I watched Richard Jessop while he was talking to Keith Morrison. He was saying exactly what he thought Dateline wanted to hear. We need to remember that he isn't in charge of the FLDS compound, so his so-called lack of concern about the future of the temple really doesn't matter. He will clean and repair it if Merrill Jessop or Warren Jeffs tell him to do so. At this time, the FLDS know the value of milking the image of the "desecrated temple" with the media. They won't destroy it.
They will destroy it - if doing so makes a good show for the media - Scorched Earth... besides it isn't THEIR money and destroying it doesn't impact the FLDS at all. These people throw away BOYS...what's an $$8 Million $ Temple compared to THAT?
I expect to hear some "money-lenders in the Temple" parable next....
You know even Jesus didn't throw out the Temple with the spoiled wine - a temple is just a PLACE TO WORSHIP...unless the FLDS has the Ark of The Covenant in this one, it isn't any different than a million OTHER churches in the world....a building. God can be with us wherever we are - he doesn't need (or ask for) a special Temple.
Most churches don't have safes full of "special records" and the books of "plural celestial marriages" in them either - the FLDS put all those records in the Temple banking on the authorities either not to find them, or not to desecrate their temple by entering it in the 1st place. The FLDS ATTEMPTED to HIDE their records and their secrets inside the Temple. That might have worked in UTAH - but HERE, if you want to hide something where no-one will touch it - you'd better put it into an OU Football Jersey.
Do NOT be surprised if they dismantle that Temple - even if they SELL the property they will remove every trace of the Temple 1st if they are permitted. They don't want anyone to see it, use it or exploit it. Especially they don't want someone to use against them. A mainstream Mormon Temple is NOT like a regular Church in EVERY way - an LDS Temple has some "special" private, members only areas used for their specific religious ceremonies. MANY Mormons dream of a "Temple Wedding" with all the special ceremonies and the husband symbolically pulling the bride thru the veil and the declarations of the secret names by which husband and wife will identify each other in heaven etc. The LDS does not share these areas with visitors or non-members. I am SURE the YFZ Temple contained ALL of these same private areas meant for members only. This was Warren Jeffs' TEMPLE - a PERFECT FLDS TEMPLE...a monument to HIM..the Prophet. They never had a TEMPLE of their own before. Warren must be LIVID that the infidels "touched his Temple". And when he is mad, he WILL destroy his own TOYS so no-one else can even LOOK at them (much less play with them).
Funny how that TEMPLE has become the symbol of this whole event now - pretty and white and sparking on the outside and perhaps hiding something darker on the INSIDE....where it can't be seen by "outsiders".
No matter what happens, I predict the FLDS is going to leave the USA - leave the compounds in Texas and SD and CO and UT and AZ too. Canada will also push them out - If the FLDS survives, it will be in Mexico or South America. Don't be surprised if a a big underground building starts going in somewhere South of the Border - they won't rub our faces in the next Temple...but if the group survives, you can bet they will BUILD IT! We'll see it, it will look like a concentration camp - Casa De Razor Wire - and in REMOTE Mexico or S America they will NEED those assault rifles and walls - to keep the powerful drug cartels out.
My Opinion
