Comments about ‘Mormon church among protesters of Las Vegas water plan’

Maybe it's time Utahns stop supporting Las Vegas, just take your money elsewhere. LV, if allowed, will gobble up every drop of water from Nevada, Utah and anywhere else they can get it. This has to stop.

The answer to the water grabs is for some really clever people to find cost effective ways to purify municipal waste water streams; and the ones who do, can be rich beyond imagination...

Remind me again why the Mormon Church owns ranches?

"Abe Sarvis | 3:05 p.m. June 8, 2010
Remind me again why the Mormon Church owns ranches?"

It said in the article.

To "raise livestock".

The church raises cattle to support it's welfare program. Food and other supplies produced by the church are flown all over the world whenever the need arises; such as in Haiti, Chile or any number of countries including this one.

And it's not just the water - consider the power that city consumes. Just down on the strip alone. This is what happens when some gangster gets this great idea of building a major casino out in the desert where they could do what they wanted.

Re: Abe Sarvis

Because they raise cattle? The LDS church has many different farms and ranches, and the products from those businesses go to stock the bishop's storehouses, are given to humanitarian aid, etc. Additionally, the leather from the cattle goes toward the scriptures and totes that the church produces. Owning the ranches and farms saves the church a lot of money that they can use in other endeavors.

@ Abe: The best beef money CAN'T buy. It's one of their many welfare farms.

The church raises beef to support people in meed around the world. The water is vital.

"Abe Sarvis | 3:05 p.m. June 8, 2010
Remind me again why the Mormon Church owns ranches?"

To add to what others have said; the livestock are grown for the Welfare program of the Church not only benefiting those outside the US but also domestically. Right here on the Wasatch Front, in food pantries run by many non-profit organizations, commodities (like this beef and it's bi-products) are used to feef the poor.

So essentially, the Church is standing up for the welfare of the poor and needy.

have to agree about las vegas not being the best example of water conservation or usage in the world... it's an interesting place cuz you drive through bone dry desert-lands, and then "Poof!" there're miles and miles of golf courses, huge outdoor water parks, fountains and exhibits, and then you drive through to the other side into death valley... :) Vegas really is a city of excess. If I had a vote I'd put the breaks on their appetites...

The problem is the builders of Las Vegas have been people who hate the desert. They build huge golf courses, complete with huge amounts of grass. Person after person after person goes for a lawn instead of a natural desert land-scape.

While people also create a demand for water, it is primarily the upkeep of lawns that causes a demand for water, as well as the planting of non-native trees.

Yes, water is vital! As much as we may not like it couldn't it be that the best thing to do would be to share the water? Wouldn't that be called greed if we didn't? It's a precious resource. I do know that it will hurt the LDS Church and the others less economically than it would the economy and people of Las Vegas. Not only did some gangster build a city in the desert so he could do what he wanted...so did an LDS Church pioneer!

While I agree that Las Vegas should not necessarily be allowed to grab as much water as they want from wherever they want it, I take issue with comments that suggest Las Vegas is not a good example of water conservation.

We in Las Vegas receive a relatively small alotment of Colorado River water compared to other areas with less population. Residents of Las Vegas abide by strict watering schedules. Local governments have provided subsidies for converting lawns into water-conserving desert landscapes. Many of the touristy water features you see around town are made with imported water that is recirculated. Most of the new homes built in the last decade or so are landscaped with little or no grass. Golf courses and people with big lawns pay a hefty price for it. Even local restaurants don't serve you water unless you ask for it. I agree that Las Vegas must make do with what we have, but please don't accuse us of not conserving water.

There are two reasons the Church owns ranches. One is to aid the welfare program. However, a lot of the real-estate the Church owns that is used in farm operations is an investment. This is so all money is not put into banks. Since the Church gets the money and then builds chapels, etc., it needs to invest money.

The Church pays taxes on all investment property, and on any ranch operated on a for-profit basis. Only those ranches operated on a non-profit basis clearly under the direction of the welfare program are tax exempt.

great article, and comments, to educate on this problem...I support the church's position on this issue, while Las Vegas may indeed conserve water, use of it to feed the poor hungry as opposed to entertainment must be the priority.

Most protestors know not what the problem is and don't "live it" like we do. Thank You to all that stand with us. You are golden! Loving your fellow man has nothing to do with breaking the laws of the land and all the ensuing problems that plague us because of lawbreakers. I do believe in being subject to laws, rules and magistrates. thanks to all that stand for righteousness.

It's pretty straight forward. Let Nevada use Nevada water and leave Utah's water alone.

@rlsintx : Las Vegas already recycles all of their waste water by returning it(once it is treated of course) to the Colorado River above Lake Mead.

Owl, that is a little tough to do considering that the underground lake they want to tap straddles the state border. How do you take water out of one side of a lake without affecting the other side?

The other factor, of course, is the drying up of the area they want to drain. If they only had an endangered plant specie or two in that area.

Hmmmm...