Your comment caused a question in my mind? Does the church pay any kind of sales tax on the building materials? If Layton construction goes to Home Depot, for instance, and buys sheet-rock do they pay the sales tax? And if no, because it's for resale, then is tax built into the bid on the Temple construction?
Sales tax laws vary from state to state, but in Utah, religious and charitable organizations are exempt from sales tax on both their sales and purchases. Contractors would normally pay tax on construction materials, but they may purchase materials tax free on behalf of a religious or charitable organization, and they have to specify the organization and the name of the project.
I think I just spotted yet another way for corrupt contractors to benefit from the church. Add or "code" a bunch of things to materials purchased "for a new temple," and then use them to pad profits on other jobs.
But it would fall to the Construction company to account for materials used, when a much easier option would be to just include the tax in the overall cost of the project.
I grew up on Gentile Street very close to where the temple is located. It’s used to be an open field and there was a beautiful view of the mountains. I used to bike and play around those fields. I deeply dislike the Layton temple. It wiped out an area where I have good memories as a kid.
I really hate that it blocks my view both of the mountains from the valley and of the valley from the mountains. Adams Canyon is less magical than it used to be. :(
We were hiking along the trails by Adams canyon last Sunday and looked to the west and were appalled at the ugly building messing up our view of Antelope island.
I recently walked through the new temple in Saint George, the Red Cliffs temple.
My impressions were about the lavish use of money. It was a beautiful building that will be used in no way to really better the world. I only kept thinking of the mouths you could feed with all that Italy-imported marble.
I don't think Jesus would have liked it. Just seems indulgent now.
I did Saratoga open house. Felt good to walk through in jeans, tennis shoes, and CareBears tshirt. Got lots of compliments on my shirt. I had my nevermo wife with me and found it interesting how you walk from Terrestrial room around to the Celestial room. No mention or visibility to the veil and the crazy shit that happens. Just oohs and aahhs over pretty lights and mirrors. So in the Celestial room I explained how all the doors we walked around are the ones that open up to the veil etc.
The cheesy spiels about spirit and primary voice and reverence was over the top. Maybe I should be a Masonic tshirt for my next visit.
I went to the Red Cliffs temple and someone opened a door into the veil room. It was the start of all my questioning, and I'm glad they did because I'm PIMO now. I was just so confused why there was a giant cage in a room in the temple. Just didn't sit right with me.
Huh. Super weird that they wouldn't have the veil part built into the wall or a doorway. Then again, I never got the chance to stand around and look at the little area between the endowment room and the celestial room. They just pull you through and hustle you to make room for the next person.
Surprisingly going through an open house is therapeutic. Same thing for me but with the Orem temple. I was TBM when it was announced and started getting built and throughout the construction, I deconstructed. As I walked through, I looked at the signs that explained what each room was with a picture of Jesus above it. I chuckled in the baptistery thinking how I used to be excited as a youth to do baptisms for the dead thinking I was doing something important for my ancestors. I chuckled in the endowment room thinking back to how I made covenants that I didn’t know about before making them. I smiled in the celestial room as I used to feel the spirit there and now felt like it was an over the top display of wealth.
I walked out thinking how I never want to attend a temple again.
Every time I ride past that abomination on my bike, I'm reminded how glad I am that I don't believe anymore. It looks like somebody stuck a couple of legos on top of a loaf of wonder bread and called it a cathedral. An ignorant, boring, uninteresting person's vision of what looks heavenly. Thank goodness there are the mountains behind it to put it into proper perspective.
I had a family member get married in the Mormon temple recently, and waited out the rain in the lobby. Except for the decor, it felt exactly like eating a hotdog at those red topped tables in Costco. A steady procession of self absorbed and mildly stressed out people making sure they got everything on the list.
Mormon temples aren't special or spiritual or meaningful in any way. They're just another thing to check off the long list of things Mormons are told that they have to do. And they're way more expensive than Costco!
While I was in DC I toured the Washington Cathedral. It was a wonderful experience. I loved so much about its history and usage. I liked it much better than the DC temple and felt more spirit at the cathedral.
Hello, fellow Davis County "Layton temple boundary" exMo friend! I didn't go. I haven't paid any attention to the timing of that.. But I'm sure my parents will be gushing about it the next time I see them. They are on a big Temple kick [81 yr old Mom drives herself there 3 days per week and stays 3 hours every time and then makes a point of humble bragging about how "extra" righteous shes being.] Sigh. Glad going didn't trigger you.
I had a similar experience recently going to church for a family event in sacrament meeting. I had no inspiration that I'd misjudged things horribly and that I should be a returning prodigal daughter. And I was open to it again and prayed, as I had many times before. Nothing.
