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Arson suspected in LDS chapel fire

Why can't people just let others believe what they want? They don't need to bother us by leaving nasty comments all over online news and burn down our buildings and we don't need to bother them by acting "holier than thou" and making them feel unworthy to be in our presence.

Mormons and non-mormons alike: please grow up and let people worship what they want to worship. Thanks.

Stories like this make me wonder when the Church will start making mandatory the installation of security systems and surveillance cameras to try to reduce the incidences of arson and vandalism at LDS chapels. It's only going to get worse.

Well said Freedom of Religion. That's how I feel!

All the point made above are valid and I second the feeling above, as Americans we should allow and defend the right to worship according one's conscience. As Latter-day saints we need to recognize that our holier than thou attitude is what often gets us in trouble, by touting the 'only true church' rhetoric to the point of driving everyone crazy. Much of the bad that comes back on the church is self inflicted whether we are willing to admit it or not! If we mind our own business people will leave us alone, but when we delve into the public fray we should expect retaliation.

It is less expensive for the church to rebuild and repair when necessary than to insure and pay for the cost of security, my bet is that unless things get far worse nothing will happen soon.

In response to the 10:03 commentator, is the expenditure on such things really worth it? There are much better ways to spend what would end up being millions of dollars than on security systems.
The fact that there was minimal damage tells me that current decisions on various items to be used in Churh buildings, from class to curtains to brick, is a wise investment in money if they keep fires from spreading.
However I am unconvinced that a major expenditure to lessen arson and vandalism is worth while. I would rather see the money used to build new chapels and temples where they are desperately needed, such as Trujillo and maybe even Arequipa.

I don't think we all read the same news article. Nothing is said about the arsonist being a terrorist, an athiest, or a person from another church or country. So far there are no clues as to who started the fire or why - it could have been local teens who actually attend that church, a disgruntled church employee, a firebug, etc. Why spout off about Freedom of Religion and terrorism when this might just be regular old vandalism? My old ward building was burned twice - by lightning. Whose vengeance was that?

passer by was, a huge THANK YOU. It could have been much worse, had that person not noticed, stopped, and taken action.

be unto all of you. Let's forgive and be more vigilent of security for our chapels. Thanks to the passer-by who stopped to put out what he could.

Even though I am not LDS, i feel terrible that this happened in a house of worship. Hopefully the police will catch the perpetrator and throw him/her in jail.

Although not a member of the LDS Church, my heart does go out to those who suffered in any way from this totally senseless act.

The end of the story says there are 22 comments. How come this says "there are no comments"?

The same intolerance, bigotry, and hatred so often evidenced on these message boards was probably the motivation for this act as well.

Or it could just be some kids committing arson indiscriminately.

In Waianae, Hawaii not long ago we dedicated our new Chapel. The reason we had to do that is that about 2 1/2 yeas before on a Sunny Afternoon about 2 PM, Two Junior High School, Terrorist decided to burn our Old One Down.

This is the meeting place of 3 Wards. The Fire Department responded quickly and a Fire Wall held real well, so the Chapel was saved, however everything else was destroyed.

What impressed me was the orderliness and leadership that was displayed by Ward and Stake Leaders. Within 24hrs we had our New meeting Place and Schedule, and the word was out by Coconut Wireless, Cell Phones, and Visits.

Eash Ward joined the Ward meeting at the Stake Center at the same time. We shared for about a month, then with the help of Port A Potties and Trailers for Offices we where able to hold services at our Chapel. For other things we had to continue to share for 2 years.

Our new Building is lovely and we have our Old Chapel Extensively Refurbished. It is almost the size of a Stake Center. 21st Century Fire Retardant Materials where used. We are all thankful.

Maybe that "holier than thou" attitude is a Utah thing??? I have lived in unnumeral parts of the country and the church is always the same and have never noticed anyone feeling "holier than thou?" That is very sad.

Stupid teenagers doing very stupid things.

Holier than thou??? | 5:55 a.m. May 16, 2009

Maybe that "holier than thou" attitude is a Utah thing??? I have lived in unnumeral parts of the country and the church is always the same and have never noticed anyone feeling "holier than thou?" That is very sad.

How about Gays, Blacks and women? How about prop????
Seems they feel pretty holier than them!

At least there were several things going in the right direction of this fire not getting farther along: 1 - windows of mixed materials for less breakage of an invasive nature; 2 - fire retardant materials on the curtains; 3 - a very observant motorist with a fire extinguisher in the car, making the right calls and moves to prevent further damage.

Bravo! Being prepared for any possibility is a good thing.

"The same intolerance, bigotry, and hatred so often evidenced on these message boards was probably the motivation for this act as well."

Now you know how the victims of LDS persecution feel! Come down from your pedestal, God is humbling the Saints so maybe LDS can find common ground with those who in many cases it drives to depression & suicide.

God isn't humbling the Saints. God allows all of us our free agency and people do hurtful, harmful things to each other. I think a lot of people think that LDS members have a "holier than thou" attitude just because they are trying to do good and be good. They don't have to say anything to anyone or do anything to them, they just have to keep a nice yard or go to Church every Sunday or not swear and use drugs and alcohol and someone says that they have a "holier than thou" attitude. It's like being a smoker and then quitting and all of your friends who still smoke act like you have turned against THEM just because you are trying to improve your own health. That "judge not" thing should apply to EVERYONE.