| Discussion and general plans for
construction of a temple in Mesa were made as early as 1908-1912. A final decision would
not be reached at that time, however, due to the outbreak of World War I. Plans were put
back on the drawing board in 1918 with the end of the war. The people of Arizona and the
surrounding area were generous with their donations to the temple building fund. Even
members of other churches donated $6,000. An excellent site near the transcontinental
highway was acquired making the temple visible to thousands of tourists each year. In
fact, two hundred thousand visitors walked through the temple during a special extended
open house during the last two years of construction. A unique
feature of the temple are the friezes found along the exterior walls. Those on the north
represent the gathering of the Lord's people from the Old World, while those on the south
depict the gathering of those in America and the Pacific Islands. Special attention was
also paid to creating beautiful grounds. Gorgeous palms, Cyprus trees, and citrus trees
surround the temple.
The dedication of the Mesa Arizona Temple was a special event for
non-native English speakers of the Church. After touring the mission in 1943, Elder Joseph
Fielding Smith of the Council of the Twelve said, "I see no reason why the English
language should monopolize the temple session." Elder Antoine R. Ivins of the Seventy
and Eduardo Balderas, a translator for the Church, were assigned the task of translating
the temple ordinances into Spanish. Brother Balderas said, "The opportunity of
translating the sacred ordinances within the confines of the Salt Lake Temple was, of
course, a wonderful privilege and blessing." He says that the "influence of the
Holy Spirit…guided them in their challenging but enjoyable labors." The Mesa
Arizona Temple thus became the first to present the temple ordinances in a language other
than English.
Thousands attended the dedicatory sessions including many Spanish
speaking members. A special spirit prevailed at every session, and when the last was
finally completed, time was not wasted in getting the temple up and running. Baptisms for
the dead were performed that very afternoon. Sealings and endowment sessions began the
next morning.
The Mesa Arizona Temple made history in 1975 when it became the
first temple to be reopened to public tours after remodeling. Formal rededication sessions
were also held.
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