The Mesa Arizona Temple, one of eight Latter-day Saint temples that has been closed for renovation, will be rededicated at the end of the year, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Friday.
President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency will preside at the temple’s rededication in three sessions on Sunday, Dec. 12, 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m., according to a news release.
Will there be a public open house for the Mesa Arizona Temple?
A public open house will be held from Saturday, Oct. 16, through Saturday, Nov. 20, except for Sundays (Oct. 17, 24 and 31, and Nov. 7 and 14).
A youth devotional is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 11.
Will the rededication sessions be broadcast?
The three sessions and youth devotional will be broadcast to congregations in the Mesa Arizona Temple district. More specific details about the temple rededication will be released in the future.
The Mesa temple renovation and history
The Mesa temple has been closed since May 2018 for a major renovation.
The church has also added a new temple visitors’ center, which includes a family history center and housing.
The new Mesa Visitors’ Center will be dedicated on Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. PDT, in a broadcast to Latter-day Saint meetinghouses throughout Arizona.
The Mesa Arizona Temple was originally dedicated by President Heber J. Grant in 1927.
It underwent a first renovation and was rededicated in 1975 by President Spencer W. Kimball.
How many Latter-day Saint temples are in Arizona?
The Mesa Arizona Temple was the first temple constructed in Arizona. It is one of six temples in the Grand Canyon State, including the Gila Valley, Gilbert, Phoenix, Snowflake and Tucson temples.
Other temples under renovation
The following temples have also been closed for renovation in recent years: The Hong Kong, Tokyo Japan, Hamilton New Zealand, Columbus Ohio, Washington D.C., St. George Utah and Salt Lake City Utah temples are closed for renovation.
The Washington D.C. Temple was scheduled to be rededicated in the fall of 2020 but the event was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.