Ephraim mayor, church president joined in picking temple site

EPHRAIM—Well before the first shovel of dirt was turned and before the Ephraim Utah Temple began rising above 200 North, former mayor John Scott found himself walking potential temple sites with President Russell M. Nelson, discussing where the new “House of the Lord” should be built.

Scott said he spent five hours with Nelson, then president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including a confidential tour of potential properties just days after Scott had written a letter supporting the project.

“While searching for the proper site selection, he asked me of the sites visited where I thought the temple should go,” Scott recalled in a talk to the Sanpete Chapter of the Sons of the Utah Pioneers (SUP). “When I expressed my views on which location should be selected, he looked at me deeply and then thanked me for my input.”

Scott said President Nelson’s primary concern throughout the visits was whether potential sites would be safe and accessible for Snow College students and other young adults.

“He was constantly asking if this particular site was within walking distance of where young single adults lived, played, worshipped,” Scott stated.

According to Scott, the church president rejected one potential location because “it would not be a safe walking environment.”

Scott said told the SUP that some time after the tour of properties, President Nelson had sought him out and acknowledged his role in the decision.

The church president “sought me out, put his arm around my shoulder and said, ‘You helped me select this site,'” Scott said.

The site ultimately selected on 200 North placed the temple within walking distance of Snow College student housing and campus activities.

Scott said the collaboration was facilitated by his position as mayor and Nelson’s deep family roots in Ephraim. Nelson’s mother, three of his four grandparents and all eight of his great-grandparents had lived in the community.