Spinning a new LDS Myth

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_sock puppet
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Spinning a new LDS Myth

Post by _sock puppet »

http://www.ldsliving.com/The-Mormon-Tem ... ce/s/86579
The Mormon Temple That a U.S. City Kept from Being Built—Twice
by For Religious Freedom | Oct. 05, 2017

How eye-opening to learn the history behind this temple that was never built.

In 1990 and 1997, the combined impact of two Supreme Court decisions weakened religious freedom protections and left churches in a very vulnerable position, especially in terms of land use rights. Some may think that legislation protecting churches and their right to build places of worship isn’t necessary—that a city would never discriminate against a less popular religion, but the weakened state of religious freedom following the decisions of Smith and City of Bourne provided ample evidence to the contrary (read more in this blog series, Religious Freedom: What’s All the Fuss About?). One clear example of the vulnerability facing churches in America was evidenced when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the “Church”) was prohibited from building a Temple in the city of Forest Hills, Tennessee.

Around 1994, the Church initiated efforts to build a temple on land it had previously purchased in Forest Hills. The City’s zoning plan effectively prohibited all new churches from constructing a place of worship in the City without permission. When the Church asked authorities in Forest Hills for permission to build a temple, one hundred and twenty residents showed up to oppose the change and the zoning authorities unanimously rejected the proposal.

In good faith, the Church bought a second parcel of land for a temple at great expense. The new site addressed previous concerns raised by the city.


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Who wrote this? Who is "For Religious Freedom?" Who is "Smith"? "Smith" is referred to out of nowhere in the first paragraph? What two Supreme Court decisions? What did those decisions say? What city government action was discriminatory here? What were the citizen's Planning & Zoning concerns? What facts suggest that the city's denial of the building permit had anything to do with religious discrimination? This article simply says the Church's building permit application was denied and makes the huge leap of alleging that the city's denial was religiously discriminatory - with no explanation whatsoever. This is one of the worst articles I've ever read.
_Wonhyo
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Re: Spinning a new LDS Myth

Post by _Wonhyo »

Is a city’s power to promulgate and regulate zoning laws regarding the construction of religious buildings tantamount to religious discrimination now? The article seems to take that position.

Yet, in the end, the church was able to address whatever concerns and the temple was green-lit in a different city. I don’t see any discrimination here.

What is the article supposed to actually be about? Do we have to continually make up enemies and threats to our boundaries? Aren’t we usually our own worst enemies? Why do we pick fights with windmills and curleoms? My goodness.
It is better to travel well than to arrive.
_Water Dog
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Re: Spinning a new LDS Myth

Post by _Water Dog »

Last edited by Guest on Mon Dec 18, 2017 1:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
_moksha
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Re: Spinning a new LDS Myth

Post by _moksha »

Found this: https://www.britannica.com/topic/City-of-Boerne-v-Flores

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employment_Division_v._Smith

Temple Facts

The Nashville Tennessee Temple was the second temple built in Tennessee, following the Memphis Tennessee Temple (2000).

When the First Presidency announced plans for the Nashville Tennessee Temple, there were only four operating temples east of the Mississippi River.

The Nashville Tennesse Temple was originally planned as a large regional temple to serve much of the Upper South.
From 1995 to 1998, the Church sought to rezone land at the northeast corner of Hillsboro Pike and Old Hickory Boulevard in Forest Hills, Tennessee, to permit construction of the Nashville Tennessee Temple. After failing to obtain a court order, the Church abandoned its plans for the site, which later became home to a city hall and Nashville Electric Service substation.

In 1998, Church leaders announced revised plans for the Nashville Tennessee Temple. One of the new generation smaller temples would be constructed at another location in the Nashville area—not at the previously announced Forest Hills location.
Cry Heaven and let loose the Penguins of Peace
_candygal
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Re: Spinning a new LDS Myth

Post by _candygal »

Gee, sorry church. When you think about zoning laws that DO protect the church as in a restaurant wanting to sell drinks with dinner...but can't unless they are so many feet away from a church building...!
_Craig Paxton
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Re: Spinning a new LDS Myth

Post by _Craig Paxton »

candygal wrote:Gee, sorry church. When you think about zoning laws that DO protect the church as in a restaurant wanting to sell drinks with dinner...but can't unless they are so many feet away from a church building...!



Oooo smack...
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