# Gilbert Arizona Temple

The Gilbert Arizona Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), located at 3301 South Greenfield Road, at the corner of East Pecos Road in Gilbert, Arizona. The intent to build the temple was announced on April 26, 2008, by church president Thomas S. Monson in a press release. A groundbreaking ceremony, to signify the beginning of construction, was held in 2010. The temple was designed by the architectural firm Architekton. The temple was dedicated in 2014.

## History

The announcement of the intent to construct the temple on April 26, 2008, was made concurrently with the Gila Valley Arizona Temple, which were the first new temples announced after Thomas S. Monson became the LDS Church's president. It is the LDS Church's 142nd temple, and the fourth built in Arizona.
The temple is near the intersection of Pecos and Greenfield roads in the southeast Phoenix metropolitan area. The temple was built due to increasing church members in the area and to help ease the load on the nearby Mesa Arizona Temple.
The Gilbert town council gave unanimous approval to requested zoning changes in a meeting on September 29, 2009. Key among the requests was an allowance to build to a height of 85 feet, higher than the existing restriction at 45 feet. The temple's planned 180-foot-tall (55 m) steeple did not require an exemption, as the town does not restrict the height of steeples. While not providing a specific timeframe for construction, an anticipated completion within three years was repeated at the meeting.
The temple sits on 15.4 acres of land, bounded by Greenfield and Pecos Roads and Somerset and Granview Boulevards. It stands at 195 feet tall with the addition of an angel Moroni statue put in place on May 15, 2012, and is 85,326 square feet. The building's exterior is completed with light cream colored precast concrete with white quartz. The interior is decorated in blues, greens, and earth tones on the walls and stained glass windows with the same scheme. Some limestone completes the beauty of the temple along with eucalyptus wood, white oak, and painted hardwoods.
Claudio R. M. Costa presided at a groundbreaking ceremony on November 13, 2010, with completion of the temple expected to take approximately two years. The design of the temple was overseen by Gregory B. Lambright of Architekton. During construction a trailer at the site served as a visitors' center, greeting guests and answering questions. A public open house was held from January 18 to February 15, 2014. The temple was formally dedicated on March 2, 2014 by Henry B. Eyring and Monson. Like all LDS Church temples, the temple in Gilbert was built and dedicated as a "refuge from the storms of life and the noise of the world" for church members.
In 2020, like all the church's temples, the temple was closed for a time in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

## Design and architecture

The building has a traditional Latter-day Saint temple design. The landscaping around the temple features fountains, plazas, trellises, arbors, and pergolas.
The temple includes a baptistry, three instruction rooms, and seven sealing rooms, each arranged for ceremonial use.
The design uses elements representing Latter-day Saint symbolism, which provide deeper spiritual meaning to the temple's appearance and function. Symbolism is an important subject to church members. These symbols include the motif of interlinked agave leaves, which represents “the eternal nature of marriage and family.”
A cultural celebration was held at the Discovery Park, kiddie corner to the temple, to commemorate the temple’s dedication. 12,000 young church members participated in the celebration, which featured stories from the Old Testament, the Book of Mormon, and church history.

## Temple presidents

The church's temples are directed by a temple president and matron, each serving for a term of three years. The president and matron oversee the administration of temple operations and provide guidance and training for both temple patrons and staff.
The first president of the Gilbert Arizona Temple was David E. LeSueur, with the matron being Nancy L. LeSueur. As of 2024, the president is Leonard D. Greer, with Julie N. Greer serving as matron.

## Admittance

On October 26, 2013, the church announced that a public open house would be held from January 18-February 15, 2014 (excluding Sundays). The temple was dedicated by Eyring and Monson in three sessions on March 2, 2014. Like all the church's temples, it is not used for Sunday worship services. To members of the church, temples are regarded as sacred houses of the Lord. Once dedicated, only church members with a current temple recommend can enter for worship.