455 E. Main St., Mesa, AZ 85203
(480) 964-7164
MesaTemple.org
  • BOOK A TOUR
  • Menu Canvas
    • Home
    • Things To Do
      • Events
      • Visitors’ Center
      • Sunday Services
      • Family History Classes
    • About Mesa Temple
      • History
      • Announcements
      • Contact Us
      • Temple Session Schedule & Info
    • Inspiration
    • Book a Tour
455 E. Main St., Mesa, AZ 85203
(480) 964-7164
MesaTemple.org
  • Things To Do
    • Events
    • Visitors’ Center
    • Sunday Services
    • Family History Classes
  • About Mesa Temple
    • History
    • Announcements
    • Contact Us
    • Temple Session Schedule & Info
  • Inspiration
  • Book a Tour

Mesa Temple petroglyph rock returned to Native American community

Homepage Mesa Mesa Temple petroglyph rock returned to Native American community

Mesa Temple petroglyph rock returned to Native American community

Jill Adair
September 8, 2021
Mesa, Mesa Temple, News

This article was contributed by a local member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The views expressed may not represent the views and positions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For the Church's official site, visit churchofjesuschrist.org.

By Jill Adair

For nine decades, a 9,000-pound rock with Native American petroglyphs was a prominent feature in the gardens of the Mesa Arizona Temple. After the temple closed for building and landscaping renovations in 2018, it was determined the rock should be returned to the community from whence it came. Those coming to the temple grounds for the open house this fall may wonder where the rock went.

Before the Mesa Temple closed in May 2018, the rock was located north of the temple and east of the reflecting pool. (Photo by Jill Adair)

The Rock’s History

The petroglyph rock was installed on the grounds of the Arizona Temple in Mesa in 1934, seven years after this seventh operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was dedicated by President Heber J. Grant.

According to historical records, the Church was given permission to remove the petroglyph from a canyon south of Mesa and above Olberg, Arizona (Oberg is located approximately 5 miles east of Sacaton, and south of San Tan Mountain Regional Park), by the superintendent of the Pima Indian Agency and placement on the temple grounds was approved by President Grant. It was moved under the direction of James Warren LeSueur, who was a counselor in the Arizona Temple presidency from 1927 to 1944, and 10 men were needed to help because of its immense weight.

“The rock was a gift to the temple by the Indian department at Sacaton,” a local news article stated at the time.

President LeSueur’s Interest in Native Americans

Ten years ago, Margaret Steverson, LeSueur’s last surviving child, said her father was greatly interested in anything related to Native Americans.

“He studied it all his life,” she said, adding that he wrote several books, including “Indian Legends with a Comparison between the Book of Mormon History and Various Indian Legends,” which he published in 1927.

The rock originally was placed on the south side of the temple. This photo is the front of a vintage postcard.

The Rock was on both the South and North Side of the Temple

Early on, the rock was placed directly south of the temple along with some other artifacts including Native American grinding stones and small pieces of petrified wood. After the first visitors’ center was built and opened in 1956, the rock was moved to the north side of the temple, east of the reflecting pond between the temple and visitors’ center.

Nancy Dana, age 10, on Easter Sunday, April 21, 1957. Photo from Nancy Norton.

The Rock’s Characters

Numerous petroglyphs on its face made it special, according to an article in the Mesa Journal-Tribune published shortly after the rock was originally situated on the temple grounds. One in particular is the “series of circles that correspond in number and in subdivisions with the ancient Mayan calendar stone.”

The article stated that another interesting petroglyph on the stone “is a character with 10 marks with a line under them, which is the exact reproduction of a similar character in a copy of the characters which Joseph Smith copied from the plates of the Book of Mormon and gave to Martin Harris to take to Professors Anthon and Mitchel, Columbia University, and which in the professors’ interpretation mean “The Book,” or in other words, being the leaves of the book with the back fastened to it.”

