Deseret News | LDS Church announces plans for two new temples in Arizona

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LDS Church announces plans for two new temples in Arizona

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Jim in Yuma | 2:43 p.m. April 28, 2008

I am thrilled for the folks in the Gila Valley and Gilbert. Here in Yuma we have the option of gong to either the Mesa Temple or San Diego Temple. Both are around three hours away. The Gilbert Temple gives us yet another option. I feel the more the better.

Christine | 2:51 p.m. April 28, 2008

I lived in Utah for several years. I was approached by neighbors to come to church with them, but when I turned them down I was totally ignored. Is that what Jesus calls Love your neighbors? They never talked about the love of Jesus either. It is all about the church and church functions. That is so wrong. Jesus is the reason not your church leaders.

Slow down Big Bob.... | 2:55 p.m. April 28, 2008

Wow, slow down Bob Answer 1,2,3....easy on the defensiveness....

There is a ton of speculation on this board, frankly silly speculation on the part of how all of the decisions were made. The silliest is that people with money somehow "bought" the temple.

It's not a matter of the amount of tithing, nor has it ever been. It's a matter of FULL-Tithe payers. Do you not remember the widow's mite?

No area is more special than the other. quit whining.

Complaining Kids had the right message to all of you who sit on here and whine and moan...if it wasn't Monday I'd suggest that all of you take the afternoon off and go to the temple and find some peace.....

It's such a shame that there are so many comments that reflect the natural man on here.

Enough with the bickering! Go do your genealogy so you will have names to take to the temple when they are built.

Comments continue below

RE: soakblue | 1:47 p.m. | 3:14 p.m. April 28, 2008

"Stuck in QC" again. Soakblue, you're a popular guy! :)

I see where you're coming from on QC, no worries. Yes, there's been opposition to getting LDS buildings built here. Seemed nobody in the *old* QC town council (things are better under new LDS mayor Art Sanders) or *present* Pinal County leadership took it seriously that there were as many LDS people out here as there are. Though in all fairness, the LDS move-in rate out here has been pretty much unprecedented, so you can't blame them too much. But nobody's rubber-stamping anything out here--except speeding tickets on Hunt Highway and dancing violations at San Tan Flat. :)

Also, on the complaining thing: A bit less complaining from EVERYONE--whether where the temple is or complaining about complainers--might be in order. I'm not so sure the squeaky wheel's going to get the grease here. Nobody's EVER said the West Valley will NEVER have a temple or that you don't need one, too. Sure, y'all do as well! The time's just not yet. And it won't get here any sooner by anyone yelling about it.

Patience + faithfulness + attending the temple you've got = possible new temple.

Christine | 3:16 p.m. April 28, 2008

I also lived in Minneapolis for several years. I was approached by neighbors to come to Lutheran church with them, but when I turned them down I was totally ignored. Is that what Jesus calls Love your neighbors? They never talked about the love of Jesus either. It is all about the church and church functions. That is so wrong. Jesus is the reason not your church leaders.

Thatcherite to Glendale | 3:43 p.m. April 28, 2008

The Gila Valley is a little piece of Heaven located 140 something miles southeast in Arizona. The Gila Valley areas will probably consist of Safford, Thatcher, Pima, Ft. Thomas, Central, Bylas, Morenci, Willcox, Clifton, York, Lordsburg NM, Silvercity NM, Benson, St. David, Tombstone, Pomerence, Sierra Vista and hopefully didn't leave anyone out.

Strong Stakes | 3:59 p.m. April 28, 2008

I have heard church authorities say similar things as Elder Oakes about areas of the church other than Safford--I guess they all have their own opinions.

Jay R. | 4:04 p.m. April 28, 2008

Maybe if the stakes on the West Side of Phoenix were split as easily as the stakes in Mesa, we would have more stakes and ergo a temple. We have a ward that is bursting at the seems with nearly fifty HPs and great activity numbers--but we can't even get a ward split approved.

re: Christine Taft | 4:04 p.m. April 28, 2008

You seem to be fishing for a fight and hopefully you will not find one. There are many books and commentary on the translation of the Book of Mormon. Read some if you are interested.

