Neighbors have LDS temple concerns

The location was chosen because of its prominence and proximity to Yellowstone Ave, which is a bottleneck for all traffic going to or from Yellowstone. The location's purpose amounts to little more than advertising directed at Cody's tourists.

Perhaps the temple could be constructed in Wapiti directly in front of the proposed cell tower location. Solves the problem of residents having to look at that ugly cell tower.

The location of the new LDS Temple in Cody has been announced and the debate has begun in the Cody Enterprise and social media. I hope the dialogue will be respectful, courteous and most importantly honest. I no longer live in Cody but grew up there. I am a member of the LDS Church. My sister and her husband have a home in Wapiti so I try to get up to Cody every summer. These are my thoughts and perspective from growing up in Cody. I love my home town and I love the heritage of my religion.

Glenn Nielsen was a young devout LDS businessman who came to Cody in the early 1940s and started up an oil company in Cody named Husky Oil Refining. He built a refinery and an office building and his refinery absolutely lit up the sky big time in Cody. Husky brought hundreds of good office and refinery jobs to Cody that Cody families were glad to have. The wages were quite a bit higher than any other jobs in the area. No one complained about the bright lights of the refinery. My dad worked at Husky for 30 years. I worked at the Husky Refinery for 4 years while I attended college at BYU in Provo, UT. I was able to graduate from BYU without any student debt as a result. When I came home to Cody during breaks for Thanksgiving and Christmas I usually didn’t arrive home until well after dark. When I reached the top of that last hill before entering town, I could see those bright lights of the Husky Refinery and I knew I was finally home. During the Christmas season, the lights of the refinery were changed out to Christmas colors. Glenn was instrumental in financing the first LDS Chapel being built on Wyoming Avenue in Cody in 1949. He donated a great deal of money for the land and building. There is no way the small LDS congregation could have afforded to build such a beautiful church without Glenn’s financial help. He served in many important church leadership positions in the Cody Ward and the Bighorn Stake. He was a kind and gentle man and beloved by so many members of the LDS faith in the Bighorn Basin and by those in Cody who were not LDS. Glenn was very successful in the oil business and became very wealthy man but he was always a humble man. He donated generously to Church causes and Cody causes. Glenn and Olive Nielsen donated the land for the Olive Glenn Golf Club located so conveniently in the city limits of Cody that is surrounded by a subdivision of beautiful homes for Cody residents. The site selected for the Cody Temple is land that was owned by Glenn Nielsen. It was where Olive and Glen had their home and where they raised their 5 children. The site has very symbolic and spiritual importance to many LDS members in Cody…especially us old timers who knew and loved Glenn and the Nielsen Family. There are many others in Cody who remember Glenn with fond affection who are not of the LDS faith. It wasn’t just a random piece of property picked out of the blue. It is going to be a relatively small temple compared with others with only 9,550 square feet. I honestly believe the amount of light will not be near the issue that some of you are concerned about. I’m sure there are many of you in Cody who are too young or have not lived in Cody long enough to know much about Glenn Nielsen and Husky Oil. You’re hearing about a Mormon Temple that you don’t know much about and why they are built and you need to decide if you can support it. It will not only be a sacred place for members of the LDS Church around the Big Horn Basin but as a memorial to Glen Nielsen for all that he did for Cody and for his LDS heritage. The temple will be a very beautiful addition to everything else that is great about Cody.

Google and read the CES letter. There are numerous reasons documented as to why you don't want this temple which represents racism, perversion and false "Christianity" in your city. Sorry to LDS members but you are possibly ignorant of your church history.

Let's reverse the situation - what if the Vatican wanted to come here and build a monstrous monastery (at the same location)? Would there still be the uproar? I'm not sure if this is an anti-LDS movement or the neighborhood honestly does not want to have a structure that is 333% taller then zoning allows, lights up the sky and blocks the mountain views? And to answer Elizabeth PH, "no" , God is not going to trump our P & Z regulations. I've read where there are 3-4 other locations earmarked, where are they?

I think the lawsuits against your county on behalf of multiple companies shows how corrupt your county government is and how you all feel about new businesses in your county. You're okay being a tourist trap but don't want to actually bring any high paying jobs into your area.

I love how everyone is two faced.... We don't hate Mormons we just think they're a cult is the underlying message of most opposition here.

