The Mesa Arizona Temple was announced on October 3, 2019. Heber J. Grant dedicated the site on November 28, 1921, followed by the groundbreaking on April 25, 1922. The temple was dedicated from October 23 to 26, 1927, also by Grant. It held a public open house from March 19 to April 3, 1975, and was officially dedicated on April 15 and 16, 1975, by Spencer W. Kimball. A public open house occurred from October 16 to November 20, 2021, leading to a rededication on December 12, 2021, by Dallin H. Oaks.
The temple features a flat roof with sculpted friezes, four instruction rooms, six sealing rooms, and one baptistery, covering 75,000 square feet. It is 53 feet tall and located at an elevation of 1,240 feet. Built on 20 acres, the exterior consists of concrete reinforced with 130 tons of steel, finished with glazed, eggshell-colored terracotta tiles.
Located east of the original Mesa Townsite, the temple anchors a historic district with residential character. The grounds include a public visitors’ center, a cactus garden, and reflection pools. Each Easter, the temple hosts “Jesus the Christ,” the largest outdoor Easter pageant worldwide. During Christmas, the grounds feature a Nativity display with extensive lighting.
The Mesa Arizona Temple was the first temple in Arizona and the first to present the endowment in a non-English language. It was originally called the Arizona Temple and used live acting for the initial endowment presentation.
Carved friezes around the temple depict the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy regarding the gathering of the Lord’s people. In February 1974, the temple closed for renovations, which included updating the Creation, Garden, and World Rooms for single-room film presentations of the endowment, and converting the Terrestrial Room into a veil room. Deteriorating burlap murals were removed, and salvaged pieces were sent for preservation. An additional 17,000 square feet were added, enhancing dressing rooms and increasing sealing room capacity. In 1980, a fourth ordinance room was created, allowing more frequent endowment sessions. In 1991, sections of the original murals were restored.
On May 19, 2018, the temple closed for a three-and-a-half-year renovation that included new roofing and drainage systems, upgrades to mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems, and interior improvements while preserving historical elements. The grounds were redesigned to enhance visitor experience, and a new visitors’ center and Family Discovery Center were constructed.