Las Vegas balloon ascends in protest of LDS temple

James Schaeffer
·4 min read
63

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Residents in the Lone Mountain community said they are taking action to demonstrate the height of a proposed religious temple and said they are not full of hot air—neither is their balloon.

The seven-foot, white, helium balloon assembled by Jon Dorsey, owner of Mr. Balloon, was purchased by an unnamed Lone Mountain resident to illustrate the height of 216 feet, the current maximum height of a proposed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints temple.

  • The seven-foot, white, helium balloon assembled by Jon Dorsey, owner of Mr. Balloon, was purchased by an unnamed Lone Mountain resident to illustrate the height of 216 feet, the current maximum height of a proposed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints temple. (Rebecca Leiba)
    The seven-foot, white, helium balloon assembled by Jon Dorsey, owner of Mr. Balloon, was purchased by an unnamed Lone Mountain resident to illustrate the height of 216 feet, the current maximum height of a proposed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints temple. (Rebecca Leiba)
  • The seven-foot, white, helium balloon assembled by Jon Dorsey, owner of Mr. Balloon, was purchased by an unnamed Lone Mountain resident to illustrate the height of 216 feet, the current maximum height of a proposed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints temple. (KLAS)
    The seven-foot, white, helium balloon assembled by Jon Dorsey, owner of Mr. Balloon, was purchased by an unnamed Lone Mountain resident to illustrate the height of 216 feet, the current maximum height of a proposed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints temple. (KLAS)
  • The seven-foot, white, helium balloon assembled by Jon Dorsey, owner of Mr. Balloon, was purchased by an unnamed Lone Mountain resident to illustrate the height of 216 feet, the current maximum height of a proposed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints temple. (KLAS)
    The seven-foot, white, helium balloon assembled by Jon Dorsey, owner of Mr. Balloon, was purchased by an unnamed Lone Mountain resident to illustrate the height of 216 feet, the current maximum height of a proposed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints temple. (KLAS)
  • The seven-foot, white, helium balloon assembled by Jon Dorsey, owner of Mr. Balloon, was purchased by an unnamed Lone Mountain resident to illustrate the height of 216 feet, the current maximum height of a proposed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints temple. (KLAS)
    The seven-foot, white, helium balloon assembled by Jon Dorsey, owner of Mr. Balloon, was purchased by an unnamed Lone Mountain resident to illustrate the height of 216 feet, the current maximum height of a proposed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints temple. (KLAS)
  • The seven-foot, white, helium balloon assembled by Jon Dorsey, owner of Mr. Balloon, was purchased by an unnamed Lone Mountain resident to illustrate the height of 216 feet, the current maximum height of a proposed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints temple. (KLAS)
    The seven-foot, white, helium balloon assembled by Jon Dorsey, owner of Mr. Balloon, was purchased by an unnamed Lone Mountain resident to illustrate the height of 216 feet, the current maximum height of a proposed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints temple. (KLAS)

Matt Deloe, a Lone Mountain resident, helped tie the ropes of the balloon to two cinderblocks sitting in the public right of way adjacent to the lot.

Deloe turned to Dorsey and asked whether the balloon would be safe as they prepared for liftoff.

“Jon before we put this thing up,” Deloe said. “Is there any risk of me asphyxiating myself?”

Dorsey laughed as he continued to fill the balloon with helium and replied the large balloon was completely safe and could withstand winds up to 15 mph.

“If this were any bigger,” Dorsey said. “I’d get a ride to Utah.”

Highest Concerns

Around 15 members of the community walked over to the launch site from the nearby Great Northwest Country Fest to inspect the balloon which is indicative of the proposed LDS temple’s height.

“We as the neighbors are trying to battle against this project,” Matt Hackley, a Lone Mountain resident, said. “It does not fit the neighborhood.”

  • Matt Deloe, a Lone Mountain resident (KLAS)
    Matt Deloe, a Lone Mountain resident (KLAS)

Residents have voiced concern over the proposed LDS temple’s footprint and height along with the chance of sidewalks, storm drains and streetlights which might come with the development.

“It does not fit along within the guidelines of what the rest of the neighborhood has to follow,” Hackley said. “Our homes are asked to be 35 feet maximum, and the LDS community is asking for their temple to be 216 feet.”

The guidelines that outline the height requirement are from the Interlocal Agreement, a document which could possibly limit the project.

A new City of Las Vegas staff report has suggested the proposed LDS temple does not conflict with the requirements of the Interlocal Agreement.

“The Interlocal Agreement is explicit in its position on amending a jurisdiction’s comprehensive plan or rezoning of properties to commercial or industrial uses,” staff wrote in the report. “However, it is silent regarding amending the General Plan or rezoning to allow civic uses such as government facilities, schools and religious facilities.”

Bud Stoddard, stake president of the Las Vegas Lone Mountain Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, told 8 News Now during a previous report he has heard from the community but the ability to change the height of the temple is not up to him.

During a previous interview with 8 News Now Stoddard also said he believes the 3,000 members he represents are in favor of the proposed temple.

The two parcels owned by the LDS church total 20 acres, and plans indicate the building will be as high as 216 feet, with no plans for an angel Moroni.

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