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Temple Greatly Affecting Local Lives

In the July 29, 2004 issue of the New York Times, there is an interesting article about how the Nauvoo Temple is affecting the lives of people in that tiny town. This has sparked a bit of discussion among Mormon blogs about the relative merits of that growth, whether it should continue, whether there should be some sort of roadblocks put up to slow the growth, etc.

https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/29/national...zrYsnmctHuTaV7w

(this may require free registration to get the article)

So, what do you think about this subject?

Lives Local Affecting Greatly Temple

I don't know why so many of the local people are upset. Real Estate values have skyrocketed. If a group of people with money started moving in to my neighborhood, causing my home to increase dramatically in value, I would be happy. I wouldn't care what their religious preference was. If I didn't like them as neighbors, I could always sell my home for a nice profit and move down the road a bit.

Edited: gaucho on 2nd Aug, 2004 - 3:42pm

Temple Greatly Affecting Local Lives Studies Doctrine Mormon

A lot of people have noted that this is rather a common reaction by people from a small town. They have grown up in a particular way, and all the newcomers make everything change.

On the subject of property values, it becomes even more interesting, when you consider that with rising values comes rising tax rates. Therefore, people who may be getting by okay living in their grandparents' old home might not be able to anymore. So, because of the influx of "newcomers", they have to sell the old family house.

Another point to consider is the political aspects of it all. I know that one of the fairly strong economic contributors to that area is the local vineyards. With all the Mormons moving in, some of the people are surely wondering if they are going to have to give up their businesses. The local tavern keepers may also be wondering the same thing, especially if they are aware of the strange laws that Mormons have promulgated in Utah and elsewhere (not that they are any worse than liquor laws in other states, just different).

Having grown up in small towns, I do understand some of what these people feel. It can be a bit scary to consider that your lifestyle is going to be changed because of what these other people do, especially if you don't have any way of even objecting to it.

Personally, I look forward to the day when a good road runs from the Quad Cities to Nauvoo. Right now, the drive to Nauvoo is very difficult, as it is all on winding back roads.

I think that we will see a huge boost to the area, as more and more people move in, bringing various types of industries. Perhaps one day Nauvoo will once again be a leading city in the state of Illinois.

Lives Local Affecting Greatly Temple

We went there a couple of years ago when they had the open house for the temple. I was very impressed with what we are doing in the area. It is becoming a destination location with lots of historical info, trying to recreate old town Nauvoo etc. I guess if I was a local person who spent my entire life there, I might regret what them Mormons are doing to my town. But you can't please everybody.

Lives Local Affecting Greatly Temple

Not only do Temples affect the locals, but also the building of the Meeting Houses and the additions to the meeting houses.

We are in the process of adding on to our Branch , finally after 10 years of praying and work. Before the plans were sent to the county for approval, letters were sent to all the home owners around the meeting house. Then our Branch Presidency went door to door to insure that all the owners received their letters, to answer any questions they may have and to invite them to please come to the meeting the county planning commission was having in regards to our expansion.

Nearly every one showed, and the response by the *locals* was favorable. In the last 4 years our poor branch has been victimized by vandals, driving and digging up the lawns, tearing up the sprinkler system, slashing and chopping up the brush and trees. The locals have always rallied round us.

The framing is up, the roof is on the new addition, and one neighbor has just now realized that with the spire on, he will be able to see it from an upstairs room. He called the Planning Commission, the Branch President and the Stake President and demanded that the work stop.

In this case it is too late. Thank Heavens. When the other neighbors were told about this ~ he told them ~ they told him to cease and desist. He was at the meeting, why didn't he speak up then? A few of the neighbors even went to his house to see how *bad* it would be. They said that it was from a third bedroom window and it actually would improve the view. Right now, all that is visible is the *working and dumping* area of the local lumber yard.

In this little town, we (Church) are very fortunate indeed to have agreeable non-LDS neighbors. Catty-corner from us is the Episcopal Church, and they have even offered us the use of their building for the month that we won't be able to use ours. Unfortunately their building is much smaller than ours ~ but it was wonderful that they came to us and offered!