Los Angeles Temple’s Lawn Turns Brown
This article was originally published in the LA Times by Hailey Branson-Potts and Abby Sewell. Below is an excerpt.
Bob and Carolyn Millard were married at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ palatial Westwood temple more than 50 years ago. Like many other Mormon brides, Carolyn posed for photos alongside the temple’s lush, green lawn and gardens.
When she visited the temple last week, Millard was struck by the sight of the hillside expanse that extends down to Santa Monica Boulevard. It was mostly patchy and brown.
Her first thought: “The drought!” Her next thought: “The brides! I can’t imagine seeing a bride taking pictures with brown grass.”
The browning lawn is part of an effort by church officials to save water, transforming one of West Los Angeles’ most visible landmarks into a stark symbol of how California’s drought is beginning to affect the landscape of Southern California and the behavior of its residents.
The temple, which sits on a 13-acre site, was the first Mormon temple built in California, dedicated in 1956. The usually green hillside is well known by Westside motorists.
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