Gila Valley Arizona Temple
Encyclopedia
The Gila Valley Arizona Temple is a temple
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in the town of Central
between the communities of Pima
and Thatcher
in Arizona
. The temple was dedicated on May 23, 2010, following an open house period from April 23 to May 15.
The announcement of the temple on April 26, 2008 came concurrently with the Gilbert Arizona Temple
, and together were the first new temples announced since Thomas S. Monson
assumed responsibilities as the President of the LDS Church.
Local church leadership announced on September 21, 2008 that the temple would be built on church owned property adjacent to US Route 70 in the unincorporated community of Central. A petition to grant an exception to building height restrictions to accommodate a 100 feet (30.5 m) steeple for the temple was given a favorable recommendation by the Graham County
Planning and Zoning Commission and was subsequently approved by the county board of supervisors on October 20.
A groundbreaking and site dedication ceremony took place on February 14, 2009, officially beginning the construction process. The structure of the temple was completed on September 22 with the placement of the Angel Moroni statue on the temple's steeple. Additional site improvements, including landscaping and interior work, were completed in early 2010.
The new temple serves the significant Latter-day Saint population in the eastern part of Arizona's Gila River Valley
, who previously had to travel to the Mesa Arizona Temple
150 miles to the west. The area has a historical significance to the LDS Church; Thatcher, which was founded by Mormon pioneer
s in 1881, was home to former LDS Church president Spencer W. Kimball
during his youth in the early part of the 1900s. Speculation that the area would be home to a temple was made as early as 1882, when Jesse N. Smith predicted that a temple
would be built in Thatcher.
Thomas Monson, the President of the Church at the time of the dedication stated during his remarks prior to the dedicatory prayer, that an anonymous benefactor, a woman from the area, had given $500,000 to allow the temple to be adorned with much original artwork.
Temple (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and they are considered by Church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usually open to the public for a short period of time...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in the town of Central
Central, Arizona
Central is a small unincorporated community in Graham County, Arizona, United States. It is part of the Safford Micropolitan Statistical Area.The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints constructed a temple in the area....
between the communities of Pima
Pima, Arizona
Pima is a town in Graham County, Arizona, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 1,965. It is part of the Safford Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
and Thatcher
Thatcher, Arizona
Thatcher is a town in Graham County, Arizona, United States. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the town is 4,865. It is part of the Safford Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Thatcher is located at ....
in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. The temple was dedicated on May 23, 2010, following an open house period from April 23 to May 15.
The announcement of the temple on April 26, 2008 came concurrently with the Gilbert Arizona Temple
Gilbert Arizona Temple
The Gilbert Arizona Temple is a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, being constructed in the town of Gilbert, Arizona. The announcement of the temple on April 26, 2008 came concurrently with the Gila Valley Arizona Temple, and together were the first new temples announced...
, and together were the first new temples announced since Thomas S. Monson
Thomas S. Monson
Thomas Spencer Monson is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As president, Monson is considered by adherents of the religion to be a "prophet, seer, and revelator" of God's will on earth...
assumed responsibilities as the President of the LDS Church.
Local church leadership announced on September 21, 2008 that the temple would be built on church owned property adjacent to US Route 70 in the unincorporated community of Central. A petition to grant an exception to building height restrictions to accommodate a 100 feet (30.5 m) steeple for the temple was given a favorable recommendation by the Graham County
Graham County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*72.1% White*1.8% Black*14.4% Native American*0.5% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.8% Two or more races*8.3% Other races*30.4% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
Planning and Zoning Commission and was subsequently approved by the county board of supervisors on October 20.
A groundbreaking and site dedication ceremony took place on February 14, 2009, officially beginning the construction process. The structure of the temple was completed on September 22 with the placement of the Angel Moroni statue on the temple's steeple. Additional site improvements, including landscaping and interior work, were completed in early 2010.
The new temple serves the significant Latter-day Saint population in the eastern part of Arizona's Gila River Valley
Gila River Valley
The Gila River Valley is a multi-sectioned valley of the Gila River, mostly in Arizona. The Gila River forms in western New Mexico and flows west across southern-eastern, south-central, and southwestern Arizona; it changes directions across the state, and defines specific areas and valleys...
, who previously had to travel to the Mesa Arizona Temple
Mesa Arizona Temple
The Mesa Arizona Temple is the seventh operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in the city of Mesa, Arizona, it is the first of five LDS temples built or planned in the state.-History:...
150 miles to the west. The area has a historical significance to the LDS Church; Thatcher, which was founded by Mormon pioneer
Mormon Pioneer
The Mormon pioneers were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as Latter-day Saints, who migrated across the United States from the Midwest to the Salt Lake Valley in what is today the U.S. state of Utah...
s in 1881, was home to former LDS Church president Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer Woolley Kimball was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1973 until his death in 1985.-Ancestry:...
during his youth in the early part of the 1900s. Speculation that the area would be home to a temple was made as early as 1882, when Jesse N. Smith predicted that a temple
Temple (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and they are considered by Church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usually open to the public for a short period of time...
would be built in Thatcher.
Thomas Monson, the President of the Church at the time of the dedication stated during his remarks prior to the dedicatory prayer, that an anonymous benefactor, a woman from the area, had given $500,000 to allow the temple to be adorned with much original artwork.
See also
- Comparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsComparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsBelow is a chronological list of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with sortable columns. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and considered by church members to be the most sacred structures on earth...
- List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by geographic region
- Temple architecture (Latter-day Saints)
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in ArizonaThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in ArizonaAs of October 2010, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported 381,235 members in 794 Congregations in Arizona, with 4 missions and 3 temples.-Mormon Battalion:...