The Mesa Arizona Temple is a beautiful and historic site that has quite the story! It was announced on October 3, 2019, but the journey actually began much earlier. The site was dedicated on November 28, 1921, by Heber J. Grant, and the groundbreaking took place on April 25, 1922. After several years of hard work, the temple was dedicated from October 23 to 26, 1927, again by Heber J. Grant.
Fast forward to more recent times, and the temple had a lovely open house from March 19 to April 3, 1975, before it was rededicated on April 15 and 16, 1975, by Spencer W. Kimball. More recently, the temple welcomed visitors during a public open house from October 16 to November 20, 2021, followed by its rededication on December 12, 2021, by Dallin H. Oaks.
Architecturally, the Mesa Arizona Temple is striking, featuring a flat roof adorned with sculpted friezes. Inside, it boasts four instruction rooms, six sealing rooms, and one baptistery, all covering 75,000 square feet and standing 53 feet tall at an elevation of 1240 feet. These impressive details are complemented by a concrete exterior reinforced with 130 tons of steel and finished with beautiful glazed, egg shell colored terra cotta tiles.
Nestled just east of where the original Mesa Townsite was settled by pioneers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, the temple anchors a historic district that’s kept its charming, residential vibe. Visitors can enjoy a delightful cactus garden and large reflection pools on the beautifully manicured grounds. Every Easter, the temple becomes a hub for thousands attending “Jesus the Christ,” the largest annual outdoor Easter pageant in the world, and at Christmas, the grounds transform into a stunning Nativity display adorned with hundreds of thousands of lights.
Interestingly, the Mesa Arizona Temple was the first temple built in Arizona and the first to present the endowment in a language other than English! Originally named the Arizona Temple, it also made history by reopening to the public for an open house before a rededication.
The temple features lovely carved friezes that depict the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy about gathering people from all corners of the earth. In February 1974, the temple closed for extensive renovations to enhance the endowment experience, leading to beautiful updates like the replacement of decaying murals and the addition of new rooms. After several renovations, including major work in 2018, the temple has been carefully preserved while also modernizing to meet community needs.
Overall, the Mesa Arizona Temple is a true gem that reflects both history and faith, bringing joy to many visitors throughout the year!