Fairview Texas Temple

Three homeowners in Fairview have filed a lawsuit against the Town Council after it approved permits for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to build a temple.

Under Texas law, if 20% of property owners within 200 feet of a proposed development submit a protest petition, a supermajority vote from the Town Council is required for approval. In response to the proposed temple project, a group of Fairview residents submitted such a petition.

The Town Council approved the temple application in April, with a 5-2 vote, which falls short of the 6-1 supermajority that would be required if the petition met the threshold.

According to the Town Manager, preliminary calculations show the petition reached about 17% of eligible signatures. However, residents who submitted the petition believe it met the 20% requirement and have also filed a formal appeal with the Town’s Board of Adjustments.

The Town of Fairview is currently working with legal counsel to determine the appropriate next steps.

This matter is now with the Town, and the Church is following developments closely as the process moves forward.

“We are grateful for the outcome of last night’s meeting and extend our sincere appreciation to the Fairview Town Council for honoring the terms of the mediated agreement. We know the temple will be a peaceful addition to Fairview and the surrounding communities.”

Read the news release about the official name of the temple being changed to Fairview Texas Temple

This document highlights questions and answers about the application for the McKinney Texas Temple.

For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a temple is a sacred place that is the house of the Lord. Church President Russell M. Nelson has taught: “[A]ll we do in the Church points to the Lord and His holy house.” Temples are meant to bring peace not only to those who enter but to the neighborhoods where they are built. In more than two hundred communities worldwide, these beautiful structures do exactly that. They become peaceful and treasured additions to a neighborhood.

President Nelson announced the Church’s intention to build a temple in north Texas in the Church’s October 2022 general conference. Church leaders prayerfully selected the site, and on February 26, 2024, the Church released a rendering of the temple. As with all temples, the design was carefully developed as a dignified and beautiful structure that would enhance and complement its local environment. The original plans called for a 45,375-square-foot temple with two aboveground floors. The main structure would be 65 feet high with a spire extending up to 173 feet. These dimensions were consistent with other buildings of this kind. The Church did everything it could to follow established procedures and acted in good faith as part of this process.

The Church counseled its members—as it does in every case—to avoid contention and work peaceably as citizens who honor the law as neighbors and friends. Unfortunately, some described the Church’s efforts to explain its beliefs and its religious rights to worship as “bullying.” At the August 6 meeting, the Fairview Town Council voted 7–0 to deny the Church’s application.

To avoid legal action to protect its rights to build a house of worship—a liberty afforded to all religions in the United States of America and the State of Texas—the Church reached out again to local authorities in early fall of 2024, and the town agreed to participate in nonbinding mediation. As a result of this mediation, the Church agreed to reduce plans for the temple from two floors to one, lowering the height of the building to 35 feet and the overall height to 120 feet and reducing the square footage to 30,000 feet. These difficult concessions were made in a spirit of goodwill toward the local community. Mayor Henry Lessner and Mayor Pro Tem John Hubbard both said they would vote to approve the Temple at 120 feet, and on November 25, 2024, the town council voted unanimously (6–0) to support the nonbinding memorandum of settlement.

Despite having agreed upon a mutually acceptable solution, at a public meeting on December 3, 2024, opponents of this project insisted that the temple be treated like a residential structure limited to an overall height of 35 feet. In response, the council distanced itself from the mediation agreement. Mayor Lessner told the Dallas Morning News that the mediation agreement was “just the first inning,” and the Church would have to make the temple much smaller to get approval.[1] The mayor’s January 2025 newsletter stated, “There is a good chance that the new design with the 120 foot tower will not be accepted.”[2] Based on those statements, the Church hesitated to apply for a 120-foot temple.

Recently, however, Mayor Lessner reiterated the council’s support for the original mediation agreement. During a recent podcast, Mayor Lessner said that the Church had made a “big concession on the [temple] size.” Noting that the town council had voted 6–0 (one member was missing) to support the mediation agreement, Mayor Lessner reaffirmed on several podcasts his belief that the council would approve the 120-foot temple.

Based on the mayor’s recent assurances, and hoping to bring a peaceful and respectful conclusion to the community, the Church decided to submit an application for the 120-foot temple agreed to during mediation. The Church hopes the community of Fairview will view this effort as a reiteration of our goodwill and that the town council will stand by its word to honor the agreement and the religious liberties afforded to members of the Church and all those who wish to worship as their conscience dictates.

