The Mesa Arizona Temple (formerly the Arizona Temple; nicknamed the Lamanite Temple)[2] is the seventh operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The intent to build the temple was announced on October 1, 1919, by church president Heber J. Grant, during the church's general conference. Located in the city of Mesa, Arizona, it is the first of the church's six temples built or planned in the state and the third temple in Maricopa County.[3]
Key milestones in its history include the groundbreaking ceremony held on April 25, 1922, and the dedication, conducted by Heber J. Grant on October 23, 1927.
History
The history of the Mesa Arizona Temple begins with its announcement by Heber J. Grant on October 1, 1919. The site for the temple, located in Mesa, Arizona, was selected due to its significance to the church and the local community.
The temple in Mesa was one of the first to be constructed by the church. Similar to the Cardston Alberta Temple, the church decided to hold a competition for the design of the temple with the exception of only inviting three Salt Lake firms to participate. The winning design was proposed by Don Carlos Young Jr. and Ramm Hansen. Announced in 1919, only seven years after Arizona had achieved statehood, it was one of 3 temples announced and constructed to serve outlying Latter-day Saint settlements in the early part of the century, the others being constructed in Laie, Hawaii and Cardston, Alberta. While none of the three settlements were particularly large in their own right, they were considered thriving centers of largely Latter-day Saint populations. The long and arduous trip to existing temples located in the state of Utah would prove costly and even dangerous for the faithful of the era, and temple attendance was (and is) an important part of the faith. As such, it was seen as necessary to construct temples in these communities.[4]
Prior to the construction of the temple, church members had to journey more than 400 miles by wagon to reach the St. George Utah Temple. The route became so frequently traveled by couples that it earned the nickname the “Honeymoon Trail."[5][6]
Numerous colonies had been set up in Arizona by the church during the last half of the nineteenth century, and plans had been discussed for a temple in the area as early as 1908, but the start of World War I stopped these for a while. The plan to build a temple in Mesa, Arizona was finally announced on October 3, 1919 and a 20-acre (81,000m2) site was selected and bought in 1921. The site was dedicated shortly after on November 28, 1921 and on April 25, 1922 the groundbreaking ceremony took place. Heber J. Grant conducted the ceremony.
Following the earlier traditions set forth in the building of temples, such as the Salt Lake Temple, the new structure in Mesa was a centerpiece of an organized and planned community for the faithful that lived nearby. Upon its completion in 1927 it was the third largest temple in use by the church and the largest outside of Utah, and remains among the largest temples constructed to this day.
In a departure from the style of temples constructed prior, the Mesa temple (along with the temples in Laie and Cardston) was built in a neoclassical style suggestive of the Temple in Jerusalem, lacking the spires that have become a mainstay of temples built since then, and prior to the announcement and impending construction of the Paris France Temple it was the church's last temple constructed without a spire. The te0mple is a neoclassical design featuring the primary structure atop a pedestal, a frieze, pilasters with Corinthian capitals (12 pair along the long side and 10 pair along the short side) and amphorae on fluted columns on the grounds. Below the cornice, eight frieze panels (carved in low relief) depict the gathering of God's people from the Old and New World, and the Pacific Islands to America.[7]
At the temple dedication with President Grant in the foreground
The groundbreaking ceremony, a pivotal moment in the temple's history, took place on April 25, 1922, marking the commencement of construction. This ceremony was presided over by Heber J. Grant and attended by local church members and community leaders. When construction was finished on the temple, the public was able to take tours through the temple. The dedication spanned four days, drawing nationwide attention on the first day. On the second day, a choir of 300 Arizonans, sang hymns. One member of the choir was Spencer W. Kimball, who was 32 years old at the time.[5] In total, two hundred thousand people were able to take a tour through the Mesa Temple.[4]
The temple was dedicated on October 23, 1927 by Heber J. Grant. By that afternoon, the temple was being put to use. In 1945, the temple was distinguished by becoming the first to offer temple ordinances in Spanish, the first time they were offered in a language other than English.
Design and architecture
The Mesa Arizona Temple showcases a distinctive architectural style, blending elements of neoclassical architecture with traditional temple design. Designed by Don Carlos Young Jr. and Ramm Hansen, the temple's architecture reflects both the cultural heritage of the local area.
