Mesa Arizona - Mormon Temple
Numerous colonies were set up in Arizona by the Mormons during the last half of the nineteenth century, and plans were being discussed for a temple in the area as early as 1908, but the start of World War I stopped plans for a while. Plans to build a temple in Mesa, Arizona were finally announced on October 3, 1919. A 20-acre site was selected and bought in 1921 and the site was dedicated shortly after on November 28, 1921. On April 25, 1922 the groundbreaking ceremony took place. President Heber J. Grant conducted the ceremony.
When construction was finished on the temple. The public was able to take tours through the temple. Two hundred thousand people were able to take a tour through the Mesa Temple. The temple was dedicated on October 23, 1927 by Heber J. Grant. By that afternoon, the temple was being put to use. Baptisms for the dead were performed and the next morning endowments and sealings were preformed. The Mesa Arizona temple was the seventh temple built by the Church that is still in use today.
The temple does not have spires, one of only three made with this design. 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. The temple is 113,916 square feet, and has nine sealing rooms. The Mesa temple is nicknamed "The Lamanite Temple" (Lamanite is a term that Mormons use in reference to the native people of America) because it was the first temple to offer ordinances in another language (Spanish). The Spanish ordinances were first offered in 1945. There is also a mural in the temple that helped it get this nickname. The mural depicts Joseph Smith teaching the Lamanites.
In the 1970’s the temple was closed and underwent comprehensive remodeling. Following the remodeling it was reopened and the general public was allowed to take tours through the temple. This was the first time public tours were given after a remodeling of the temple. On April 15, 1975, President Spencer W. Kimball rededicated the temple.
The general public can go to the visitor’s center, which is just North of the temple. In the visitor’s 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 Christmas there is a light display and a nativity scene. At Easter a free outdoor pageant is presented on the grounds near the visitor’s Center. The pageant is called Jesus the Christ and celebrates Christ’s birth, teachings, atonement and resurrection.