NAUVOO, Ill. _ The Nauvoo City Council voted 6-0 Tuesday, Nov. 14, to approve the revised site plan application for the Nauvoo Temple Visitors Center. But, to borrow a sports metaphor, the contest was much tighter than the final score.
Elder Jeremiah Morgan, who introduced himself as an Area Seventy for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Deputy Attorney General for the State of Missouri, presented the case for approval of the Temple Visitors Center site plan.
He began by stating that approval should be granted based on two American principles: freedom of religion, and the property rights of all citizens. He made the following points:
• The zoning codes allow for “places of worship.” According to the law, said he, the church (not the government) decides what is a place of worship. He offered up as an example, the Nauvoo Temple. No preacher gives a sermon there, yet it is the most sacred place for the Latter-day Saints. He stated that temple visitor centers are places of worship, distinct from other visitors centers where they “transact business and hand out maps.” Pointing out that “two law firms have agreed with us,” he asked the city council to “follow the law and honor our freedom of religion.”
• As a property owner, he said, you have the right to use your own property however you wish, and that you decide how and where on your property you will carry out your wishes. Acknowledging that some have said they are not opposed to the church building a temple visitors center (TVC) but oppose the location, he stated the law says the city council cannot do that. You cannot tell a property owner that. He said that the church considered other sites and that senior leaders of the church personally walked through the various sites “and determined that this site was by far, by far, the best location. This was the only site that was approved. Other sites were dismissed.” Comparing the situation to a homeowner seeking to build an addition to their home, the city cannot deny them that right if legal requirements have been met just because they want the addition built somewhere else. Morgan then urged “this honorable council to follow the law and honor our American property rights.”
• Elder Morgan then addressed other miscellaneous items. He asserted the location was indeed safe, “and we will make it safer than it ever has been before,” pointing out that buses would be rerouted, streets would be widened and the application was in compliance with city codes and zoning ordinances. He said that if there are problems, the church will adjust the site plan, but warned that if denied, the church would appeal.
• Addressing the issue of public opinion being against the site plan, he pointed out public opinion is not the arbiter, under the law, as to whether the church can build a TVC on its property in its desired location. It is illegal to allow public opinion to overrule freedom of religion and property rights.
• Addressing the belief that President Gordon B. Hinckley said there would be no buildings obstructing the view of the temple, Elder Morgan acknowledged that this came from a missionary quoted in The Hancock County Journal-Pilot, that the missionary had no authority to say that, that they have searched thoroughly for any record that Pres. Hinckley made this statement and, even if it were actually made, the TVC does not block the view of the Temple.
• Recognizing that some have argued the property has become a public open green space and that they will miss the open space if a TVC is put there, Morgan said that while the church is not required to keep open spaces, the building will have minimal impact. “There will still be ample space,” he said.
In closing, Morgan said that TVC are not common with temples, stating that there are only 11 in the entire world, including Washington, D.C., and Rome, Italy. “Why Nauvoo?” he asked. “So we can share with others who cannot enter our temples. Please honor our right to worship as we would honor yours.”
The aldermen had questions.
“Why weren’t you here when we first started, instead of all the misinformation, word manipulation bait-and-switch; why didn’t you say this was a TVC in the first place?” Jim Boyles asked. He added it “threw a big wedge in community.” Elder Morgan apologized “for not communicating well.”
“The process did not work out the way we would like,” he said. “But the purpose of this TVC has not changed.”
Boyles claimed that initially church representatives said there would be an additional 150,000 people coming to Nauvoo because of the TVC.
Project Manager Terry Cano spoke, saying that his team was misinformed that the property was zoned outdoor museum, until a resident identified it as a residential zone.
“It was a misunderstanding, not a bait and switch,” Cano said. He aadded there won’t be more people coming to Nauvoo because of the TVC, just more people closer to uptown.
Alderman Boyles stated that temple visitors don’t use the parking lot across the highway, but park all up and down the street. He was concerned that people would not use the TVC parking lot either.
Cano said the church would take care of the parking lot. He pointed out a change to the site plan; that buses are to come north on Durphy Street to get to the parking lot and drop off passengers there. No buses will be allowed to come east on Young Street to drop off passengers in front of the TVC entrance.
Alderman Brenda Adkisson asked about shade trees on the plans that would block the view from the Catholic church, about the existing benches and historical plaques on the south side of Young Street, and about the trash dumpster building in the artist rendition of the TVC.
Cano responded, “we will work with the city and remove the trees where allowed by code and will not touch the benches and plaques. As for the trash dumpster building, he will “look at that and work with city,” but a dumpster has to be accessible to the waste removal trucks.
