LDS Temples - Mesa Arizona

The Mesa Arizona Temple was dedicated 23 October 1927 by Heber J. Grant and re-dedicated 15 April 1975 by Spencer W. Kimball. The 20 acre site was selected by President Heber J. Grant, Apostles David O. McKay and George F. Richards and was purchased in 1921. The temple exterior, faced with glazed egg-shell coloured terra cotta tiles, is made of reinforced concrete and 130 tons of steel. The design is of classical style, depicting pre-Columbian and Herodian temples. The temple has 4 ordinance rooms and 9 sealing rooms and has a floor area of 72,712 square feet.

Although discussion and general plans to build a temple in Mesa were made as early as 1908-1912, the temple would not be constructed until some time. Due to the outbreak of World War I, plans were put back on the drawing board in 1918.

The people of Arizona and the surrounding area were generous with their donations to the temple building fund - even members of other churches made donations up to $6,000.

An excellent site near the transcontinental highway was acquired making the temple visible to thousands of tourists each year. During the last 2 years of construction, 200,000 visitors toured the temple during a special extended open house.

The friezes around the exterior walls give the temple an air of uniqueness. The ones the north represent the gathering of the Lord's people from the Old World, while those on the south depict the gathering of those in America and the Pacific Islands. Also, special attention was also paid in the creation of the beautiful grounds, featuring palms, cyprus, and citrus trees that surrounding the  grounds.

Mesa Arizona Temple was the first temple in the US to offer temple ordinances in Spanish. At the dedication of the temple in 1943, Elder Joseph Fielding Smith of the Council of the Twelve said, "I see no reason why the English language should monopolize the temple session."

Thousands attended the dedicatory sessions including many Spanish speaking members. A special spirit prevailed at every session, and when the last was finally completed, time was not wasted in getting the temple up and running. Baptisms for the dead were performed that very afternoon. Sealings and endowment sessions began the next morning.

The Mesa Arizona Temple made history in 1975 when it became the first temple to be reopened to public tours after remodeling. This exposure helped boost missionary work in the surrounding area.

The Mesa Arizona temple is also unique in that it offers missionary conducted tours of the gardens. In the course of these tours, over 1,300 referrals have been obtained.

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