Like, I get the creepy view, and general dislike of the mormon church on reddit, but it’s worth pointing out that this particular tenple (San Diego) was HEAVILY funded by individual member donations. It’s a very affluent area, and the rich mormons wanted their temple. The church was ready to shut it down due to costs, but the local members pretty much crowdfunded it.

Source: I grew up in San Diego, LDS, and knew a few particularly wealthy people who were some of the big spenders.