LDS Freedom Forum

Detailed plans of major renovations for the historic Mesa Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were released Thursday, May 10, 2018, days before the religious building is scheduled to close for a two-year renovation.

The 75,000-square-foot temple will undergo extensive work, including site improvements, exterior maintenance, interior finishes, and building system maintenance for HVAC systems. The temple grounds will also be renovated and enhanced. The public will be invited to tour the temple before it reopens, which is expected to be in 2020.

“Systems wear out, even in temples,” said Brent Roberts, the Church’s managing director of Special Projects. “We’ll have the opportunity to stabilize the building systems and, at the same time, refresh the building itself.”

As part of the renovation, the visitors’ center will be demolished, and a new center will be rebuilt across the street on the southwest corner of Lesueur and Main Street. It will be home to various interactive exhibits and events, historical information about the temple, and family history research and teaching facilities.

This is the second renovation for the 91-year-old temple. It was rededicated in 1975 by President Spencer W. Kimball following refurbishment. It was originally dedicated by President Heber J. Grant in 1927. It is one of six Latter-day Saint temples in the state of Arizona.

In addition to its longevity, the Mesa Arizona Temple is unique because it was the first Latter-day Saint temple that implemented Spanish services, which benefited Latter-day Saints outside the United States.

“It was at this temple in 1945 that temple [rites] were first completed in a language other than English,” said Emily Utt, historic sites curator for the Church History Department. “Temple workers learned Spanish.”

Roc Arnett, the Church’s local director of public affairs, added, “This temple has served the community, but it has also served many across South America and into Central America.”

The renovation will seek to improve the building and experience for temple patrons while also maintaining the historic feel and character of the original design. Special care will be taken to protect the historic murals throughout the temple, and new murals will be added in some locations to complement the originals.

Additionally, roofing and drainage systems will be replaced, and new windows will be installed to provide better temperature control and conserve energy. Improvements will also be made to make the temple more accessible to people with disabilities.

The temple grounds will also undergo major changes to make them more consistent with the character of the landscape design immediately around the temple. The visitors’ center and the water feature on the temple’s north side will be replaced with a new reflection pool and side gardens, opening a more generous view toward Main Street. The reflection pool at the temple entrance will be repaired and remain in its current location. Workers will make efforts to preserve the existing shade trees while adding new garden areas.

The temple site will also be improved to better accommodate the annual Easter pageant — a tradition in the community since 1928 — and make the area more accessible and enjoyable with new paths and walkways.

Latter-day Saint temples are considered houses of God, where faithful Mormons participate in sacred ceremonies such as marriage and the uniting of families for eternity. Temples differ from meetinghouses or chapels, where all are welcome to meet for Sunday worship services and other activities.

Col. Flagg wrote: ↑May 10th, 2018, 10:30 pm Mormon 8:

28 Yea, it shall come in a day when the power of God shall be denied, and churches become defiled and be lifted up in the pride of their hearts; yea, even in a day when leaders of churches and teachers shall rise in the pride of their hearts, even to the envying of them who belong to their churches.

33 O ye wicked and perverse and stiffnecked people, why have ye built up churches unto yourselves to get gain? Why have ye transfigured the holy word of God, that ye might bring damnation upon your souls? Behold, look ye unto the revelations of God; for behold, the time cometh at that day when all these things must be fulfilled.

34 Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you.

35 Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.

36 And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.

37 For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.

38 O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world?

39 Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?

40 Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground, for vengeance upon your heads?

41 Behold, the sword of vengeance hangeth over you; and the time soon cometh that he avengeth the blood of the saints upon you, for he will not suffer their cries any longer.

Matthew 6:24:

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon (money).

2 Nephi 28:

11 Yea, they have all gone out of the way; they have become corrupted.

12 Because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine, their churches have become corrupted, and their churches are lifted up; because of pride they are puffed up.

13 They rob the poor because of their fine sanctuaries; they rob the poor because of their fine clothing; and they persecute the meek and the poor in heart, because in their pride they are puffed up.

14 They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men.

Col. Flagg wrote: ↑May 10th, 2018, 10:30 pm Mormon 8:

28 Yea, it shall come in a day when the power of God shall be denied, and churches become defiled and be lifted up in the pride of their hearts; yea, even in a day when leaders of churches and teachers shall rise in the pride of their hearts, even to the envying of them who belong to their churches.

33 O ye wicked and perverse and stiffnecked people, why have ye built up churches unto yourselves to get gain? Why have ye transfigured the holy word of God, that ye might bring damnation upon your souls? Behold, look ye unto the revelations of God; for behold, the time cometh at that day when all these things must be fulfilled.

34 Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you.

35 Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.

36 And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.

37 For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.

38 O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world?

39 Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?

40 Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground, for vengeance upon your heads?

41 Behold, the sword of vengeance hangeth over you; and the time soon cometh that he avengeth the blood of the saints upon you, for he will not suffer their cries any longer.

Matthew 6:24:

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon (money).

2 Nephi 28:

11 Yea, they have all gone out of the way; they have become corrupted.

12 Because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine, their churches have become corrupted, and their churches are lifted up; because of pride they are puffed up.

13 They rob the poor because of their fine sanctuaries; they rob the poor because of their fine clothing; and they persecute the meek and the poor in heart, because in their pride they are puffed up.

14 They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men.

Col. Flagg wrote: ↑May 11th, 2018, 8:58 am Mark, DW2, those scriptures were meant for us for our day. You can't and don't see that?