An article in the Latter-Day Sentinel, after the opening of the newly renovated visitors’ center in 1981, stated: “The Hieroglyphic Rock was found in the San Tan mountains about 25 miles south of Mesa. The large circle with many radii suggests the early Indian (Mayan) calendar which was a much more precise calendar than we use. Other discernable marks include: four-legged animals – probably dogs or coyotes (upper right); snakes (lower right); and the cross, suggestive of Christ (left center).”

The rock also shows up in a book, “Arizona Characters,” by Frank C. Lockwood, published in 1928. Arizona Gov. George W. P. Hunt stands in front of it on a mountainside, but the location is not mentioned.

Did You Know?

As nouns, the difference between a hieroglyph and a petroglyph is that a hieroglyph is an element of a writing system while a petroglyph is a rock carving, especially one made in prehistoric times. Often these terms are used interchangeably, but they do mean different things. Petroglyphs are created by removing part of a rock’s surface by incising, picking, carving, or abrading, as a form of rock art.

Where Did the Rock Come From?

In an interview in 2012, 80-year-old Wallace Sabin remembered being a young boy who accompanied his father, Dewey, to help move the rock.

“I vaguely remember riding out with him, loading it up and bringing it back,” he says. However, he doesn’t recall the exact location.

Former Visitors’ Center Director Elder Linford Beckstrand said that in a fact book about the temple and surrounding grounds it was recorded that the rock is “a large calendar stone found 30 miles south in the San Tan Mountains. It appears to be some type of Hohokam calendar stone reminiscent of those created by the ancient Aztecs and Mayans.”

In a local news article in 2012, local historian Tom Kollenborn said regardless of where it came from, one thing was certain – it is unique.

“You don’t see those calendar rocks very often,” he said. “It is the only one I have ever seen that is that prominent.” He said that moving it probably saved it as it would have been used for target practice like many other local petroglyphic rocks that have been marred by bullets. “It wouldn’t be what it is today,” he added.

It is believed that the rock came from somewhere in the mountains near Olberg on the land of the Akimel O’otham (Pima) tribe, located on the Gila River Indian Reservation in Arizona. The Pima Indians have historically been living on these lands since before the 1700s. (Photo courtesy of Roc Arnett)

What Happened to the Rock After the Temple Closed in 2018?

Church lawyers researching the history and legalities of owning and/or returning the rock determined that neither the Native American Graves Protection and Repartriation Act of 1990 nor the Arizona Antiquities Act applied to the petroglyph because of the year and under the circumstances it was received. However, their recommendation was to return it, stating in a 2018 letter that the “most appropriate group to offer the petroglyph to is the Akimel O’odham (Pima) tribe located on the Gila River Indian Reservation in Arizona.

“The Pima Tribe would be the Indian tribe on whose tribal land the artifact was found, as this is where the Pima Tribe’s tribal lands are currently located and were located at the time the petroglyph was acquired,” the letter stated. “The evidence presently available about the petroglyph is that it was discovered on lands within the geographical proximity of the Pima Tribe and that the Pima Tribe has been historically located on these lands.”

Who are the O’odham?

O’odham = “the people”
Akimel = “of the river”

Pima = the name applied by the Spanish to the river-dwelling O’odham people.

The O’odham live in the Sonoran Desert and are descendants of the ancient Hohokom people, who thrived despite the harsh desert climate, according to an article by the National Park Service. Using the Santa Cruz River and the yearly downpours from the monsoons, the Akimel (River) O’odham carved out elaborate acequias, or canals, and basins to water crops.

The O’odham’s relationship to the landscape is paramount in their cultural and spiritual beliefs. Their mythology tells that the land was given to the O’odham by Elder Brother to live on when the earth was created. Therefore, the O’odham have become experts at living not only on, but with the desert and all of its plants and animal life.

The Rock is Returned to the Gila River Indian Community

The rock is carefully wrapped up and a crane loads it into a truck, Porter Bros. Construction, who was building the temple, made these arrangements for hauling the rock to the Pima Tribe’s land. (Photos courtesy of Roc Arnett)

Roc Arnett, former director of the Metro Phoenix Public Affairs Council, contacted a representative of the tribe who said they would love to have the petroglyph back. Arrangements were made to load it onto a truck by crane, provided by Porter Bros. Construction, and haul it to the Gila River Indian Community, where it was placed on a mound of dirt near a community center on Nov. 9, 2018.

