Gila Valley Arizona Temple |
Awaiting groundbreaking anticipated in January or February 2009 (official announcement pending) |
Groundbreaking and Site Dedication: Anticipated in January or February 2009 (official announcement pending)
On Monday, October 20, 2008, the Graham County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an exception to zoning requirements, as recommended by the Graham County Planning and Zoning Commission in September, that will allow a 100-foot spire on the proposed Gila Valley Arizona Temple and a steeple on the proposed adjacent meetinghouse.1
On Sunday, September 21, 2008, local priesthood leaders announced the site for the temple to be property at the stake ballpark in Central—a complex of four baseball fields located between Pima and Thatcher along Highway 70. The temple and an adjoining meetinghouse will be constructed on the northern side of the property with the temple on the east, nearer the highway. The northern fields are anticipated to be replaced by parking and landscaping while the southern fields and concession stand will be retained.2
On Wednesday, September 17, 2008, a petition for a height-restriction exception went before the Graham County Planning and Zoning Commission from the Corporation of the Presiding Bishop to allow a proposed 100-foot spire on the temple. The Commission voted unanimously to recommend the exception to the Graham County Board of Supervisors.3
The Gila Valley Arizona Temple will serve the faithful Saints of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, who currently travel some 150 miles or more to attend the Mesa Arizona Temple or the Albuquerque New Mexico Temple. Located at the base of the soaring Pinaleño Mountains, the Gila Valley is best known among members of the Church as the home of President Spencer W. Kimball, 12th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Though born in Salt Lake City, President Kimball was reared in Thatcher from the age of 3. And after returning home from a mission and being sealed to Camilla Eyring in the Salt Lake Temple, the Kimballs settled in Safford to raise their children and run an insurance business. In the early 1980s, President Kimball initiated an unprecedented worldwide temple-building program—one of the hallmarks of his ministry.
President Thomas S. Monson jointly announced the Gila Valley temple with the Gilbert Arizona Temple—his first temple announcements after becoming president of the Church.4
1. Diane Saunders, "Supervisors approve prelim plat for Sierra Del Sol," Eastern Arizona Courier 22 Oct. 2008, 3 Nov. 2008 <http://www.eacourier.com/articles/2008/10/22/news/doc48fe8464da2f9696513680.txt>.
2. Dennis Martin, "Gila valley Temple," Online posting, 22 Sept. 2008, 24 Sept. 2008 <http://dennismary.blogspot.com/2008/09/gila-valley-temple.html>.
3. Diane Saunders, "Temple could be in Central," Eastern Arizona Courier 29 Sept. 2008, 6 Oct. 2008 <http://www.eacourier.com/articles/2008/09/29/news/doc48dd8a4384d11464477187.txt>.
4. "Two new temples: Gilbert, Gila Valley," Church News 26 Apr. 2008: 4.
