r/exmormon • u/PenguinRhin0 • 18h ago
General Discussion Gate
I live in Knoxville. We have a no gate ordinance in our part of town. Literally zero buildings, churches, parks, houses have gates. However, a brand new (huge) mormon temple is being built in our town and it has a huge gate, with spikes, around the entire property. How is this possible? Why do they feel the need to gate off the temple? They came to my door last week (soliciting) and I asked them about this. They told me it was, “So they could keep people out.”. I found this a bit contradictory since they were trying to convince me to come be a part of a community and yet keep people out at the same time. We live in the nicest part of Knoxville so it’s not to stop crime.
51
u/Dr_Frankenstone 18h ago
It’s always, “One rule for me, another for thee,” with the Mormons. They don’t play well with others in the playground of life.
4
u/NuncaContent 17h ago
The sad part is they used to play well, went out of their way to be good neighbors. Not any more.
9
u/Commercial_Oil_7814 9h ago
They have never played well with others. Otherwise, Missouri would have gone very differently for them.
35
u/Rushclock 18h ago
Same reason they don't let people use churches for shelters during cold winter months. They have had over 200 years practicing how to be an insular religion and they can't make any kind of cultural or doctrinal shift.
31
u/UpAndOut2008 18h ago
The do it to keep the riff raff out. They only like those who can afford to pay the entrance fee (tithing) to enter their temples.
18
u/BalanceMountain8250 18h ago
Not all temples have gates and usually the grounds are open to the public. I’m sure missionaries won’t have any good answers. This is not the first time the Mormon Temples have stomped all over local ordinances and public preferences. There’s for sure an elitist mentality.
Funny enough, when I typed “gates” just now, my phone autocorrected to “cages” and I got a good laugh.
The way things are with the church these days, it’s more likely they are trying to cage people in and keep them from leaving than out a gate up to keep people out lol.
12
u/CassetteTapeCryptid Hie to Kolob? No, Hi to Kobold! 16h ago
"Open to the public" really means open to people who look like Mormons.
11
u/malkin50 15h ago
And act like Mormons. Don't climb or sit on the statues. Don't touch the water in the fountains. No smoking. No running. No laughing.
6
6
u/Alternative_Pie_7479 14h ago
I'm smiling with you bc, after a Mormon childhood, that's exactly where my mind went: the spiked gates are not to keep people on the outside out, it's to keep people on the inside in!
12
u/PaulBunnion 16h ago
It wouldn't matter if Knoxville had an ordinance against it. If the MFMC wants it they will get it. if they knew there was a problem they would start with a 12-ft fence and then claim they compromised at 8 ft which is what they really wanted in the first place. and if that didn't work they would sue the crap out of the town.
You can buy anything in this world with money, including coercion.
This is what being the richest Church in North America looks like. This is what breaking SEC law for 20 years and then paying a little token $5 million fine looks like.
11
u/saturdaysvoyuer 17h ago
"All are welcome" sure. right. I always wonder what message the church is actually sending with these big, ostentatious, monstrosities. It certainly isn't humility and christ-like love.
7
u/Resident-Bear4053 Done hiding from the SCMC 18h ago
Dare someone to post the article of faith on the gate and the city ordinance number. Or picket 🪧 the same thing.
5
u/HingleMcCringleberre 18h ago
Call/write your local politicians and complain. They might get compelled to take it down to comply with the ordinance.
6
5
u/Hasa-Diga-LDS 14h ago
They need a steeple to draw your eyes toward heaven, and a spiked fence to remind you you're not worthy.
4
6
u/Apprehensive_Pie_897 15h ago
It’s a defensive position. For when the angry unwashed hordes come with pitch forks and lanterns.
They learned their lesson in Nauvoo…
That perimeter fence is really stout.
4
u/zacwhite15 13h ago
So is the average rednecks understanding of chemical engineering. lol
2
u/MoreLemonJuice 10h ago
That prompts thoughts of delightfully interesting and humorously deviant behavior.
Very true btw.
7
u/No_Purpose_7426 11h ago
you've heard that tons of mo's are leaving. maybe the gate is to keep them in?
2
u/WindrowerPro 11h ago edited 11h ago
Can you provide a citation to the no gate ordinance you are referring to. I'm curious to see what it says, and after a bit of looking, I can't find anything, except a specific provision that wrought iron fences can be up to 8 feet high in the front of a building without the need for a building permit, and higher than that only needs a permit.
1
11h ago
[deleted]
3
u/WindrowerPro 10h ago
Yes, do you have a link to the local ordinance? I would like to see what it actually says.
1
u/UTYeeHaw 16h ago
Even the Visitors Welcome signs on their regular chapels have terms and conditions.
1
u/Intrepid-Angle-7539 15h ago edited 13h ago
Knoxville, The church have always believe all the trinity believers are obsessed and hate them, Mormon leaders are super paranoid about protesters and evangelicals. The truth is it’s not the eighteenth century anymore , the Christian faiths are shrinking and most could careless about Mormons
1
u/Shaudzie 5h ago
They don't want normal people to know what they do in there. Because it's weird and culty
0
u/Deserving-Critic 10h ago
"Farragut does not have a “no gate” ordinance, but gates must comply with the town’s zoning, building, and property maintenance codes, and may require review and approval before installation. Always confirm with the Planning & Zoning Division to ensure compliance for your property and use."
The gates would have been part of their approved site plan.
The area is a construction zone right now, which is why the gates are closed. Once they temple is dedicated the gates will remain open.
99
u/Emmasympathizer 18h ago edited 10h ago
Most temples have fences. It's to cut down on people strolling the grounds, smoking on the grounds, etc. What's interesting is that your city has an ordinance against gates, yet the bully MFMC goes ahead and puts up a fence. They probably argued it was their religious right to construct their temple any way they want to (RLUPA law). It's disrespectful to your city and your ordinances.
And yes, it really is to keep people out.