Spanning an area of 113,916 square feet (10,583.1m2) on 20 acres (8.1 ha) of land, the temple stands two stories tall, and is constructed with concrete and terracotta tiles. The exterior features a flat roof with sculpted friezes, while interior elements include hand painted murals, a grand central staircase and stained glass.[8]
One of the focal points of the Mesa Arizona Temple is its baptismal font and celestial room, which are designed to create a spiritually uplifting atmosphere. The temple's layout includes four ordinance rooms, six sealing rooms, and one baptistry, each purposefully designed for specific ceremonial functions.
Another focal point of the Mesa Arizona Temple are the eight friezes, representing the nations “gathering” from the four corners of the earth. The friezes reflect the pioneer heritage of the church community, depicting Europeans, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders. Incorporated into the design are symbolic elements from the Bible, specifically Solomon's temple and prophecies spoken of in the book of Isaiah.[9][10][11]
The landscaping around the temple grounds was designed in geometric patterns aligned with the cardinal directions and consists of thematic gardens and reflective pools. These gardens surround the temple, featuring flower beds, terraces, and reflective pools. The greenery includes trees and shrubs sourced from five continents, symbolizing the unity and diversity of global cultures. The desert plants and cacti in the gardens represent the local Native Americans and Mexican communities that were important to the growth of the church.[12]
Renovations
Over the years, the Mesa Arizona Temple has undergone several renovations to preserve its structural integrity, update facilities, and enhance its spiritual and aesthetic appeal.
The Mesa 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 (1,600m2), providing larger dressing rooms and increasing the number of sealing rooms.[citation needed] Spencer W. Kimball re-dedicated the temple on April 16, 1975.[13][14]
The most significant renovation project commenced in 2018, under the direction of Russel M. Nelson. In May 2018, the temple closed for renovations and was rededicated by Dallin H. Oaks on December 12, 2021. Prior to the temple rededication, a public temple open house was held from October 16 to November 20, except for Sundays, with a youth devotional on December 11.[15]
The renovations at the Mesa Arizona Temple focused on several key areas, including upgrading the utilities, preserving and restoring artwork, and adding a new irrigation system to the gardens. The updated temple grounds feature over 300 olive and palm trees, an expanded reflection pool, and a new irrigation system that preserves water to maintain the landscape in the desert climate. Conservators undertook the task of safeguarding and reviving the artwork by stripping away layers of added paint and alterations, securing the canvas back onto the wall, and repairing the damaged areas. These changes were made to ensure the temple's compliance with contemporary building standards and to accommodate the evolving needs of the church and its members.[16]
One of the notable aspects of the renovation was the reconfiguration of the grounds to improve the Mesa Easter Pageant, staged in an open area north of the temple with a platform stage and grassy area for 9,000+ chairs. The new stage faces west so patrons can view the pageant productions with the sun to their backs instead of their faces. This particular enhancement served to preserve the temple’s historic significance.[5][17]
Throughout the renovation process, care was taken to maintain the temple's historical and spiritual significance. Artisans and craftsmen specializing in preservation and restoration were employed to ensure that both the exterior and interior renovations were in keeping with the original design ethos while incorporating modern advancements.[18]
Cultural and Community Impact
Christmas Lights at the Temple
Since 1979, there has been an annual Christmas lights display with a nativity scene during the Christmas season, attracting more than 1 million guests every year.[19] Since 1938, the temple hosts the Mesa Arizona Easter Pageant, entitled Jesus the Christ, between late March and early April, which attracts nearly 100,000 people annually and is the "largest annual outdoor Easter pageant in the world."[5][20][21] Additionally, the temple's presence has contributed to the local economy, with private investors investing in and redeveloping areas surrounding the temple, facilitating economic growth and rejuvenation along Main Street.[22]
3D Scale Model of Mesa Temple
Just north of the temple is a visitors' center. The original visitors' center was located near the west entrance of the temple in the late 1940s, which consisted of tables and literature racks. Across the street was the Bureau of Information and Genealogical Library. Due to inadequacies to meet demand, a new building was constructed and dedicated by David O. McKay on December 30, 1956. An expansion of the building was completed in 1981 to house new exhibits and was again remodeled in 2015.[23] As part of a larger plan to renovate the temple, the original visitors' center was demolished in 2018. A new 18,000 square foot visitors' center and interactive Family History Discovery Center were built.[23][24][19] The new visitors’ center is now open to public since its recent dedication by Ulisses Soares on August 12, 2021.[25] It is located in the northwest side of the Mesa Temple, in the corner of Main Street and Lesueur. It includes a children’s play area, with interactive activities; a hang out room for teens; a community section, with displays explaining the city's diverse history and spiritual heritage built by Native Americans, Hispanic migrants and Mormon pioneers. There is also a coloring wall, an interactive justserve.org screen to locate local community service opportunities, a 3D scale model of the temple, and a display where visitors learn more about God and Jesus Christ. Other areas include teaching rooms with videos and individual reflection pods.[26]
Mesa Temple Visitor Center Family Research Area
There is also a family research area with computer work stations and helpers where guests can work at their own pace researching, adding to their family history, and connecting their family tree. The visitors' center also houses a replica of a statue of Jesus Christ by Danish artist Bertel Thorvaldsen called the Christus.[23] The Visitors' Centers and grounds are staffed by church missionaries and the public is welcome to walk on the temple grounds and enjoy the gardens.
