Announcement: April 2008
In his first temple announcement since becoming president of the Church, President Thomas S. Monson announced the construction of two temples in Arizona: one in the Gila Valley and the other in Gilbert—bringing the total number of temples in Arizona to four. "It is my personal priority to make sure members of the Church have access to the blessings of the temple," said President Monson. "It is here where members learn of their divine origin and destiny; where they are strengthened spiritually as individuals and as families. Temples are sanctuaries from the storms of life."1
Located in the fast-growing southeastern section of the Phoenix metropolitan area—just south of Mesa—Gilbert and its surrounding communities enjoy a high concentration of Church members, who currently attend the Mesa Arizona Temple. The edifice will make the sacred ordinances of the temple more accessible to the members of these communities
This is such great news...word has it that the site for this Gilbert Temple is Greenfield Rd and Peacos. Just minutes from my front door! The photo above is our beautiful Mesa Temple. I work there on Saturdays and love it. I wonder if I will be working in the Gilbert Temple. The rumor we've heard is that it will be patterned after the San Diego Temple. Guess we will just have to wait and see.
