Phoenix Arizona Temple, Mormon temple in Phoenix, United States
The Phoenix Arizona Temple is a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on a 5.19-acre plot in Phoenix, Arizona. Designed by CCBG Architects, it stands one story tall in precast integral colored concrete panels, with carved detailing on the tower that carries the angel Moroni statue. Its single central spire rises 90 feet, and three fountains and desert plantings surround the building.
Plans were announced on May 24, 2008, a month after the Gila Valley and Gilbert temples were announced, making this Arizona's fifth temple. A groundbreaking was held on June 4, 2011, presided over by Ronald A. Rasband. After a public open house from October 10 to November 1, 2014, Thomas S. Monson dedicated the temple on November 16, 2014, the last he dedicated before his death in 2018.
The temple belongs to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which uses this type of building for ceremonies such as marriages and baptisms for the dead. Visitors often notice people arriving and leaving in formal clothing, especially on weekends.
The temple sits in a residential area in western Phoenix, with parking available on the grounds. The interior is open only to members of the church in good standing, but the exterior and grounds can be viewed from the surrounding streets.
The original design, resembling the Draper Utah Temple, had a structural height of 40 feet, exceeding the city's 30-foot zoning limit. After residents forced a referendum, the church redesigned it in 2010 to 30 feet with a 90-foot spire, nine feet lower overall than first proposed.
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