[1] Lilly Kersh, “Fairview residents decry Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple compromise,” Dallas Morning News, December 4, 2024, https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/fairview-residents-speak-out-against-temple-compromise-with-church-of-latter-day-saints/ar-AA1vgzV6?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=LCTS&cvid=9bac7c0ff87043a78bc00a373d474d7b&ei=49.

[2] Henry Lessner, “Message from the Mayor,” Fairview Town News, January 2025, https://fairviewtexas.org/Documents/Fairview-Town-News---January-2025.pdf

“In building sacred temples, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints always seeks to cooperate with communities while exercising its fundamental rights of worship. After the Town of Fairview rejected the Church’s first application, the Church and the Town reached a mediated agreement for a smaller temple. The Town Council unanimously endorsed the agreement, but the mayor later called for more concessions. Recently, the mayor has again expressed his support and belief that the Town Council will stand by its word. The Church is grateful for this assurance and today has filed a new application consistent with the agreement. We look forward to continuing our association with the community as good neighbors and friends.”

The following letter was delivered to Fairview Mayor Henry Lessner and city council members this morning at 10:00 a.m. by a Fairview resident:

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
ALLEN TEXAS STAKE

13 March 2025

Dear Mayor Lessner and Fairview Town Council Members:

I write this letter on behalf of the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to discuss the proposed temple project in Fairview. We value our relationship with the community and are eager to work together for a positive outcome to this project and our long-term relationship as friends and neighbors.

Temples are sacred to us. They are the Houses of the Lord, sanctuaries where we commune quietly with Him, unite families for eternity, and experience hope and peace. Each of the 376 temples around the world embodies this faith.

We also deeply cherish our connection with the communities where temples are located. Local members of the Church are an integral part of the Fairview community and the surrounding areas. We appreciate the vision for development that preserves Fairview’s unique character. We hope to support such an approach and want to reassure residents that the temple will be a beautiful and peaceful place that enhances the neighborhood in alignment with the long-term vision for the area.

The chosen 8.1-acre site is well-positioned among existing religious buildings along a busy commercial road, allowing for beautiful landscaping that will enhance and beautify the surroundings. We’re committed to not only meeting but exceeding local standards whenever reasonably possible.

However, it is troubling that members of the Town Council seem to have already withdrawn their support from the agreement made during the recent mediation. When the Church sought to engage with council members individually to discuss their commitment to this compromise, we were met with refusal. While we continue to believe that the Town’s denial of the current application substantially burdens the practice and expression of religious beliefs for the Church, we would still be prepared to shoulder that burden and file our application for the smaller temple. Before filing an application for a smaller temple, we ask only for assurance that the Town would live up to the original obligations it made during mediation. We remain concerned, however, that our religious rights could be compromised if the Town does not honor its word as agreed to during mediation. We entered mediation with hopes for a respectful and expedient solution that advanced everyone’s goals. That remains our hope.

It is important to clarify misinformation that may have circulated about this process. It is disheartening to face mischaracterizations of our proposed temple as against the law, when it is entirely appropriate under local law and fully protected by both federal and state laws that protect religious rights in the United States of America. Our intention has always been to collaborate openly at every stage of this process. Despite our sincere efforts to avoid conflict, we must stand firm against any actions that would impede the rights of members of our Church - or any Church - to worship freely as protected by the laws of the land.

There is a way forward. We respectfully invite the Town to reaffirm the commitments it made during the mediation process, which previously the Town Council unanimously voted to support. Upholding the agreement is an essential reassurance that would make it unnecessary for us to seek judicial assistance to resolve this impasse.

Thank you for your consideration. We consider ourselves part of the Fairview community and share this information in a spirit of transparency and friendship. We hope to find a mutually acceptable solution that honors Fairview’s future and the sacred role of the planned temple on this beautiful site. We hope you will engage with Fairview residents who want this temple and who share a love both for their faith and their local community.

Sincerely,

President Daniel M. Trythall
Allen Texas Stake
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church participated in a non-binding mediation with the Town of Fairview in November. During this process, the Church made significant concessions, including reducing the steeple height to 120 feet and modifying the temple to a single-story building of approximately 29,600 square feet. The Church understood that these adjustments fully addressed the concerns previously raised by the Fairview Town Council.

