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Summarized by Rosemary Pollock
North Omaha Glad to See New Church
FLORENCE, NEBRASKA -- A new Mormon Temple in Florence, Nebraska is
expected to fuel the revitalization of the business areas surrounding
the new two acre site. The temple will be built near the historic
Mormon Pioneer Cemetery at 34th and State Streets. "We're
hoping to become a mini-Old Market area," said business owner Karen
Ketter. She opened two businesses, Anchors Away, a travel agency, and Stoned
Gardens Etc. a statuary and garden store at 86l6 N. 30th St. in April
1999. The temple is due to open next year.
"Everywhere the LDS has put in a temple," Ketter said,
"there has been a positive reaction, not only from the community but from area
businesses." Three new restaurants, Michael's Tea Room, Pioneer Homestyle
Restaurant and Mother's Good Food, have joined the Florence area since June.
Kim Farah, a spokeswoman for The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, said the temples are meticulously landscaped and tend to
bring up property values. More than 80 percent of 116 neighbors surveyed
in Orlando, Florida felt that the temple had contributed to increased property
values.
According to church history, Winter Quarters was established in
September 1846 as members traveled west. "This is one of the
'historic' temples....that has great significance to members of the
church," Farah said. A replica of the Kanesville Tabernacle, where Brigham
Young became prophet, was recently completed in Council Bluffs.
"These are basically local people. But anytime you have
all of the people coming in (to a temple), if it follows suit with other areas, they'll
always stop at the bookstore, " said Michael Lynes owner of Winter
Quarters Bookstore. The new temple is expected to draw members from
Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri.
"There is a groundswell occuring," Lynes said.
"There's a lot of excitement in the Florence business community." "I see a lot
more traffic. There are a lot of people coming in from all over to check on the progress of
the building of the temple."
"It's very exciting," said Liz Welch, director of public
affairs. "To us the Florence area has a great historical significance, and this will
be a big boost to Florence."
Source:
North Omaha Glad to See New Church
Omaha NE World-Herald 9Sep00 D1
By John Keenan: World-Herald Staff Writer
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