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.

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 McKinney 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.

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.