The Church was fully prepared to submit the revised temple application by the January 13 deadline, in accordance with the mediation agreement. However, based on recent discussions with the town and public statements made by the mayor of Fairview, it became clear that there were concerns about the town’s commitment to honor the agreed-upon terms.

As a result, the Church delivered an official “intent to sue” notice to the Town of Fairview this morning. Please see the letters below for more details.

Letter to the town of Fairview on January 13, 2025

Letter to the town of Fairview on January 27, 2025

We are grateful for your ongoing faith and prayers. Our sincere hope is to reach a resolution that respects the needs of our growing Church membership in North Texas, upholds the rights of all religious groups, and addresses the interests of the town.

Like all residents of Fairview, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints value a community that is inclusive and one that welcomes all religious faiths.

Read more about the Community Impact.

The Church has conducted numerous studies to ensure the temple is following all requirements from the City of Fairview.

This is the Site Plan

This is the Lighting Analysis

This is the Traffic Study

This is the Drainage Study

This is the Environmental Impact Memo

Here is a fact sheet about the Fairview Texas Temple.

Here is a list of questions and answers about building temples.

Click here to learn more about why temples are so important to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and how the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”) supports the Church’s right to build the Temple in the selected location in Fairview and with its current design.

Here is a letter noting relevant RLUIPA cases.

Here is a copy of the letter from the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division regarding RULIPA.

Navigating the land use entitlement process is crucial for any property development project.

This guide outlines the essential steps involved, from the initial design phase to obtaining necessary municipal approvals.

We are grateful for the positive, productive discussions, including the council’s thoughtful comments about the parties’ respective positions.
We look forward to presenting a formal proposal in the coming months.

Temples are sacred and holy places for Latter-day Saints and are considered to be a house of the Lord. We are grateful that town officials from Fairview were willing to discuss the concerns of the community with Church representatives and we were able to reach an agreement to move forward. A new proposal is now in place that represents a mutually agreed compromise between the Church and the town and has the support of the mayor and the council. This proposal includes a smaller single-story temple of approximately 30,000 square feet and a steeple height of 120 feet. This plan will next be presented in public hearings for consideration by the Fairview Town Council. The Church looks forward to participating in this public process and presenting this new plan for a temple on the Church’s property in Fairview.

On Monday, November 18, 2024, the Church and Town representatives participated in a voluntary, non-binding mediation. The parties had productive discussions, but settlement negotiations are ongoing and it would not be prudent to comment further at this time.

The Church looks forward to meeting with the town representatives and working with them on ways to meet the community’s concerns while at the same time protecting the Church’s religious liberty rights.

Letter Regarding the Conditional Use Permit for the McKinney Texas Temple (August 5, 2024)

Here is a copy of the full letter sent to the town council regarding the construction of the McKinney Texas Temple.

As we continue to work through the approval process for the McKinney Texas Temple, we appreciate the goodwill of those helping to make this sacred place of worship possible.

This morning, representatives from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met with Fairview Town Mayor Henry Lessner, Mayor Pro Tem John Hubbard, Town Manager Julie Couch, and Town Attorney Clark McCoy to discuss the proposed McKinney Temple. During this meeting, the Church presented a good faith offer that included reducing the height of the temple by approximately 15 feet and changing the name of the temple.

Despite these significant concessions, those in attendance said they would not support or recommend this offer to the Town Council. Furthermore, the town attorney refused to allow Church representatives to meet with the other Town Council members to address their concerns directly.

We remain hopeful that we can reach a mutual agreement and continue to work towards a solution that benefits both the Town of Fairview and the local membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worship in meetinghouses around the world, and visitors are always welcome to participate.

Depending on the size of the congregation and other circumstances, these meetinghouses could range from a large brick church building to a rented storefront. In any case, these meetinghouses are where people gather together regularly for Sunday worship services, classes, social activities, and more.

Temples are set aside from the everyday world as sacred, holy places where we perform the ordinances that bind us to God and to our families for eternity. They are a place of deep reverence where Latter-day Saints who have prepared themselves for temple worship put away distractions such as cell phones and casual conversations to focus on God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

When temples are first built or after they have undergone extensive renovations, open houses are held for the public so they can take a tour inside. After a temple is dedicated for sacred use, it is open only to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who have worked to prepare themselves for the experience. However, many dedicated temples have beautiful grounds and even visitors’ centers that are still open to the public.