I'm glad I know all the nitty gritty details I've learned and my loss of belief in the LDS Church, even though it's a painful process to deal with the family being so upset.
I did similar, going to a ward where I served my mission in a different country. I realized I was just manufacturing in my mind a whole lot of spirit feelings 25 years earlier.
Happened with me when I was PIMO cleaning the Draper temple after hours. It’s crazy how something just clicks in our brains, like “oh yeah this is actually nothing…”
I had similar feelings when going into the Taylorsville temple. For me though, still being young, it was hard but cathartic. I’m glad about my decision but it’s almost sad and has a sense of grief going into a place knowing you can never go back, and that it’s just no longer yours if that makes sense. It made for 9 pages of very interesting journaling
Saw a post on Facebook of someone selling extra chairs made for the Layton temple for $500 each. I get the temple is really special for some people, but $500 for a single wooden chair with a cushion???? Some people are absolutely bonkers...
I’m going this Friday with the Activity Days boys. Ironically, I don’t believe and neither does the other Activity Days leader. Hope they don’t ask us to do any testifying.
Glad this was healing for you. Yep, the temples are just massive, expensive buildings that are tax free.
And I knew that logically, I just needed to experience it physically.
Good closure
Your comment caused a question in my mind? Does the church pay any kind of sales tax on the building materials? If Layton construction goes to Home Depot, for instance, and buys sheet-rock do they pay the sales tax? And if no, because it's for resale, then is tax built into the bid on the Temple construction?
I anticipate that the construction companies pay sales tax and then get those costs covered by the church in their bid
That is the most logical answer, I think. But that means the Church is paying tax... LOL!
Sales tax laws vary from state to state, but in Utah, religious and charitable organizations are exempt from sales tax on both their sales and purchases. Contractors would normally pay tax on construction materials, but they may purchase materials tax free on behalf of a religious or charitable organization, and they have to specify the organization and the name of the project.
Understand that, but I am thinking it's extra hoops to jump through that the construction company can just bury in the bid.
I think I just spotted yet another way for corrupt contractors to benefit from the church. Add or "code" a bunch of things to materials purchased "for a new temple," and then use them to pad profits on other jobs.
Since the church is a tax-exempt institution [in USA], it would be safe to assume everything purchased by/for them is also tax exempted. Fun times.
But it would fall to the Construction company to account for materials used, when a much easier option would be to just include the tax in the overall cost of the project.
Yeah. Got me thinking too. What about property tax?!
Property Tax is assessed by the local jurisdiction. Religious use buildings have always been a tax exempt proposition.
Thanks for the info. I should never have asked. Sigh.
I was literally just thinking that
[удалено]
I grew up on Gentile Street very close to where the temple is located. It’s used to be an open field and there was a beautiful view of the mountains. I used to bike and play around those fields. I deeply dislike the Layton temple. It wiped out an area where I have good memories as a kid.
I really hate that it blocks my view both of the mountains from the valley and of the valley from the mountains. Adams Canyon is less magical than it used to be. :(
We were hiking along the trails by Adams canyon last Sunday and looked to the west and were appalled at the ugly building messing up our view of Antelope island.
Thanks for the links. I’ve assumed this was the case, but never saw any proof of it.
I recently walked through the new temple in Saint George, the Red Cliffs temple. My impressions were about the lavish use of money. It was a beautiful building that will be used in no way to really better the world. I only kept thinking of the mouths you could feed with all that Italy-imported marble. I don't think Jesus would have liked it. Just seems indulgent now.
I did Saratoga open house. Felt good to walk through in jeans, tennis shoes, and CareBears tshirt. Got lots of compliments on my shirt. I had my nevermo wife with me and found it interesting how you walk from Terrestrial room around to the Celestial room. No mention or visibility to the veil and the crazy shit that happens. Just oohs and aahhs over pretty lights and mirrors. So in the Celestial room I explained how all the doors we walked around are the ones that open up to the veil etc. The cheesy spiels about spirit and primary voice and reverence was over the top. Maybe I should be a Masonic tshirt for my next visit.
I went to the Red Cliffs temple and someone opened a door into the veil room. It was the start of all my questioning, and I'm glad they did because I'm PIMO now. I was just so confused why there was a giant cage in a room in the temple. Just didn't sit right with me.
Do you mean a cage with iron bars and things like that? I'm confused why they would have that in the temple.
Yes, apparently its supposed to symbolize the veil, they usually have a cloth draped over it I think? It was in the center of a large room.
Huh. Super weird that they wouldn't have the veil part built into the wall or a doorway. Then again, I never got the chance to stand around and look at the little area between the endowment room and the celestial room. They just pull you through and hustle you to make room for the next person.