Is the Book of Mormon the word of God? That is the answer you need to find. If it is follow it. If it is not-leave it alone and let those who believe follow the road of good intentions to purgatory.
God will reveal the truthfullness of it by the power of the Holy Ghost, not through PhD in ancient languages that gives the you answer you want to hear about a French word showing up in the Book of Mormon.

It is also states as the most correct book on earth. It did not see anything about it being perfect.

Read it and pray about it. Then the answer of its truthfullness will be between you and the Lord. God Bless.

Bob-Final | 4:10 p.m. April 28, 2008

Final Comment: I'm not jealous--just disappointed. The more temples, the better...regardless of where they are located. More temples = more work performed. More temples bless both the area and the lives of the saints within the temple boundaries. I try hard and pray hard not to be so cynical, but sometimes it is very difficult. The bottom line is that I need and want to go to the temple more often...which is a good thing. Congratulations Gilbert and Gila Valley--keep up the good work.

People Please stop | 4:17 p.m. April 28, 2008

Jay R....do you know what actually goes into a ward/stake split? 50 HP's is nothing! We've had over 100 in a ward that didn't get split.

I don't know it all, but I have been involved in enough stake/ward splits (stake clerk, ward clerk, bishopric) to know what goes on in the numbers when deciding such splits. I've had to actually fill out the paperwork and do the "numbers" to submit to the church for recommendation and approval. It's actually quite a bit of thought and not all recommendations are approved.

Who says the stakes aren't split as easily as the stakes in Mesa? It's NOT the number of stakes that makes an area qualify for a temple.

I wish people who didn't know what they were talking about would quit the erroneous comments as it just makes you look ignorant.

Actually, the real question is WHO CARES? If YOU are doing what YOU are supposed to be doing, isn't that all that matters?

The Lord's ways are higher than ours. His thoughts are higher than ours....Let's just leave it at that and move along to things we can control, like what we should be doing each day!

Wow Christine | 4:18 p.m. April 28, 2008

I feel sorry for you young lady....it's quite apparent you're not up to full speed on a lot of things...

Maybe you should just stick to the SLTrib sights that will be more conducive to your thoughts and ways.....

KG | 4:36 p.m. April 28, 2008

What have we come to as members when we bicker and complain about where temples are being built? The church leaders know the demographics and needs of the members, as well as the other requirements needed to merit a temple. We should be happy that more people are getting easier access to temples. I, for one, believe that if the Prophet deems Gilbert and Gila areas ready for and deserving of temples, who am I to argue? Some of us must need a refresher course on where revelation comes from!

James | 4:38 p.m. April 28, 2008

On the lighter side:
The announced site of the Gilbert Arizona Temple is less than a mile from a Costco location. Picture in your mind all of the white shirts and dresses in Costco on any Saturday afternoon in two to three years.

Re; KG | 5:00 p.m. April 28, 2008

We must also remember that non or some inactive members visit this board often and want to make it appear that we are bickering amounst ourselves by 'stirring the pot'. I too would hope that active members and most inactive members are not questioning the location of the Temples. I think initially we may think (or post) 'why is the Temple going there? Why not here?' And then come to terms that the powers that be know where the Temples should be.

RE: Adieu | 5:05 p.m. April 28, 2008

Joseph Smith was aware he was using a word with French origin (see fairmormon.org's wiki).

Neither English nor French language was on the plates so the word "adieu" was not on the plates. To Smith, the word adieu best conveyed the meaning to readers of what was on the plates. Have you ever said "C'est la vie", "Savoir Fair", "run amok" (Indonesian) or "ad hoc"?

There is a misunderstanding that the word adieu is not an English word. The problem stems from the fact that adieu is both an English word and a French word, and most English speakers are more familiar with its use in a French context.

