous. They received bullying, deception and rudeness in response. Shame.

It looks like the globe-trotting expert over at "SeN" has carefully assessed your point of view, Dr. Moore:

In proof that the Church has behaved badly in Fairview, one ex-Mormon critic points out that he spent a little bit of time in or near that town back in the 1990s, and that the people that he met there were nice. Perhaps he’s forgotten that, during his time in the Church, several Latter-day Saints were nice people, too. (I’ve met two or three myself!) American public discourse is too frequently toxic today, and not only on the presidential level nor even only in partisan politics.

Chalk up another victory for the "Hitchens File," I guess?

Meh. Watch the videos, Dan. Listen with interest and curiosity to the specific objections raised. Consider what would you do when presented with the same points of pushback. It will take several hours, but we all know you have the time. As you watch, try to empathize with points of view offered by actual residents whose legitimate wishes and legal desires differ, however great or slightly, from what is demanded by the church and its lawyers.

by the way, haven’t forgotten. Also, not my point. Typical DCP. Twist people’s words to score polemical points for himself and his small group of dopey apologists.

[Dr Exiled]

He's too busy working for the "chosen people" to try to put himself into the shoes of another. Maybe he needs to look at what narcissism or sociopathy means in terms of understanding, really understanding others. He's too busy believing that whatever the real estate professionals at Mormon inc want is actually valid. Too bad his belief is that if one doesn't believe the Mormon brand of nonsense, that person is the problem, not the self-proclaimed chosen.

Thank whatever is out there Mormonism is so devoid of plausibility that his cohorts don't rule the roost. If people here hate a certain president, just imagine a succession of rock believing delusionals controlling the government.

[Moksha]

From reading the discussion on the righteous board, it seems that holding the LDS to the building standards observed by the rest of the town makes them anti-Mormon.

I remember when I was a little kid, being able to look up at the dark skies and see the stars. That was a fond memory. Perhaps the Fairview residents can still do this between the hours of 11 PM and 5 AM if someone remembers to flip the switch.