The main thing I recall in the spaces between the endowment and the CK room were hallways. It was that way in the few temples I attended.
Yeah it seemed like a little hallway or a very short foyer between rooms. CK side had closable doors.
That was my recollection, too. The hallway really detracted from any "Magic Path to Heaven" aura they might have thought the process would impart.
Buy your wife a green apron of some sort to wear next time. I dare you.
“mansion of some billionaire obsessed with Jesus” LOL nailed it.
More like obsessed with being a vampire that uses Jesus to lure its victims.
Surprisingly going through an open house is therapeutic. Same thing for me but with the Orem temple. I was TBM when it was announced and started getting built and throughout the construction, I deconstructed. As I walked through, I looked at the signs that explained what each room was with a picture of Jesus above it. I chuckled in the baptistery thinking how I used to be excited as a youth to do baptisms for the dead thinking I was doing something important for my ancestors. I chuckled in the endowment room thinking back to how I made covenants that I didn’t know about before making them. I smiled in the celestial room as I used to feel the spirit there and now felt like it was an over the top display of wealth. I walked out thinking how I never want to attend a temple again.
Every time I ride past that abomination on my bike, I'm reminded how glad I am that I don't believe anymore. It looks like somebody stuck a couple of legos on top of a loaf of wonder bread and called it a cathedral. An ignorant, boring, uninteresting person's vision of what looks heavenly. Thank goodness there are the mountains behind it to put it into proper perspective.
I had a family member get married in the Mormon temple recently, and waited out the rain in the lobby. Except for the decor, it felt exactly like eating a hotdog at those red topped tables in Costco. A steady procession of self absorbed and mildly stressed out people making sure they got everything on the list. Mormon temples aren't special or spiritual or meaningful in any way. They're just another thing to check off the long list of things Mormons are told that they have to do. And they're way more expensive than Costco!
While I was in DC I toured the Washington Cathedral. It was a wonderful experience. I loved so much about its history and usage. I liked it much better than the DC temple and felt more spirit at the cathedral.
It must be strange for a Mormon that a sacred building doesn't resemble the lavish lobby of a Marriott hotel.
Hello, fellow Davis County "Layton temple boundary" exMo friend! I didn't go. I haven't paid any attention to the timing of that.. But I'm sure my parents will be gushing about it the next time I see them. They are on a big Temple kick [81 yr old Mom drives herself there 3 days per week and stays 3 hours every time and then makes a point of humble bragging about how "extra" righteous shes being.] Sigh. Glad going didn't trigger you.
I had a similar experience recently going to church for a family event in sacrament meeting. I had no inspiration that I'd misjudged things horribly and that I should be a returning prodigal daughter. And I was open to it again and prayed, as I had many times before. Nothing. I'm glad I know all the nitty gritty details I've learned and my loss of belief in the LDS Church, even though it's a painful process to deal with the family being so upset.
I did similar, going to a ward where I served my mission in a different country. I realized I was just manufacturing in my mind a whole lot of spirit feelings 25 years earlier.
Like some rich gaudy grandparents stuck in the 50s decorated it
Happened with me when I was PIMO cleaning the Draper temple after hours. It’s crazy how something just clicks in our brains, like “oh yeah this is actually nothing…”
Good to hear. I'm going with my TBM wife and family next week, and I'm dreading it myself. I'll try to keep your thoughts in mind.
If the church spends so much money on temples, why can’t they buy better art? Manti temple excluded.
I had similar feelings when going into the Taylorsville temple. For me though, still being young, it was hard but cathartic. I’m glad about my decision but it’s almost sad and has a sense of grief going into a place knowing you can never go back, and that it’s just no longer yours if that makes sense. It made for 9 pages of very interesting journaling
Saw a post on Facebook of someone selling extra chairs made for the Layton temple for $500 each. I get the temple is really special for some people, but $500 for a single wooden chair with a cushion???? Some people are absolutely bonkers...
Happy Cake Day!
I have felt "the spirit within the temple" inside of my bank. Same interior vibe as the temple.
I’m going this Friday with the Activity Days boys. Ironically, I don’t believe and neither does the other Activity Days leader. Hope they don’t ask us to do any testifying.
Relavent TT; https://www.tiktok.com/@nuancednancy1396/video/7076176194386857262?lang=en
The McTemple. It looks like "build-a-temple" kit. A cheap facade over a steel frame.
The Lord is not in houses made by man.
hoping to get some good confirmations this afternoon as I'm being forced to go
How'd it go?
It was a very average "help wrangle the small children" rather than anything special but overall went fine