Adieu is a perfectly good English word that has appeared in English dictionaries/literature and in common English usage from long before JosephSmith to the present. Adieu entered the English language in the 14th century from Middle French NOT modern French, and has been part of English for ~800 years. Adieu has been part of the English language longer than the word banquet. Adieu is no less English than commence, nation, psychology, Bible, vision, or any other word that can be traced back to Latin, Greek, German, French, Spanish.

Count your many blessings | 5:15 p.m. April 28, 2008

To all of you murmurers out there:

"Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10)

With all the negative news these days we should be rejoicing over such wonderful, uplifting news like this. We should be genuinely happy for our brothers and sisters whose lives will be blessed by these new temples for generations to come. Let's not forget how truly blessed we are to be living during the Fulness of Times!

Anonymous | 5:23 p.m. April 28, 2008

It's nice to hear how busy the Mesa Temple is.
It's just the opposite in Las Vegas.
We have twice the endowed members since the Temple opened in 1989 but we are doing less work.
Sad!

Saint in Mesa | 5:30 p.m. April 28, 2008

I know most negative comments here are from people who wish to express themselves negatively. But for any who are simply less informed... Temple locations are chosen by church policy that assesses the projected usage of the considered temples. This is how it works as far as I have been told. Temple locations are not primarily decided by geographic diversity. The main issue is projected usage. A temple in Glendale (opposite side of the Phoenix valley) would be a better choice geographically, as would Tucson. However, the number of active Priesthood holders in those locations probably do not indicate that such temples would be adequately used to justify building them there at this time. The Mesa temple is very busy and a temple in Gilbert is projected to relieve such stress and be well used, perhaps even increase temple attendance notably. The church may choose to make the small temples in remote locations as needed, but even these must have a projected usage to warrant the construction and maintenance.

Dear Saint In Mesa | 7:25 p.m. April 28, 2008

your comments are funny because you contradict yourself. You state as a matter of fact church policy and then disclaim it by saying this is what you have been told.

That is the problem with 90% of the posts. No one on here knows; it's all just speculation and 3rd hand information.

The bottom line is WHO CARES? The temples are going where there going no matter what anyone's gripe is or the sanctimonious chest thumping going on.

Is it any wonder that the LDS population has a reputation for cattiness and gossip? You people all probably telling everyone that you knew who the next Apostle was going to be because you are in the know or how much money was donated or land given up.

Seriously folks, go start your FHE and let's all give a lesson on revelation and humility!

D in Dewey | 10:13 p.m. April 28, 2008

I am so surprised to hear that some are complaining of the locations of the two new temples. Sure we would all like to have a temple near but I will tell you if we have faith enough to attend often and to do our Family History work and encourage others to do the same well guess what if you do the work they will come (the temples that is) I sure would not want to tell God that he shoulda put it here or there. We should be grateful that they are continueing to be built and that we can visit more and worship in various places. If you think about some of the other temples they were just grateful not to have to travel for days to attend.

Curious | 11:07 p.m. April 28, 2008

Just wondering out loud. Given the choice, will the East Valley members attend the Mesa or the Gilbert Temple? What happens when the majority decide to use the Gilbert Temple and leave the Mesa Temple underutilized?

Glendale Nation | 11:40 p.m. April 28, 2008

I want a temple on the west side as much as everybody else. Yes there is growth in Surprise and those areas, but the older parts of the west valley have lost members due to the increasing crime and problems that exist in these areas. My ward was combined with another a year ago, and we are still dwindling in numbers because everybody is moving to Surprise. We need to be patient and faithful in the west valley and applaud and celebrate the two other new temples in our state.

OC Surfer | 2:36 a.m. April 29, 2008

Just because a temple is closer didn't mean you will attend more. Here in Orange County, members paid (without Salt Lake funds) the Newport Beach Temple entirely with local donations.

But since they built it as a "smaller" temple, you need to schedule a week sometimes 2 weeks in advance just to get in since it's so busy. So even though I live 10 minutes to the Newport Temple, I typically drive 1.5 hours either way to the LA or San Diego Temple when I go, since no appointment needed at the larger temples.

Hopefully these new temples in Arizona won't be the smaller, wait a week, variety...

