Difference between revisions of "Phoenix Arizona Temple"

Revision as of 14:44, 26 November 2022

On 24 May 2008 President Thomas S. Monson announced ^[1] that there would be a new temple built in Phoenix Arizona. This one will be built in Phoenix, north and west of the Mesa Arizona Temple (1927) and Gilbert, Arizona, announced only a month earlier in April 2008. "Don Evans, Arizona spokesman for the church, said Saturday [May 24, 2008] he hasn’t received details about where or when the church will be constructed." ^[2]

Some have reported that it will be at 5212 W. Pinnacle Peak Road, Phoenix AZ Map Growth in this area is such that they are having to expand the I-17 freeway which runs through this area to eight lanes, and talk is of another freeway to parallel that north of the Loop 101, hence the need for a third temple in the Phoenix metro area for the members there.

The temple district may include almost all of Phoenix except for Ahwatukee, northern parts of Scottsdale, and all of the cities on the west side of the valley, plus the Prescott, Verde Valley, and Flagstaff, Arizona areas.

In late summer 2010, The Church announced redesign plans for the temple. The new design lowers the building by 6 feet, meaning the temple will be 30 feet high. In turn, the church spire will be 90 feet high. The previously proposed plan had a 40 foot building with an 86 foot spire, but neighbors complained that the building would block their view of the mountains.

Once the church receives the necessary permits, construction will take about two years.

Open House and Temple Dedication Dates Announced

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced an open house and dedication dates for the Phoenix Arizona Temple. The public will be invited inside the new edifice for tours during an open house which will be conducted beginning on Friday, 10 October 2014 through Saturday, 1 November 2014 with the exceptions of Sundays. Reservations to attend the open house are free, and may be made online at http://www.phoenixmormontemple.org starting Monday, 29 September 2014.

The temple will be formally dedicated on Sunday, 16 November 2014, in three sessions. On the day prior to the dedication, there will be a cultural event held featuring music and dance.

Ground was broken for the Phoenix Arizona Temple on 4 June 2011. Elder Ronald A. Rasband, of the Presidency of the Seventy, presided at the ceremony and commented that the new building would be a “beautiful and magnificent temple” that will bless both Mormons and the Phoenix community. The newly constructed temple is located on a little over five acres of land which is adjacent to an existing meetinghouse. It is physically located at the intersection of Pinnacle Peak Road and 51st Avenue. It is a single-story building and has a footprint of 27,423 square feet with a full basement and a 90-foot spire.

Once the Phoenix Arizona Temple has been formerly dedicated only faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ who hold a current temple recommend will be allowed to enter to participate in sacred ordinances. The temple will be the 144th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ worldwide. It is one of five temples in Arizona, with the others being located in Mesa, Snowflake, Gila Valley, and Gilbert. A sixth temple, in Tucson, has been announced.

Cultural Celebration - "Be A Light"

On Saturday, 15 November 2014, thousands of Latter-day Saint youth, ages 12 to 18, participated in the Phoenix Arizona Youth Cultural Celebration titled “Be a Light,” with President Thomas S. Monson presiding. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf addressed the youth and commented, “You are indeed choice. You are children of the light.” Orville Carnahan, 18, the narrator of the production, commented, “The youths went away wanting to be our best, to always show the true light of Christ in ourselves.”

According to the 16 November 2014 Deseret News article:

The celebration featured the local culture of the area, where a city was first built by the Hohokam Indians in A.D. 1. Because the Hohokams constructed irrigation canals from the Salt and Gila Rivers, the youths paid tribute to “the ancient inhabitants that brought life-giving water to the dry desert.”

They also celebrated, through music and dance, the pioneer Honeymoon Trail; Arizona’s five C’s — copper, cotton, cattle, citrus, and climate; and air conditioning. In addition, the teens paid tribute to those who have served in the military and to the “culture of service” shared by modern-day Latter-day Saints. The celebration ended as missionaries from the Phoenix Arizona Mission marched around the football field carrying the flags of many nations.

Phoenix Arizona Temple Dedication

On Sunday morning, 16 November 2014, President Thomas S. Monson dedicated the Phoenix Arizona Temple which is the fifth temple in Arizona, and the 144th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The newly dedicated sacred edifice will serve 60,000 Latter-day Saints from 16 stakes. Prior to dedicating the temple, President Monson greeted church members and participated in the cornerstone ceremony by placing mortar in the temple’s cornerstone. Also present were President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, Elder Dallin H.Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and other General Authorities of the Church, as well as the new temple presidency. According to the Deseret News article, Elder Kent F. Richards of the Seventy and executive director of the church’s temple department commented, “The cornerstone contains a history of the temple’s construction and other significant items. It brings to mind the Savior being the chief cornerstone.”

Now that the temple has been dedicated, only faithful Latter-day Saints who hold current temple recommends are allowed to enter to perform sacred ordinance work. The temple opened on Tuesday, 18 November 2014.

References

External links

• Map of LDS Temples in the Phoenix, AZ Metro Area
• Phoenix Temple - Adequate Parking?

Temples in Arizona

• Gilbert Arizona Temple
• Mesa Arizona Temple
• Phoenix Arizona Temple
• Queen Creek Arizona Temple
• Snowflake Arizona Temple
• The Gila Valley Arizona Temple
• Tucson Arizona Temple
• Yuma Arizona Temple