Gilbert Arizona Temple
The Gilbert Arizona Temple was announced on 26 April 2008 by President Thomas S. Monson. It is one of the first two temples announced by President Monson since he was ordained President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in February 2008. President Monson commented, "It is my personal priority to make sure members of the Church have access to the blessings of the temple. It is here where members learn of their divine origin and destiny; where they are strengthened spiritually as individuals and as families. Temples are sanctuaries from the storms of life."
The following information about the approval of the construction of the temple was provided on the Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints website for the Gilbert Arizona Temple:
- On 10 June 2010, final plans went before the Town of Gilbert Design Review Board for preliminary evaluation of the development of a temple, accessory structure, and future meetinghouse. The five-level temple is described as 82 1/2 feet tall with a spire reaching 195 feet, capped with a golden angel Moroni. The highly detailed ivory exterior will feature high quality pre-cast concrete and stone accentuated with fine rustications and beautifully crafted art glass windows. The floor plan includes a sub-basement for mechanical equipment; a basement for the baptistry; a first floor for the entry, dressing rooms, and administrative offices; a second floor for the chapel and endowment rooms; and a third floor for sealing rooms, waiting rooms, and a child care center. The wrought-iron fenced grounds will include fountains, shaded plazas, and lush landscaping featuring 10 kinds of trees, 5 palm varieties, and 24 species of shrubs, groundcovers, and vines with trellises, arbors and pergolas placed throughout the site.[1]
The site for the Gilbert Arizona Temple is on 15.38 acres at the southeast corner of Greenfield and Pecos Roads. (map). A Latter-day Saint meeting house will be located on the property near the temple. The temple and the meeting house will share a 658-car parking lot and a facilities/maintenance building. The site gardens, fountains, and shaded plazas provide numerous areas for contemplation, meditation, photos, and rest. The temple finished floor elevation is approximately 4’ above the gardens and 5’ above the entry circle. The 85,326-square-foot temple will use ivory-colored stone and concrete and feature leaded-glass windows. A 195-foot spire will rise from the center of the three-story structure, capped by a gold-plated statue of the angel Moroni.
Contents
Groundbreaking Ceremony
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Gilbert Arizona Temple was held on Saturday, 13 November 2010. Elder Claudio R. M. Costa of the Presidency of the Seventy presided with thousands in attendance on site to witness the first ceremonial shovelfuls of dirt.
The Gilbert Arizona Temple is located about 13 miles from the Mesa Arizona Temple, but with the large population of Latter-day Saints in the area, and the large number of patrons using the Mesa Arizona Temple, another temple was needed nearby. At the time of its dedication, there were approximately 380,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ residing in Arizona. As of 2022, there are over 428,000.
Installation of Spire Framework and Raising of the Angel Moroni
In mid-February 2012 the construction of the Gilbert Arizona Temple reached an exciting milestone with the installation of the spire framework, taking the temple to its full height minus the height of the angel Moroni statue, which will cap the spire.
On 15 May 2012, hundreds of spectators gathered at the Gilbert Arizona Temple site to witness the raising of the gold-leafed angel Moroni statue atop the single central spire. Numerous students, who attend a grade school across the street from the temple, gathered in the school parking lot that day with their families. As Moroni began his flight, a large group of middle school students created a spiritually poignant moment as they broke into song, singing the Primary favorite "I Love to See the Temple".
Open House, Cultural Celebration, and Temple Dedication
The public was invited to visit the temple during an open house from Saturday, 18 January 2014, through Saturday, 15 February 2014, excluding Sundays. During the month-long public open house 407,020 guests including local dignitaries and other faith leaders toured the temple. Local media covered the event to include a 30-minute prime-time special produced by one news station.
In conjunction with the dedication of the temple, on Saturday, 1 March 2014, there was a cultural celebration featuring music and dance. Twelve thousand youth participated in the pouring rain, honoring faithful heroes both ancient and modern on a field 300 yards long. Thomas S. Monson, President and Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, attended with Henry B. Eyring and other General Authorities and their wives.
President Thomas S. Monson presided at the three dedicatory sessions of the Gilbert Arizona Temple on Sunday, 2 March 2014, but at his request, the prayer in the first dedicatory session was offered by President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency.
The Gilbert Arizona Temple was the fourth temple built in Arizona, following the Mesa Arizona Temple (1927), the Snowflake Arizona Temple (2002), and the Gila Valley Arizona Temple (2010). The temple is the 142nd operating temple of the Church worldwide, and is the largest temple built by The Church of Jesus Christ in 17 years and one of the most beautiful.
External Links
- Official Gilbert Arizona Temple page
- Gilbert Arizona Temple page
- Gilbert Arizona Temple dedicatory prayer
- Map of Latter-day Saint temples in the Phoenix, AZ metro area
- What is the Purpose of the Temple
- What Are Temples?