Why Arizona? | 7:21 a.m. April 29, 2008

It has one of the highest foreclosure rates int he country.

understandable | 9:22 a.m. April 29, 2008

It must be disappointing for those in the West Valley to still have to travel over here--but I see the huge population(sitll growing) of young LDS in Queen Creek and surrounding area and it is understandable It will make it m0re possible for all these many parents of very young children to attend---which will keep marriages stronger--we could rarely attend when my children were young because of the time away--driving into L.A. and back was time consuming. My parents never attended while I grew up--no temple in the midwest...

It does feel a bit greedy...but I am grateful for the feeling it will bring to this community and hopefully West Valley will have less wait now once they arrive.

John Lambert | 9:46 a.m. April 29, 2008

I am reminded of when the business leaders in Boise tried to convince Heber J. Grant to build the temple there. He told them if they all joined the church a temple would be built there.
If everyone in Tucson would become temple worthy and increase their temple attendance they would build a temple there. The same goes for those in Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria and the rest of the West Valley. Temples will be built once people actually start showing up.
The fact is that there are way more church members in Gilbert/Mesa than in Peoria/Glendale.

John Lambert | 9:59 a.m. April 29, 2008

To to JR:
I am not sure if temple attendance was tracked. However the number of temple reccomend holders was known. President Hinckley once told a gathering of saints in the Phillipines that if more of them became tithe payers and thus temple worthy they would see a temple built in their area. There is now a temple being built in Cebu.
There are also temples underway in Vancover, British Columbia; Panama City, Panama; Tegucigalpa, Honduras; San Salvador, El Salvador; Quetzaltenango, Guatemala; Curitiba, Brazil; Manaus, Brazil; Kiev, Ukraine and I believe those are all.
For those who live south of Tucson, would it not be faster if you just went to Hermosillo Temple. It is a beuatiful building, and even though I am sure it is quite well used by the saints in Hermosillo, Guaymas, Ciudad Obregon as well as those who come north from Culiacan and Mazatlan, I am sure there would be space for you.

John Lambert | 10:07 a.m. April 29, 2008

Here I see someone caim we have gaudy architecture, elsewhere I have seem people gripe the temples are not unique enough. Can you ever please people.
However I would point out that the temple is where we provide salvation for people that can be provided no where else.
In the question about Jesus ending temples. I think you have to understand that there are not sacrifices done in the temples.
What is done in the temple is baptisms for the dead and other saving ordiances for both the living and the dead.
If you meet with the missionaries again or happen to see one of your neighbros who is LDS ask them about the Plan of Salvation. An understanding of the Plan of Salvation will put what goes on in the temple in porper perspective and explain how it relates to Jesus Christ.
One more thing, the ordinances of the temple all point to Jesus Christ and his redeeming mission.

John Lambert | 12:18 p.m. April 29, 2008

To Grandmax5:
TO begin with you are the only person who has ever to my knowledge classed Wyoming as part of the mid-west.
However since South Dakota, Kansas, Wisconsin, Iowa and Indiana all do not have temples your point is hard to understand.
Maybe Wyoming is the only state in the West that does not have a temple, however it does touch South Dakota that does not have a temple.
On other notes, Pennsylvania is the most populous state without a temple. There is also only one temple in a French speaking area, and that is in Quebec where they slaughter their French. Resideents of French speaking Europe must travel to areas where they speak either Spanish or a Germanic language to attend the temple. There are three temples in Anglophone Africa and none in Francophone Africa. I would not be surprised to see changes on these fronts, especially since President Monson was in charge of starting missionary work in Quebec, but don't hold your breath.

Gila Valley Girl | 2:35 p.m. April 29, 2008

I am so happy that a Temple will be built in the Gila Valley. I suspect it will be in Pima where land was dedicated for a temple about 12 years ago west of Pima about 8-9 miles. Back when it was Smithville (1880's) it was believed a temple would in fact be built there, what a blessing! I can't wait to be there for the dedication!!