Admittance and use
Originally dedicated in 1927 and then rededicated in 2021, the Mesa Arizona Temple in Mesa, Arizona is a central place of worship and spiritual ceremonies for members of the church. Like all temples of the church, the St. George Temple is not used for Sunday worship services.[27] To members of the church, temples are regarded as sacred houses of the Lord. Church members with a current temple recommend can enter for worship.[27]
The Mesa Arizona Temple is primarily used for living and proxy ordinances such as baptisms for the dead, endowment ceremonies, and sealings which are fundamental to church doctrine of eternal families and personal salvation.
Before its dedication, the Mesa Arizona Temple was open to the public for one month. This event allowed individuals of all faiths to experience the temple's architecture and learn about the sacred functions it would perform.
The formal dedication of the Mesa Arizona Temple was held on October 23, 1927 by Heber J. Grant. The rededication of the temple was held on December 12, 2021 and led by Dallin H. Oaks. Since its dedication, the temple has been a beacon of faith and a symbol of the church's presence in Mesa, Arizona.
Presidents
Since its dedication in 1927, the Mesa Arizona Temple has been overseen by a series of distinguished Temple Presidents, each serving for a term of about three years, with the exception of the first few presidents who served seven to nine years. The role of a Temple President in Mesa, Arizona is pivotal, encompassing the administration of temple operations and spiritual guidance for both temple patrons and staff.
The first President of the Mesa Arizona Temple was David King Udall who served from 1927 to 1934. Under David K. Udall’s leadership, the temple established itself as a center of spiritual activity and community engagement in Mesa.
↑ The Church News Department Staff. "Mesa Arizona Temple". Church News. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Archived from the original on May 6, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
Laie Hawaii Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located on the northeast shore of the Hawaiian island of Oʻahu. The temple sits on a small hill, half a mile from the Pacific Ocean, in the town of Lāʻie, 35 miles (56 km) from Honolulu. Along with Brigham Young University–Hawaii and the Polynesian Cultural Center, the Laie Hawaii Temple plays an important role in the town of Lā'ie, with the Visitors' Center attracting more than 100,000 people annually.
The Cardston Alberta Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cardston, Alberta. It was the eighth temple constructed and is the sixth still in operation. The intent to build the temple was announced on October 12, 1912, by church president Joseph F. Smith, during the church's general conference. The Cardston Alberta Temple was the first temple built in Canada and the first built outside the United States. It is one of four temples in the province of Alberta and is one of ten operated by the church in Canada. It is one of two temples built in the shape of a cross, the other being the Laie Hawaii Temple.
The Idaho Falls Idaho Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The intent to build the temple was announced on March 3, 1937, by church president Heber J. Grant during the church's general conference. It is the church's tenth constructed and eighth operating temple, the first built in Idaho, and the first built with a modern single-spire design.
The Hamilton New Zealand Temple is the 13th constructed and 11th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The intent to build the temple was announced on February 17, 1955, by church president David O. McKay during a meeting of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. With its completion in 1958, it was the church's first temple in the Southern Hemisphere, the second built both in Polynesia and outside the United States and Canada, after the Laie Hawaii Temple. Located just outside Temple View in Hamilton, it was built with a modern single-spire design similar to the Bern Switzerland Temple. As of May 2024, this is the only temple currently operating in New Zealand, with one in Auckland under construction, and another in Wellington in the planning phase.
