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SOUTH JORDAN -- Economists say when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints builds a temple it often increases property values around it. Now South Jordan is the only city in the world to have two LDS temples, and city leaders couldn't be happier.
Driving down 10400 South, the spire of the Jordan River Temple is clearly visible. Roughly 4 miles away is the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. Only 13 minutes separate these two buildings.
"We're honored, we are grateful, we are humbled and we are thrilled," said South Jordan City Manager John Geilmann.
Geilmann isn't sure why South Jordan is the only city in the world with two temples, but he says it has a lot to do with Church membership numbers in the area and access. He says people from neighboring cities in the growing southwest corner of Salt Lake County and northwest corner of Utah County will come.
Geilmann says it's all about beautifying a city. "It creates in a city what we call view corridors, and if you have gorgeous view corridors that provide positive identity to a city, you want that. That's what cities want," he said.
South Jordan has gone from about 1,300 in 1960 to about 54,000 today. Geilmann says it's hard to pin down the economic impact of so many temples but it does affect development. "We want to make sure that as a whole, there is a certain setting. That the homes, the facilities themselves, the landscaping, everything; they all match," he said.
In addition, Gielmann points out that his city also has a third temple, a Hindu Temple, at 1200 West and 10400 South. "To be able to say we have three temples; those are great beautifiers," he said.
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com