Residents have a right to dispute or voice concerns. The problem is that Cody is just as bad as California when it comes to lawsuits. Rich people come in from those areas and try pushing others around with their money. The whole building won't be as high as that Crane. The only thing that will be is one spire.

I hate to rain on your pity party, Mormon hating parade but have you noticed everywhere there is a temple and opisition the temple gets its permits and gets built! You can be a hater but what God wants to happen will happen. If someone were putting in an art gallery, museum, ranch, or other building there wouldn't be opposition. But, because it's an lds temple and lds people will be the people coming into that neighborhood it scares you all. So sad how close minded and stubborn Cody residents and government and Park County government are!

Don't worry, having a temple in your town and neighborhood won't cause cancer (despite what these transplants from California and Mormon haters believe......). I think the real fear is that it will bring more Mormons into town and what happens when they convert all the neighborhood? [wink] What will people think? You might drink the water and become infected too! Haha, some people have tiny minds with crazy 1800's ideas. Go ahead and oppose the temple. Hide behind your keyboard and screen and act like Hitler in Nazi Germany hating and killing Jews, homosexuals, blacks, etc. All worked out great for him! No one is asking for you to convert to their religion. Your money isn't lining the pockets of any of the leaders of their church. Haters gonna hate. So sad in 2023!

1. How can they cancel an open house if the temple hasn't even been built?

2. I am very sorry for all the negative comments made on behalf of The Church. This is not what the LDS are about.

3. Money, home values, or community aid can not replace something one loves and cherishes such as a view.

4. The people of the community have every right to express their reasons for not wanting the temple or an other development in their neighborhood. The destruction of nature is not progress. It's just destroying beauty. Hopefully, if the majority feel this way, the temple will be relocated to another part of town. This would allow for the neighborhood to keep their awesome views and Cody can benefit from the income the temple will generate.

5. Now stop acting like children and respect each others opinions. Play nice or go home.

Oh man. Everybody I know who's not lds would kill JUST TO have a temple in their neighborhood. It adds a lot to that community. The extra traffic is minimal and the people who come to that area are kind and and peaceful and would help anyone pls the temple are so beautiful and very peaceful to be around. It brings a beautiful kind of peace and sirinity to the entire neighborhood. The neighborhood becomes very peaceful and beautiful. Not only that the lds church takes the whole neighborhood community to heart and will do anything to improve the neighborhood/community its should be welcomed and honored to the neighborhood that a building of such peace and love and serenity should even consider that area. You all should be honored

Wow...I see the LDS army has taken to commenting here, trying to sway opinions from their locations no where near Cody! Thanks for the input, but you can take your Scientologist tactics somewhere else.

I think bringing in business in Wyoming is more important then building a temple that belongs in Utah.

Talk about timing, bad timing - that CBS/60 Minutes expose on how our 10% tithe money gets hidden away and making some of our higher ups into multi millionaires certainly doesn't help the cause of getting a temple built here. I want my money back!!!

note to salt lake city: bottom line, folks, is, we don't want it. Thanks for your inquiry. Oh, by god would you folks also pay those taxes on that billions of dollars hidden away in all of those shell corporations?

I think I understand how you in Cody feel. I am sad that others seem to be scolding you for your very real concerns. I know if I were in your position, I would feel exactly the same way. And I also understand that it isn't about money or property values, it is about your neighborhood. I would hope that the open house was cancelled because your desires and opposition matter. If the people in Cody are completely opposed to having a Temple built, I will pray that your wishes are considered and that the officials of my Church are able to locate another site where the neighborhood is excited and actually desires a Temple in their midst. I am confident that there are other places to build. And, you are well within your rights to vocalize your opinions! Every voice should be heard and counted. That is the law of our Great Land and I firmly believe in our laws. I will say that I wish we could have the Temple built in our community because currently we have to travel several hours to attend our Temple, so I also understand why there are those who would welcome a Temple near them. But, Jesus Christ is the Prince Of Peace and I Follow Him. So, I pray for peace for all of you and hope you know that Love & Peace should prevail. Just my humble opinion. Best Wishes to you all!

Carolyn Pierce, what have the Mormons done that make you hate them so much?

