Some in Twin Falls to oppose temple plans

TWIN FALLS, Idaho — Some neighbors of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' proposed temple on a soon-to-be-defunct golf course are not enthused by the project's confirmation.

But LDS residents in the same subdivision are excited by church President Gordon B. Hinckley's announcement during the 174th Semiannual General Conference in Salt Lake City Saturday. President Hinckley also said a third Salt Lake area temple would be built at a location to be announced later.

"I'm thrilled to death," said Bob King, a Twin Falls church member and golfer at Candleridge Golf Course.

It will be the fourth temple in Idaho, with two existing temples in Boise and Idaho Falls, and one in the beginning stages of construction in Rexburg.

Candleridge Gold Course owners announced in August their plans to close the course on Dec. 31 because the business was not profitable.

More than 300 people already have signed a petition protesting a temple at Candleridge, neighbor Robert Brackett said.

"Why can't they put this somewhere where people and families aren't already settled in?" he asked. "I have absolutely nothing against the Mormon people. In fact, some of the best and nicest people I know are Mormon people.

"But this is affecting people's lives. This has to do with people who have spent thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars to have their homes next to a golf course."

In particular, Brackett and others asked why the property was not listed publicly so that more people would have known it was up for sale.

"It just seems like some sort of strong-arm deal here," he said, adding the petitioners will look for zoning loopholes to block the temple.

Candleridge is located in a residential zone that allows meeting halls, schools and churches.