Gila Valley Arizona Temple

Last updated

Gila Valley Arizona Temple
Gila Valley Temple at Sunset.jpg
Exterior, December 2009
Gila Valley Arizona Temple
Number132
DedicationMay 23, 2010, by Thomas S. Monson
Site17 acres (6.9 ha)
Floor area18,561 sq ft (1,724.4 m2)
Height100 ft (30 m)
Official website • News & images
Church chronology
←
Vancouver British Columbia Temple
Gila Valley Arizona Temple		 →
Cebu City Philippines Temple
Additional information
AnnouncedApril 26, 2008, by Thomas S. Monson [1]
GroundbreakingFebruary 14, 2009, by Neil L. Andersen [2]
Open houseApril 23 – May 15, 2010
Current presidentGary Wayne Stailey
Designed byGregory B. Lambright
Location Central, Arizona, United States
Geographic coordinates 32°51′48″N109°47′23″W / 32.86333°N 109.78972°W / 32.86333; -109.78972
Exterior finishArchitectural precast stone
Baptistries1
Ordinance rooms2 (two-stage progressive)
Sealing rooms2
( edit )

The Gila Valley Arizona Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in the Arizona town of Central, between the communities of Pima and Thatcher. The intent to build the temple was announced in a press release on April 26, 2008, by the church's First Presidency. [3] The temple is the third in Arizona. [4]

Contents

The temple has a single attached end spire with a statue of the angel Moroni. [5] This temple was crafted by the architectural firm Architectural Nexus. [6] A groundbreaking ceremony, to signify the beginning of construction, was held on February 14, 2009, conducted by Neil L. Andersen. [7]

History

Plans to build the temple announced on April 26, 2008, was done concurrently with the Gilbert Arizona Temple. These were the first temples announced after Thomas S. Monson became the LDS Church's president. [8]

Local church leadership announced on September 21, 2008, that the temple would be built on church-owned property adjacent to U.S. Route 70 in the unincorporated community of Central. A petition to grant an exception to building height restrictions to accommodate a 100-foot-tall (30 m) steeple for the temple was given a favorable recommendation by the Graham County Planning and Zoning Commission and was subsequently approved by the county board of supervisors on October 20. [9] [10]

A groundbreaking and site dedication ceremony took place on February 14, 2009, officially beginning the construction process. [11] The structure was completed on September 22 with the placement of the angel Moroni statue on its steeple. Additional site improvements, including landscaping and interior work, were completed in early 2010. [12]

On December 13, 2009, the church announced the public open house that was held from April 23 to May 15, 2010, excluding Sundays. [13] During the open house, more than 90,000 people visited the temple. [4]

On May 22, 2010, the day before the temple’s dedication, over 1,600 area youth participated in a cultural celebration depicting the church's history in Arizona. [14] More than 3,500 people attended the celebration, including Thomas S. Monson. [4]

The temple was dedicated by Monson on May 23, 2010, in three sessions. [15] During remarks before the dedicatory prayer, Monson noted that an anonymous benefactor, a woman from the area, had given $500,000 to allow the temple to be adorned with much original artwork.[ citation needed ]

At the time, the new temple served the significant Latter-day Saint population in the eastern part of Arizona's Gila River Valley, who previously had to travel to the Mesa Arizona Temple, 150 miles to the west. The area has a historical significance to the LDS Church; Thatcher, which was founded by Mormon pioneers in 1881, was home to former LDS Church president Spencer W. Kimball during his youth in the early part of the 1900s. [16] Speculation that the area would be home to a temple was made as early as 1882, when Jesse N. Smith predicted that a temple would be built in Thatcher. [17]

In 2020, like all the church's others, the Gila Valley Arizona Temple was closed for a time in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. [18]

Design and architecture

The building has a traditional Latter-day Saint temple design. Designed by Architectural Nexus, its architecture reflects both the cultural heritage of the Gila Valley region and its spiritual significance to the church. [6]

The temple is on a 17-acre plot, with surrounding landscaping of trees and shrubs. [4] The structure stands 104 feet tall, constructed with precast concrete. [5] The exterior has art-glass windows. [19]

The interior has “art-glass windows and murals of local river, desert and mountain landscapes.” [4] The temple includes two sealing rooms, two ordinance rooms, and a baptistry, [6] each designed for ceremonial use.

