Difference between revisions of "Mesa Arizona Temple"

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The Mesa Arizona Temple is the seventh operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The 113,916 square foot temple is located at 101 South LeSueur, Mesa, Arizona on 20 acres just east of the original Mesa Townsite which was settled by Mormon pioneers. There are four ordinance rooms and six sealing rooms in the temple. A public visitors' center shares the meticulously manicured grounds of the temple, which feature a cactus garden and large reflection pools.

Brief History, Groundbreaking Ceremony, and Temple Dedication

Numerous colonies were set up in Arizona by the Mormons during the last half of the nineteenth century. Plans were being discussed for a temple in the area as early as 1908, however, the start of World War I stopped plans for a while. The Mesa Arizona Temple was finally announced on 3 October 1919. A 20-acre site was selected and purchased in 1921, and the site was dedicated shortly thereafter on 28 November 1921 by then President of the Church, Heber J. Grant. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on 25 April 1922 with President Grant presiding.

Instead of a formal open house, tours were offered during the last two years of construction of the Mesa Arizona Temple to any interested visitors. Approximately 200,000 people were able to tour and see the inside of the beautiful edifice. The temple was officially dedicated on 23 October 1927 by President Grant. Baptisms for the dead were performed the afternoon following the dedication, and the next morning, endowments and sealings were being performed.

Mesa Arizona Temple Facts

The Mesa Arizona Temple, originally named the Arizona Temple, was the first temple built in Arizona. The architects chosen to construct the temple had recently designed the Utah Capitol Building. The temple was designed around a grand staircase that leads to the Celestial Room, occupying the highest level of the temple. The Mesa Arizona Temple is one of four temples built with no towers or spires (the others are the Laie Hawaii Temple, the Cardston Alberta Temple, and the Paris France Temple.) Carved friezes decorate each corner of the top of the temple, depicting the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy that the Lord would gather His people in the last days from the four corners of the earth. For many years, the Mesa Arizona Temple was known as the "Lamanite Temple" ("Lamanite" being a term that Mormons use in reference to the native people of America), as it was the destination of annual temple excursions for Hispanic and Native American members of the Church, in particular Mexican Saints. There is also a mural in the temple that helped it get this nickname. The mural depicts Joseph Smith teaching the Lamanites. On the outside walls are depictions of the gathering of God’s people in the Old and New World and on the Pacific Islands. The temple design is similar to ancient buildings found in the Southern U.S. and South America. It was also designed to look similar to the descriptions given in the Bible of Solomon’s Temple.

Before the temple was constructed, Latter-day Saints living in Arizona attended the St. George Utah Temple to perform temple ordinances. Because of the numerous bridal parties that traveled the wagon road between St. George and Arizona, the well-trod path became known as the Honeymoon Trail.

The Mesa Arizona Temple was the first temple to present the endowment in a language other than English. The first non-English endowment session was presented in Spanish in 1945.

The temple was closed in February 1974, for extensive remodeling that equipped the ordinance rooms for motion-picture presentation of the endowment and that added a new entrance and an additional 17,000 square feet, providing much larger dressing rooms and increasing the number of sealing rooms. After the renovations were complete, it was reopened and the general public was allowed to take tours. This was the first time public tours were given after a remodeling of the temple. The temple was redicated by President Spencer W. Kimball on 15 April 1975.

Mesa Arizona Temple Visitors' Center

The general public can go to the visitors' center, which is just north of the temple. In the visitors' center people can enjoy murals, videos, displays, and other activities. The public is also welcome to walk on the temple grounds and enjoy the well-kept gardens. During the Christmas season there is a light display and a nativity scene. At Easter a free outdoor pageant is presented on the grounds near the visitors' center. The pageant is called Jesus the Christ and celebrates Christ’s birth, teachings, atonement, and resurrection.

External links

• Mesa Arizona Temple (Wikipedia)
• Temple Garden Christmas Lights
• Mesa Arizona Easter Pageant
• Mesa Easter Pageant
• Official LDS Mesa Arizona Temple page
• Mesa Arizona Temple page
• Photos of the Mesa Arizona Temple
• A video about the Mesa Arizona Temple
• Map of LDS Temples in the Phoenix, AZ Metro Area
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Arizona (Wikipedia)

Temples in Arizona

• Gilbert Arizona Temple
• Mesa Arizona Temple
• Phoenix Arizona Temple
• Queen Creek Arizona Temple
• Snowflake Arizona Temple
• The Gila Valley Arizona Temple
• Tucson Arizona Temple
• Yuma Arizona Temple