Church leaders rededicate the Mesa Arizona Temple
Dec 12, 2021, 8:11 PM
Left to right: Elder Paul B. Pieper, a General Area Seventy and President of the North America Southwest Area, Sister Melissa Pieper, Sister Susan Gong, Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency, Sister Kristen Oaks, Sister Nancy Duncan and Elder Kevin R. Duncan, a General Authority Seventy and executive director of the Temple Department. (Intellectual Reserve, Inc.)
(Intellectual Reserve, Inc.)
MESA, Ariz. — The Mesa Arizona Temple for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was rededicated Sunday, following several years of renovation work on the structure and grounds.
According to Church officials, about 2,400 people attended each of the three sessions.
President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency presided.
Other Church leaders in attendance were Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Paul B. Pieper, a General Area Seventy, and Elder Kevin R. Duncan, a General Authority Seventy.
“Over the past several years, the 94-year-old Mesa temple received interior and exterior upgrades and improvements. The temple grounds were also renovated and enhanced,” the Church stated in a news release.
The Mesa Arizona Temple, which was originally dedicated in 1927 by then Church President Heber J. Grant, was the first temple to be constructed in Arizona.
In 1974, the temple underwent its first round of renovations.
It was rededicated the following year by President Spencer W. Kimball.
Then, in May 2018, the Mesa Arizona Temple closed for additional interior and exterior improvements.
Before President Oaks rededicated the temple on Dec. 12, a public open house was held from Oct. 16 to Nov. 20.
It’s the sixth temple in the state of Arizona, joining temples in Gila Valley, Gilbert, Phoenix, Snowflake and Tucson.