5th generation edenite | 2:51 p.m. April 29, 2008

How AWSOME to have a temple here in the gila valley, to know that our forfather's labor's and our's are being rewarded.

Tracking Temple Attendance | 6:41 p.m. April 29, 2008

The new barcoded recommends are NOT used to track attendance. Period. And temples haven't tracked attendance by ward or stake for well over 15 years.

The barcodes were introduced as a security measure. Temples received a thick document (nearly 60 pages) every week listing lost and stolen recommends reported from around the world. As it was impossible for every recommend desk attendant in every temple to memorize every name in the document, then update that memorization each week, the Church introduced the barcoded recommend.

The Temple Entry System programmers were instructed not to provide a means of tracking attendance or reporting ANY statistics that could be obtained through TES.

As for accessability - When we were first married we traveled 40 miles each way every Wednesday to attend the temple. I now live a block and a half from a temple and haven't done a session in nearly four months! Shame on ME!

Pray often, study your scriptures, pay a full tithe, always hold a current temple recommend, attend your meetings faithfully, go to the temple as often as you can (which is more often than you THINK you can!), and be happy!

God bless us, EVERY one!

Anonymous | 6:48 p.m. April 29, 2008

I don't think it is christian to build or worship in temples? Look at what the temple worship has done to those young abused mormon girls in Texas. It is just wrong and no, temple worship is not christian.

RE: Anonymous | 6:48 p.m. | 7:47 p.m. April 29, 2008

Actually, temple worship IS Christian--the original Christians worshipped in the temple of their day--as has been pointed out repeatedly in previous posts. It's also right there in the Bible. The references are previously listed, too.

Careful also not to overgeneralize about Christian belief. I've been inside Baptist and Seventh-day Adventist chapel buildings called "temples," for instance. So there certainly *are* Christian temples, of a sort.

BTW: The LDS church has nothing to do with the FLDS--they broke away from us more than 100 years ago and changed a fair amount of what we believe. Apples and oranges. Two groups of people usually make that comparison: 1) The people who don't do their homework about the LDS Church, and 2) the people who *believe* the people who haven't done their homework. So just a friendly tip: Doing your own fact-checking will help save you some embarrassment! :)

Keelie | 8:48 a.m. April 30, 2008

I came back to this site to post a comment about the history of temple worship among the ancient Christians. I have a great deal of information on the subject.

But as I read through these posts, I was amazed and appalled by the bickering between self-righteous, holier-than-thou Mormons in Arizona who are behaving like Pharisees.

So, I decided that I would NOT cast my pearls before such swine.

You Arizona Mormons are an embarrassment to the LDS Church. Shame on you all.

To Keelie | 9:33 a.m. April 30, 2008

In some ways you are right but in some ways you remind me of that Bishop's wife in Baptists at our Barbeque...."When the Arizona Saints come around will you be waiting?"

The Gospel | 9:38 a.m. April 30, 2008

The gospel is perfect.....the people aren't. It is nice to see how we allow Satan to use this beautiful and wonderful thing and turn it into bickering and something ugly.

RE: RE: Anonymous | 6:48 p.m. | 10:37 a.m. April 30, 2008

"The LDS church has nothing to do with the FLDS--they broke away from us more than 100 years ago and changed a fair amount of what we believe."

Actually, the LDS are the ones who have "broken away" from the true teachings the religions founders. The FLDS are more true to the original Book Of Mormon than today's "LDS".

Keelie | 10:56 a.m. April 30, 2008

I have no idea what you are talking about. Baptists at our Barbeque? What is that?

I'm sorry, did you think I was a Mormon? On the contrary, I am the (college student) daughter of "Inquiring Mind." Our family lives in Paradise Valley, and we have been investigating the LDS Church for about 3 months taking the missionary discussions and everything.

My mom has been sharing what she has been learning from this blog in our family Bible study. I decided to check out what mom was reading about, and found all this bickering. Is this really what happens to people when they join the Church?