The Washington D.C. Temple is the 18th constructed and 16th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is located in Kensington, Maryland, United States, just north of Washington, D.C., near the Capital Beltway. The intent to build the temple was announced on November 15, 1968, by church president David O. McKay. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on December 7, 1968, with the dedication by Spencer W. Kimball on November 9, 1974. The temple was dedicated after an open house that attracted over 750,000 people. The temple was the first built by the church east of the Mississippi River since 1846, when the original Nauvoo Temple was dedicated.
The Oakland California Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Oakland, California. Notable for its five-spire design influenced by Asian architecture, the temple stands on a hill with panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay Area. The complex, sometimes referred to as Temple Hill, includes a visitors' center, a church employment center, a materials distribution center, an auditorium, an inter-stake center, a rooftop terrace, and gardens where photoshoots for quinceañeras and other celebrations take place.
The Provo Utah Temple was a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located in Provo, Utah, just north of Brigham Young University (BYU). The intent to build the temple was announced on August 14, 1967, by Hugh B. Brown and N. Eldon Tanner. The church's temples are a sacred space where church members make covenants and perform ordinances for themselves and their deceased ancestors. The temple was designed by architect Emil B. Fetzer and was dedicated in 1972 as the church's seventeenth constructed and fifteenth operating temple. It was the sixth temple built in Utah, and the first in both Utah County and Provo.
The Jordan River Utah Temple is the 20th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located in South Jordan, Utah. The intent to build the temple was announced on February 3, 1978, by church president Spencer W. Kimball during a press conference in the Church Office Building. The temple is the first in the city of South Jordan, the fifth in Salt Lake County, and as of 2024 is one of twenty-eight in the state of Utah.
The Portland Oregon Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located on 7 acres (28,000 m2) of land near the intersection of Highway 217 and I-5 in Lake Oswego, Oregon. The intent to build the temple was announced on April 7, 1984 by church president Spencer W. Kimball, during the church's general conference. Dedicated in 1989, the Portland Oregon Temple was the church's first temple in Oregon and the 42nd in the church. Prior to its dedication by Gordon B. Hinckley, over 314,000 people attended the public open house.
Symbolism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the process whereby objects or actions have been invested with an inner meaning expressing church ideas. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its membership have adopted a number of symbols that differ from those typically used in Christianity.
Below is a chronological list of temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with sortable columns. In the LDS Church, a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord and considered by church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usually open to the public for a short period of time, and then each is dedicated as a "House of the Lord," after which only members with a current temple recommend are permitted to enter. Thus, they are not churches or meetinghouses, but rather specialized places of worship. The LDS Church has 350 temples in various phases, which includes 190 dedicated temples, 51 under construction, and 109 others announced. Within temples, members of the LDS Church make covenants, receive instructions, and perform rituals and ordinances. Additionally, members consider the temple a place to commune with God, seek God's aid, understand God's will, and receive personal revelation.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was established in the Hawaiian Islands in 1850, 11 years after the Edict of Toleration was decreed by Kamehameha III, giving the underground Hawaii Catholic Church the right to worship, and at the same time allowing other faith traditions to begin establishing themselves.
The Mexico City Mexico Temple is the 28th constructed and 26th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the second-largest religious denomination in Arizona, behind the Roman Catholic Church. In 2022, the church reported 439,411 members in Arizona, about 6% of the state's population. According to the 2014 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey, roughly 5% of Arizonans self-identify most closely with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Utah. Utah has more church members than any other U.S. state or country. The LDS Church is also the largest denomination in Utah.
The Layton Utah Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under construction in Layton, Utah. The intent to construct the temple was announced by church president Russell M. Nelson on April 1, 2018, during the 188th general conference. The Layton Utah Temple was announced concurrently with 6 other temples. At the time, the number of total operating or announced temples was 189. It is the 22nd temple in Utah and the second temple in Davis County.
The Taylorsville Utah Temple is a temple awaiting dedication of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Taylorsville, Utah. Plans to construct the temple were announced on October 5, 2019 by church president Russell M. Nelson, during the church's general conference. The temple is the first in the city of Taylorsville, the fifth in Salt Lake County, and the twenty-third in the state of Utah.
A visitors' center is a building often near a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where missionaries teach visitors about the tenets of their faith and other community events are held. Visitors' centers often include a replica of Bertel Thorvaldsen's Christus statue, exhibits, musical performances, devotionals, and a Family History Center (FHC).
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