02/01/2002   English German
  Edition # 36  
San Francisco, 02-01-2002

The Mormon Temple of San Diego

Michael Some time ago, we flew down to San Diego for a few days. A drive on the city highway took us past the jagged temple shown in illustration 2. We remembered our journalistic duties as newsletter reporters, took the next exit, and approached the brilliantly white structure. It turned out to be a Mormon temple, or as it is called here in the USA, the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." The building was surrounded by a tall white fence, but a sign invited us to a free tour of the grounds and pointed to the gate, which looked like the one at the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe. We parked, walked along the fence to the gate, where we were greeted by an older gentleman who introduced himself as "Bob" from "Utah." He said that "Sister Rebecca" would take care of us shortly, as soon as she was finished with the other group she was with. Despite Angelika's eye-rolling, I asked (but politely!) how long it would take, but was reassured that it would be soon.
Figure [1]: Visible from the highway: The Mormon Temple
in San Diego>

Figure [2]: The newsletter reporters were allowed into
the courtyard.>

Sister Rebecca" turned out to be the wife of "Bob" and guided us through the temple's gardens. The temple is the sanctuary of the Mormons and is visited by followers of the religion only on special occasions, such as for weddings. Otherwise, the faithful gather in more ordinary buildings for Sunday church services. We were not allowed inside the temple, but upon inquiry, we learned that as a Mormon, you receive a small card that grants you access. Angelika was somewhat informed and knew that Mormons do not consume alcohol or caffeine, and as a coffee enthusiast, she asked how it was with coffee and such. Alcohol and coffee are indeed taboo, came the response (at this point, I had already dismissed the whole thing), but Coca-Cola is quite acceptable in America. Interesting! We found it difficult to leave, as various people kept offering us a video they wanted to send to our home address -- but we stood firm and left.

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