Day and Night In His Temple

"...they [are] before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them." — Revelation 7:13-17 The Mesa Arizona LDS Temple, late on a hot summer night.

Founded Upon A Rock

"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock." —Matthew 7:24-25 Building our lives upon the Rock of Jesus Christ means that we not only hear and believe, but that we act on His teachings. Only then will we successfully weather the storms.

Morning in Mesa

"...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." —Psalms 30:5

Desert Sanctuary

This isn't the first sanctuary built in the desert. Over 3,000 years ago, the Lord declared to Moses, while in the desert, "And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them." — Exodus 25:8 The Phoenix Arizona LDS Temple.

The Mighty Perspective of Eternity

"Temple work … gives a wonderful opportunity for keeping alive our spiritual knowledge and strength. … The mighty perspective of eternity is unraveled before us in the holy temples; we see time from its infinite beginning to its endless end; and the drama of eternal life is unfolded before us. Then I see more clearly my place amidst the things of the universe, my place among the purposes of God; I am better able to place myself where I belong, and I am better able to value and to weigh, to separate and to organize the common, ordinary duties of my life, so that the little things shall not oppress me or take away my vision of the greater things that God has given us." — Elder John A. Widtsoe

A Good Place to Sit

They were so kind to sit perfectly still in perfect symmetry while I took the photo. Thanks, anonymous temple-sitters! The Phoenix Arizona LDS Temple at dusk.

The Arizona Temple

For almost 75 years, the temple in Mesa was the only one in Arizona. Now there are 5 and another under construction in the state. Dedicated in 1927, this unique temple is a sacred place to so many who see it as "their" temple. I felt a uniquely strong spirit and sense of history while photographing this significant place.

Renewal

"Come to the temple and place your burdens before the Lord and you'll be filled with a new spirit and confidence in the future." - Thomas S. Monson The Mesa Arizona LDS Temple just before sunrise.

Worth Every Sacrifice

"There is hardly any principle the Lord has revealed that I have rejoiced more in than in the redemption of our dead; that we will have our fathers, our mothers, our wives and our children with us in the family organization, in the morning of the first resurrection and in the Celestial Kingdom. These are grand principles. They are worth every sacrifice." —Wilford Woodruff The Gilbert Arizona LDS temple on a windy evening.