Faith and Community in the Dallas Area: A Temple Groundbreaking and a Life Well Lived
Faith has always been a cornerstone of community life in the greater Dallas area, and this week brings both a milestone moment of religious construction and a heartfelt farewell to a longtime Dallasite whose life spanned service, love, and spiritual growth.
⛪ LDS Church Breaks Ground on Fairview Texas Temple
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officially broke ground on the Fairview Texas Temple, marking a significant milestone for the faith's presence in the Dallas–Fort Worth region. The groundbreaking ceremony was presided over by Elder Jonathan S. Schmitt, a General Authority Seventy and first counselor in the United States Southwest Area presidency, who offered the site's dedicatory prayer. Local church leaders and members joined Elder Schmitt and his wife in ceremonially turning the soil at the Fairview site. The new temple will serve a growing membership community in north central Texas. [4]
🙏 Fairview Temple Groundbreaking Draws Community Celebration
Church News reported on the Fairview Texas Temple groundbreaking, held on Saturday, February 21, 2026, describing how Elder Jonathan S. Schmitt and his wife joined local leaders and members for the ceremonial first turning of soil. The event was covered in multiple languages, reflecting the diverse and international character of the congregation that will one day worship at the new temple. The Fairview location places the temple squarely in one of the fastest-growing communities in the Dallas metro area, signaling the church's long-term investment in north Texas. The groundbreaking represents a new chapter of faith community infrastructure in the region. [5]
🏛️ Fairview Town Leaders Push Back on Temple Height Plans
Dallas Morning News reported that Fairview town officials have once again approached the LDS Church with concerns about the proposed height of the planned Fairview Texas Temple. Local leaders have continued to press the church on how the structure's scale would fit within the existing character and zoning considerations of the community. The debate reflects broader tensions that often arise when large faith community buildings are proposed in established residential areas. The ongoing dialogue between town officials and the church suggests that construction details are still being negotiated even as the groundbreaking ceremony has taken place. [7]
🕊️ Dallas Remembers Desi Arnaz Lindsay Lee Tanner
Restland Funeral Home in Dallas announced the passing of Desi Arnaz Lindsay Lee Tanner, born November 19, 1952, in Chicago, who died January 28, 2026. Tanner served honorably in both the Illinois Army National Guard and the Texas Army National Guard, ultimately achieving the rank of staff sergeant before receiving an honorable discharge. He later built a life in Dallas, working for the City of Dallas library system, the Dallas Marshal's office, and rising through the ranks to serve as Interim Chief before retiring as a Senior Deputy Marshal in 2009. A man of deep faith and family devotion, Tanner is remembered as someone whose life embodied service, resilience, and community commitment in the city he called home. [3]
Sources: [4] newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org · [5] Church News · [7] Dallas News · [3] Restland Funeral Home, Cemetery and Crematory