Dear editor:

I understand the importance of the temple to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints faith, but those of us who are not LDS feel deeply about this proposed, uninvited structure and its disputed location. The entire town is divided and we are not dealing with individuals, but with a very large, powerful and wealthy organization based in Utah. 

The LDS temple is the most dramatic development that we citizens have ever encountered as a community, and it is totally out of our control — it is in the hands of the Planning and Zoning board who will make this historical decision for Cody.

We are a little town, and this structure will be the largest and most prominent and dominant in Cody. It is a disharmonious design and does not look like our Western town. The temple makes a statement, but not a Cody statement; it is an LDS statement. It changes our identity and we object to being branded.

The temple site is zoned residential, and it also violates the city’s Master Plan. It is inappropriate and not harmonious with the surrounding homes and it will be the tallest building, lit and visible from every direction. Regrettably the LDS have dictated what they want and have put their footprint on this rural site. The LDS church is unwilling to build elsewhere — because of this, Cody may be facing legal action, by one or both parties. 

Additionally, LDS member Matt Moss, a P&Z board member, absolutely must recuse himself since it is arguably a conflict of interest and the board must remain impartial. There must be no hint of impropriety. His presence casts a shadow on the integrity of the board. We citizens deserve his removal and have asked for it repeatedly. Moss stated that he will benefit from the temple in Cody, it will save him four hours and 200 miles of driving to Billings, isn’t that a bias and a conflict of interest, saving him time and money?

I wish the LDS population no ill will, but sadly the community is taking sides and does not like being put in this position. The only neighborly solution is for the LDS to relocate the temple. This would be respectful of our town and citizens. This controversial project has never been Cody’s, but overwhelmingly that of the LDS; it will have an indelible effect on all of us every day and every night. 

The LDS temple’s visibility and the nightly glowing steeple is disrespectful of all of Cody’s other multi-faith denominations. It smacks of elitism. Sadly, lines are being drawn and attorneys retained.

Carol Armstrong

Cody