The design has elements representing Latter-day Saint symbolism, to provide deeper spiritual meaning to its appearance and function. Symbolism is important to church members and include the angel Moroni statue on top of the temple to represent “the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” [20]

Temple presidents

The church's temples are directed by a temple president and matron, each typically serving for a term of three years. The president and matron oversee the administration of temple operations and provide guidance and training for both temple patrons and staff. [21]

Serving from 2010 to 2012, Keith Crockett was the first president, with Kathleen M. Crockett as matron. [21] As of 2025, Brian J. Kartchner is the president, with Lynda G. Kartchner serving as matron. [22]

Admittance

On December 13, 2009, the church announced the public open house that was held from April 23 to May 15, 2010 (excluding Sundays). [13] The temple was dedicated by Thomas S. Monson on May 23, 2010, in three sessions. [15]

Like all the church's temples, it is not used for Sunday worship services. To members of the church, temples are regarded as sacred houses of the Lord. Once dedicated, only church members with a current temple recommend can enter for worship. [23]

See also

Temples in Arizona ( edit )
  • ButtonRed.svg = Operating
  • ButtonBlue.svg = Under construction
  • ButtonYellow.svg = Announced
  • ButtonBlack.svg = Temporarily Closed

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References

  1. ↑ "Two new temples: Gilbert, Gila Valley". Church News . April 26, 2008. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Open House and Dedication Dates Announced for Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple", Mormon Newsroom, LDS Church, January 31, 2009, retrieved October 15, 2012
  3. ↑ "Two new temples: Gilbert, Gila Valley". Deseret News. May 24, 2008. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Gila Valley Arizona Temple". Church News. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  5. 1 2 "The Gila Valley Arizona Temple | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org". Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 "The Gila Valley Temple". Church News. May 29, 2010. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Ground broken for Gila Valley temple". Church News. February 16, 2009. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  8. ↑ Branom, Mike (April 27, 2008). "New Mormon temple slated for Gilbert". East Valley Tribune . Archived from the original on April 29, 2008. Retrieved April 28, 2008.
  9. ↑ Saunders, Diane (September 29, 2008). "Temple could be in Central". Eastern Arizona Courier. Retrieved September 30, 2008.
  10. ↑ Saunders, Diane (October 22, 2008). "Supervisors approve prelim plat for Sierra Del Sol". Eastern Arizona Courier. Retrieved October 23, 2008.
  11. ↑ Adair, Jill (February 16, 2009). "Ground broken for Gila Valley temple". Church News . Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  12. ↑ Johnston, Jon (September 27, 2009). "Angel placed atop LDS temple". Eastern Arizona Courier. Retrieved October 27, 2009.
  13. 1 2 "Dates Set for Dedication and Open House of The Gila Valley Arizona Temple". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. December 13, 2009. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Youths celebrate Gila Valley Temple in Arizona". Deseret News. May 23, 2010. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  15. 1 2 "Temple is beautiful, just as foretold 110 years ago". Church News. May 29, 2010. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  16. ↑ "LDS Church announces two new temples in Arizona". The Salt Lake Tribune . April 27, 2008. Archived from the original on September 30, 2012. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  17. ↑ McClintock, James H. (1921). Mormon settlement in Arizona. Phoenix, Arizona: Office of the Arizona State Historian. p.  223. OCLC   1988605 . Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  18. ↑ Stack, Peggy Fletcher. "All Latter-day Saint temples to close due to coronavirus", The Salt Lake Tribune , 26 March 2020. Retrieved on 28 March 2020.
  19. ↑ "The Gila Valley Arizona Temple Facts". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. April 21, 2010. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Angel Moroni Statues on Temples". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. September 15, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  21. 1 2 "Presidents and Matrons of the Gila Valley Arizona Temple | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org". Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  22. ↑ "New presidents and matrons of 16 temples around the world — from Boston to Brazil". Church News. March 7, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Inside Temples". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
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