Brother Arnett said he was touched by the reverence shown by those tribal elders who came out that morning, showing “such respect for this bit of earth.” Women also participated in this ceremony, wearing traditional attire and holding baskets.

“They sang about three songs and fanned smoke from a creosote dish around it, blessing this rock,” he said. “It was done in their way, with their shakers, and with their tradition, and they blessed this rock to be returned.”

He added, “I will not soon forget this spiritual experience and blessing it is to have been involved in the return of this property to its appropriate and proper owner.”

The petroglyph rock was welcomed by members of the Gila River Indian Community, who sang songs and blessed it.
The resting spot of the rock is near the community center.
Previous Story
The Friezes of the Mesa Temple
Next Story
Column: I’m not a Latter-day Saint. Here was my experience touring the Pocatello Temple with an apostle

Related Articles

Mesa Temple Visitors' Center hosts "Christ In My Life" art exhibition April 9-20

Local artists' depictions of the Savior, His teachings and how...

Three Aspects Contribute to Making the Mesa Easter Pageant the Spirit-Filled Production It Is

Trevor Orme portrays Jesus with children. Photo: Scott Adair For...

Upcoming Event

18May
  • 06:30 pm
  • By Shelle Soelberg

Sunday Evening Recital: Britney Freeman – May 18th, 2025

455 East Main Street
Mesa, AZ 85203 United States

Recent Posts

  • Visitors’ Center hosts Children’s Summer Activities
  • Mesa Temple Visitors’ Center hosts “Christ In My Life” art exhibition April 9-20
  • Three Aspects Contribute to Making the Mesa Easter Pageant the Spirit-Filled Production It Is
  • 2025 Mesa Easter Pageant dates announced
  • Research Series taught by Professional Genealogist Peggy Ash begins Jan. 13

Subscribe to our Newsletter

This is required.

Contact Us

[email protected]
(480) 964-7164

Visitors' Center Address
455 E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85203

Mesa Temple Address
101 S LeSueur, Mesa, AZ 85204

Recent News

  • Visitors’ Center hosts Children’s Summer Activities
  • Mesa Temple Visitors’ Center hosts “Christ In My Life” art exhibition April 9-20
  • Three Aspects Contribute to Making the Mesa Easter Pageant the Spirit-Filled Production It Is
MesaTemple.org is NOT an official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
-
Nothing on this website represents the views or policy of or any directions or inquiries from the Mesa Arizona Temple or the Temple Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Inquiries concerning: (1) the content of this website; (2) general questions about the Mesa Easter Pageant or the Mesa Temple Lights; or (3) events at the Mesa Temple Visitors' Center should be directed to the Mesa Temple Events Committee at 480-964-7164 or [email protected]. All other questions regarding the Mesa Arizona Temple grounds are under the authority of the Mesa Arizona Temple and the Temple Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and should be referred to the Mesa Temple office.
-
Copyright ©2025 MesaTemple.org. All Rights Reserved.
en_USEnglish
es_MXEspañol de México kmភាសាខ្មែរ zh_CN简体中文 zh_TW繁體中文 ja日本語 ko_KR한국어 tlTagalog en_USEnglish
SearchPostsLogin
Friday, 9, May
Visitors’ Center hosts Children’s Summer Activities
Wednesday, 12, Mar
Mesa Temple Visitors’ Center hosts “Christ In My Life” art exhibition April 9-20
Thursday, 6, Mar
Three Aspects Contribute to Making the Mesa Easter Pageant the Spirit-Filled Production It Is
Saturday, 1, Feb
2025 Mesa Easter Pageant dates announced
Friday, 10, Jan
Research Series taught by Professional Genealogist Peggy Ash begins Jan. 13
Thursday, 12, Dec
Mesa Temple Christmas Lights feature Biblical displays that tell the nativity story

Welcome back,