To Keelie | 11:27 a.m. April 30, 2008

None of us are perfect. The bickering members are NOT living the gospel. Different people have different sins they must learn to overcome. I am not from the AZ area but I am LDS. I have my own sins I work on as I learn to become more like Christ. Often I miss the importance (in my life as well as others lives) of trying to be like Jesus in all my conversations and actions. I hope you will see that "active" church members go to church because they need to be healed.

To those bickering: can you not see the damage your contention can cause in your life as well as others lives? Follow Christ and his words... Peace be still.

To Keelie | 12:25 p.m. April 30, 2008

Sorry that you get such a negative impression from these comment boards. As an LDS member, it saddens me as well. Please keep this in mind, though: ALL news comment sites actually tend to attract those with chips on their shoulders or something negative to say. (I analyze communication for a living.) Sort of the nature of the beast, as it were. So please try not to assess all Mormons, in Arizona or elsewhere, by what you read here. We're sadly still all too human.

A comment from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf from the last conference might help: "Remember: the heavens will not be filled with those who never made mistakes but with those who recognized that they were off course and who corrected their ways to get back in the light of gospel truth."

Part of being off-course is realizing that what was intended as mere "venting" has actually hurt someone else and/or reflected EXTREMELY poorly on the venter. I can only hope you understand that, and that the people involved can recognize and correct what they're doing!

Keelie, thanks for sharing your perspective. It's much appreciated.

RE: Anonymous @10:37 a.m. | 12:32 p.m. April 30, 2008

You can believe what you want--and you will. It's your choice and agency! But may I merely assure you that the mainstream LDS Church is the one led by a TRUE prophet. My heart aches for what's happening to the FLDS right now. I hope they'll see and understand the *full* truth at some point!

Inquiring Mind | 1:19 p.m. April 30, 2008

I guess it was "inspired" that we thought to check out the Deseret News in Utah to get a sense for what kind of people are in this Church. We will certainly take all this into consideration as we continue to investigate the LDS Church. To be honest, though, Keelie is quite disgusted.

God bless you all, anyway. I think we have learned what we came to learn.

Former Tucsonan | 2:03 p.m. April 30, 2008

Hang in there people of Tucson; I feel your bewilderment and pain. Continue in the faith and it will happen one day.

To Keelie | 2:38 p.m. April 30, 2008

Sorry about that! We tend to be a bit silly sometimes... It's a mark of your maturity and intellegence that you see our weaknesses and can still forgive us!

Best of luck in your search for the truth - we're praying for you (and ourselves, too!!!)!

Always end up disgusted | 2:47 p.m. April 30, 2008

I think the ability to comment on articles online is a great benefit of technology. However, I always end up being disgusted after reading comments. I don't think I have ever read a group of comments on articles that didn't turn into bashing.

And just as Christ says in the scriptures - "the spirit of contention is not of me but is of the devil" and that "he stireth up the hearts of the children of men to contend with one another".

After reading comments (regardless of the article be it religion, politics, sports, business, health, movies, etc.) I feel like I need another shower. So much negativity is just depressing. The spirit of Christ definitely departs.

Or why not even get a non-religious quote from Thumper - "if you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all."

Hat's off to those who try to be uplifting to others instead of tearing down.

Anonymous | 4:14 p.m. April 30, 2008

I think this is bad timing for the anouncement. With all the issues the church has had with the bad public relations with the young mormon women and children in texas you would think they would stay low key on these types of items.

RE: Anonymous | 4:14 p.m. Today | 4:48 p.m. April 30, 2008

You need to read and/or re-read Anonymous @7:47 pm (that's me) yesterday:

"The LDS church has nothing to do with the FLDS--they broke away from us more than 100 years ago and changed a fair amount of what we believe. Apples and oranges. Two groups of people usually make that comparison: 1) The people who don't do their homework about the LDS Church, and 2) the people who *believe* the people who haven't done their homework. So just a friendly tip: Doing your own fact-checking will help save you some embarrassment! :) "

Thanks!

Anonymous | 4:53 p.m. April 30, 2008

I am pretty sure that christians do not worship in temples. Masons maybe but not christians.

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