Vandals Damage, Deface New Temple Construction Site

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Vandals defaced the construction site of the Meridian Idaho Temple late Friday night or early Saturday morning.

Amidst other graffiti, racist and anti-religious symbols and messages littered the walls, written with black spray paint, according to KTVB News.

The vandals also emptied tubes of construction adhesive on the walls and floors, causing at least $500 of damage, the Ada County Sheriff's Office reported. It is unclear as of yet if this damage will set back construction plans for the temple.

Police are reviewing surveillance video from over the weekend and examining evidence left at the temple site, but the police have not made any arrests.

There have been reported thefts on the site since last year and, after the recent vandalism, police patrols have increased in the area.

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Image an artist's rendering of the completed temple from LDS Church Temples.

The Meridian Idaho Temple will be the Church's fifth temple in Idaho, following the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple (1945), the Boise Idaho Temple (1984), the Rexburg Idaho Temple (2008), and the Twin Falls Idaho Temple (2008).

The temple was announced in April general conference in 2011 and the site dedicated by Elder David A. Bednar August 23, 2014. There has been no dedication date announced yet for the Meridian Idaho Temple.

Lead image from KTVB News.
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