Col. Flagg wrote: ↑May 10th, 2018, 10:30 pm Mormon 8:

28 Yea, it shall come in a day when the power of God shall be denied, and churches become defiled and be lifted up in the pride of their hearts; yea, even in a day when leaders of churches and teachers shall rise in the pride of their hearts, even to the envying of them who belong to their churches.

33 O ye wicked and perverse and stiffnecked people, why have ye built up churches unto yourselves to get gain? Why have ye transfigured the holy word of God, that ye might bring damnation upon your souls? Behold, look ye unto the revelations of God; for behold, the time cometh at that day when all these things must be fulfilled.

34 Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you.

35 Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.

36 And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.

37 For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.

38 O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world?

39 Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?

40 Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground, for vengeance upon your heads?

41 Behold, the sword of vengeance hangeth over you; and the time soon cometh that he avengeth the blood of the saints upon you, for he will not suffer their cries any longer.

Matthew 6:24:

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon (money).

2 Nephi 28:

11 Yea, they have all gone out of the way; they have become corrupted.

12 Because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine, their churches have become corrupted, and their churches are lifted up; because of pride they are puffed up.

13 They rob the poor because of their fine sanctuaries; they rob the poor because of their fine clothing; and they persecute the meek and the poor in heart, because in their pride they are puffed up.

14 They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men.

Col. Flagg wrote: ↑May 11th, 2018, 8:58 am Mark, DW2, those scriptures were meant for us for our day. You can't and don't see that?

Arenera wrote: ↑May 11th, 2018, 9:11 am

Col. Flagg wrote: ↑May 11th, 2018, 8:58 am Mark, DW2, those scriptures were meant for us for our day. You can't and don't see that?

When the Book of Mormon was published, we didn't have any temples. So it was for pre-Book of Mormon. You are trying to use it against the Church today.

Nephi built a temple in his day, you might call it expensive. That is the way temples are.

2 Nephi 5
16 And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon’s temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine.

Mark wrote: ↑May 11th, 2018, 10:13 am

Col. Flagg wrote: ↑May 11th, 2018, 8:58 am Mark, DW2, those scriptures were meant for us for our day. You can't and don't see that?

Whats sad here is that you are implicating those honorable men that I sustain as Prophets Seers and Revelators as prideful charlatan hypocrites. If YOU cant see that you are just a thick mick as we used to say in London..

Col. Flagg wrote: ↑May 11th, 2018, 12:19 pm

Mark wrote: ↑May 11th, 2018, 10:13 am

Col. Flagg wrote: ↑May 11th, 2018, 8:58 am Mark, DW2, those scriptures were meant for us for our day. You can't and don't see that?

Whats sad here is that you are implicating those honorable men that I sustain as Prophets Seers and Revelators as prideful charlatan hypocrites. If YOU cant see that you are just a thick mick as we used to say in London..

Yep, I'm implicating the brethren because we all know I am out to get them and to attack the church every chance I get even though I've been a member my whole life, have served in almost every calling you can think of over the last 35 years and have my testimony rooted firmly in the gospel, but darn, since it isn't in the arm of the flesh, how dare I question the use of sacred funds for big corporate interests that have to do more with money than Zion.

Meili wrote: ↑May 10th, 2018, 10:15 pm Mesa temple is one of my favorite. I find it incredibly beautiful, even more than some other more traditionally designed temples. I hope they don't change the look of the building at all. It sounds like they aren't.

Lizzy60 wrote: ↑May 11th, 2018, 12:47 pm Also, it's possible to have a testimony of the restored gospel and temple work, yet also believe that these ultra-expensive building projects (condos and shopping centers) are not inspired by the Lord.

Lizzy60 wrote: ↑May 11th, 2018, 12:47 pm Also, it's possible to have a testimony of the restored gospel and temple work, yet also believe that these ultra-expensive building projects (condos and shopping centers) are not inspired by the Lord.

Lizzy60 wrote: ↑May 11th, 2018, 9:34 am The workmanship of the Church Mall is also exceedingly fine. It also keeps the riffraff away. Those pesky beggars. They are all just con men.

Alas, all the warnings in the Book of Mormon can't possible be for our day, because All is Well in Zion after all. #sarcasm

Col. Flagg wrote: ↑May 11th, 2018, 12:15 pm

Arenera wrote: ↑May 11th, 2018, 9:11 am

Col. Flagg wrote: ↑May 11th, 2018, 8:58 am Mark, DW2, those scriptures were meant for us for our day. You can't and don't see that?

When the Book of Mormon was published, we didn't have any temples. So it was for pre-Book of Mormon. You are trying to use it against the Church today.

Nephi built a temple in his day, you might call it expensive. That is the way temples are.

2 Nephi 5
16 And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon’s temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine.

There's a pretty big difference between 'quality of work' and 'cost'. And doesn't the Lord know the past, present and future?

drtanner wrote: ↑May 11th, 2018, 2:24 pm

Lizzy60 wrote: ↑May 11th, 2018, 12:47 pm Also, it's possible to have a testimony of the restored gospel and temple work, yet also believe that these ultra-expensive building projects (condos and shopping centers) are not inspired by the Lord.

Does this project include condos and shopping centers?

Lizzy60 wrote: ↑May 11th, 2018, 12:45 pm My great-grandmother lived within walking distance of the Mesa temple until she died at 98. I also did baptisms there as a youth while visiting her.

With the new development, only the wealthy will be able to live as near to the temple as she did.

The same thing is happening in New Zealand. Low-to-middle class homes near the temple are razed to make room for expensive condos and retail.

Isaiah 5:8