Alderman and Acting Mayor Tacy Nelson said she wanted to make sure it was known that the opposition was not to the church, but to the original site plan and the things that were left out of that.
“There was no question about your right to worship,” she said, blaming church attorneys for turning the site plan application into a dog-and-pony show.
She disagreed with Elder Morgan on the Hinckley quote, stating that she personally knew Sister Whisenant, the missionary quoted.
Morgan asked supporters to stand. This brought a disapproving response from some in the audience. Alderman Adkisson called him out on it as inappropriate as her emails and letters and talks with residents showed this was not a fair representation of public opinion.
Morgan said this was not meant to have anything to do with public opinion but was drowned out by angry opponents in the audience, one of whom asked why he wanted supporters to stand up if public opinion doesn’t matter.
Alderman Boyles suggested the city doesn’t have police resources for the TVC, and discussed the impact of the church properties on tax rolls and the church’s decision to end the PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) program. He said that the city has infrastructure problems to discuss with church officials, but it’d hard sometimes to trust that the won’t keep getting “kicked to the curb.”
Several community members offered their comments. Each had two minutes.
Audrey Maucotel said she is happy with the temple in D.C. where she used to live.
“I want to bring my children and grandchildren to the TVC. Anytime a community has a holy place it gets blessed. One place I lived in in Mexico was sorry they didn’t let it be built. There are only 11 TVCs in all the world.”
Mark Maucotel also expressed support.
“If I want to build a small shed I have to meet codes and permit requirements, what if neighbors said his kids like to play there, or move it somewhere else,” he said. “It would be illegal to deny it. What would you do if this happened to you?”
Stephanie Cook said she wouldn’t want to see it built anywhere else.
“Yes, the TVC is a place of worship, to point us to Jesus Christ. I lived near one in St. George, Utah. I was taught about the Plan of Salvation there. TVCs are especially for children and youth. Can it be built somewhere else? No.”
Daniel Cook told the council the plan posed an opportunity.
“TVCs are important, some say they need to be sold on the TVCs location, but the church has repeatedly adjusted their plans. This is an opportunity for Nauvoo to be a good example.”
Business owner Tracy Chatwin said the TVC will bring visitors within walking distance and that the street will be widened at no expense to taxpayers.
Linda Chatwin, who owns The Emporium, said many visitors asked about it.
“We thought it would be very nice to send people to TVC and we told them one was planned,”she said. “Many asked us if it would be built next year so they could visit it.”
Longtime resident Hugh Pierce said he was disturbed by the contention surrounding the issue.
“Fifty-two years ago, we had nothing to bring folks here. Sometimes members [of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] are not what they should be. President Hinckley said he wanted people leaving the temple to see the statues of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. The view went “like this” (indicating with his arms, a narrow view.) Don’t let this divide our community.”
“Let’s stop this division. We are human, we make mistakes. Can we be forgiven and move on. Don’t let this tear us apart,” added Bruce Bromley.
Brian Christensen agreed.
“I think it comes down to a legal issue. I support the city council. Don’t let vitriol tear us apart. Let us heal.”
Trevor Knight, principal of Sts. Peter and Paul School, asked the council to consider the impact on the school.
“We have tour buses in our driveway. I care about the kids at our school. Please consider how this affects school long term.”
Irene Tukuafu said it isn’t an issue for the community to decide.
“I see progressive historians tear down statues. Porter Rockwell was one of my cousins. We don’t need lawyers to tell us what to do. Chicago lawyers manipulate the law.”
Gene Shurts said he was disappointed in th lack of communication.
Finally, it was time to vote.
Time to Vote
Alderman Scott Sumner moved to approve. Alderman Jeff Christensen seconded. Alderman Jim Boyles said he felt bullied, adding that was just his opinion, and voted yes. Alderman Tacy Nelson said she agreed with Boyles adding that what was originally presented was not the proper use, but as revised it does, and that she doesn’t like the threat of a lawsuit, and voted yes. Aldermen Ron Grant and Brenda Adkisson stated that it met the requirements, and voted yes. The motion passed unanimously.
Some pleased, some not
Some in the audience were not happy. One woman shouted, “Boo! You threatened the city and bullied!” She and about a dozen others quickly walked out of the room. Elder Morgan went out to talk to them.
Some people left the new community center that night pleased. Others perhaps with reluctant acceptance. Some went home furious. Even though good people tried to do what they believed was the right thing to do, there was conflict and some angry feelings on all sides.