I consider myself a faithful member of the LDS faith and am a native of Burlington. While I was pleasantly surprised that Cody was selected, and I support a temple being built there, I hope that my co-religionists (especially those of us who have chosen to live in other locations, notwithstanding our desire to return to the State and community we love best) keep our comments measured and respectful of our neighbors. “Progress” is in the eye of the beholder. When I visit my hometown, I see things that objectively one might say constitute “progress,” but I think, “It ain’t familia!” and doesn’t feel like home the way I remember it. So we would be well-advised to be more sensitive and less dismissive of the concerns of people who live nearby. By no means should we state or even imply that another “move.” Remember, in their eyes, “we” or at least “the temple” are “newcomers” and they aren’t the ones required to adapt.

For the neighbors who have concerns, I hope that you can carefully and dispassionately consider what the temple will look like, and whether it might add and not detract from your neighborhood—even your view of the beauty that is Cody and Wyoming. Regarding concerns about traffic, parking, etc., I am not aware of any location of other temples where that has been an issue. Unlike a one time a week service at a mega church involving a huge unmanageable influx of traffic, the nature of temple worship involves those attending quietly coming and going throughout the day in small, controlled, paced numbers. There is no one single worship service bringing in an influx of cars that makes traffic unmanageable. I would suggest that increased traffic would be barely noticeable. At the end of the day, it is a question of aesthetics (in my opinion), to which I hope the people of Cody—including the nearest neighbors—will find the temple to be a positive contributor and not a detractor.

See?!!!

Developmenting is going with or without you!!!

https://www.codyenterprise.com/news/local/article_6a19a20e-f8d4-11ed-a3ee-b7bd0f66b59f.html#tncms-source=article-nav-next

Why are the anti-christ group upset?

I'm glad that our US Constitution allows us to have Religion Freedom!

The photo of the Christian Temple displays shows it will perfect for the scenery!

"Freedom Rings!"

Amen!

Hopefully everyone's concerns can be adequately addressed. Changes in any neighborhood can have both positive and negative impacts. No doubt the temple will bring additional traffic, and it may alter the skyline. More than likely, the traffic can be managed safely, efficiently, and with minimal impact on neighbors. The Cody Temple as planned, is only slightly larger than ours here in Fresno, and our temple brings a maximum of around 30-40 cars per session, and typically far fewer, so very manageable. The temple is not so big as to really block anything, and most likely will be a very pleasant addition. Whether it is unusually big for a Cody church, or not, it is undoubtedly much smaller than most significant commercial buildings in Cody. When it is all said and done, the Cody Temple, like temples elsewhere, will probably positively affect home valuations in the area.

Nevertheless, the LDS church tries to be a good neighbor, and I am sure the church will work with the people of Cody to address concerns and, in the end, if the City rejects the proposal, will move elsewhere.

I realize they are trying to make a point, but the crane being used for a reference is not actually on the site of the proposed temple (which happens to be on private land). If someone is trying to be factual, and we have to assume the crane is actually 101 feet high, then at least put it on the site which could make a big difference. I say this because I assume the temple will not be built on the edge of the street.

Seems like your city mothers and fathers need to do a little more homework on what really happens around the existing temples in other metropolitan cities. As some of already stated that property values soar after a temple is built in their neighborhoods you would think that the city members would ratify approval because of the value the temple is to their City. It's understandable that some want to be able to see the beautiful snow-capped mountains and the valley below , but all things must come to an end at some point. It's called progress❗ If you are not satisfied or not happy with what you're viewing out your kitchen window then put a screen up or move. You can't have progress without Revenue and that Temple will definitely generate more Revenue that the city needs. Margaret R James -St. Louis ,Mo.

This happens in a lot of places they put these. I’ve only ever seen people being pleasantly surprised at the results. Also I don’t think he realizes how much his property value will increase.

Think hard before you pass up this opportunity! Not any other religious organizations pay taxes like the LDS church does. So u r cutting off your own nose to spit your face on this one. Check every other Temple the Church has constructed and check the property values around it and the beautiful cleanliness that it brings to the area which it becomes part of. Also, look into the uses of the Temple and what it stands for you will be surprised. Good luck and remember that God loves you no matter what!

Bwahahaha. The neighbors are not considering the gigantic raise in value their houses will have being in the same neighborhood as the temple. All those older temple workers, retired executives, engineers and attorneys with big moneybags just searching and yearning to live next to a temple. Temples are gold mines. Go look it up.

Instead of the powers that be allowing this white elephant inside the city limits...how about making them put it in Clark or the defunct Monster Lake joke. Y'all will be sorry if this goes through.

Why was the LDS open house cancelled? Need to get the lawyers & PR stuff in order first?