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

The Friezes of the Mesa Temple

Homepage Education The Friezes of the Mesa Temple

The Friezes of the Mesa Temple

Mesa Temple
July 2, 2021
Education, Mesa Temple
The friezes of the Mesa Temple. People from all walks of life carved into stone to ornament the outside of the Mesa Temple.

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.

The friezes of the Mesa Arizona Temple are broad horizontal bands of sculpted decorations near the roof at all four corners. They were added during the original construction in the 1920s. Temple President James W. LeSueur described the friezes as representing the nations “gathering” from the four corners of the earth. It’s important to note that all of the individuals represented are symbolically walking in the same direction of the Temple’s main west entrance.

Mural artist A.B. Wright made sketches for the friezes based on scenes he had viewed in his travels. Torleif S. Knaphus (who created the 12 terra cotta oxen beneath the Temple’s baptismal font, as well as the Hill Cumorah monument in New York and Handcart Memorial on Temple Square in Utah) made plaster-of-Paris models of the friezes, which were then sent to the California Faience Company, in Oakland, California. Here, the models were cast into the friezes to be placed on the top of the exterior walls. Each are three feet, six inches tall, and sixteen feet wide.(The Ninth Temple: A Light in the Desert, Mesa, Arizona, 1927-2002, Seventy-Five Years, Granite Publishing, 2002.)

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2003/10/mesa-arizona-temple-the-gathering-of-israel?

Previous Story
History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mesa
Next Story
Mesa Temple petroglyph rock returned to Native American community

Related Articles

2025 Mesa Easter Pageant dates announced

“Jesus the Christ,” an annual, outdoor musical dramatization of “the greatest story...

#It’sTime to Answer the Questions of the Soul

We all have questions: Why does God allow evil and...

Upcoming Event

07Sep
  • 06:30 pm
  • By Shelle Soelberg

Sunday Evening Recitals: SUMMER BREAK!

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.
-
This site is maintained by the GoForth Foundation in partnership with local 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,