Comments on: The Mesa Arizona Temple Frieze

By: Alison

Alison — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:43:44 +0000

There’s also an article by Paul Anderston on the Cardston Temple at http://tinyurl.com/nqgqhu

By: Justin

Justin — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:27:37 +0000

Paul Anderson has written some articles on the Mesa, Hawaii, and Cardston temples (here, here, and here). He notes that church leaders decided to go without spires to avoid what they viewed as unnecessary expense, and the architects were influenced by F.L. Wright's style.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:41:02 +0000

Some of the chapels and tabernacles built in the Mormon corridor in the early 20th century also use the boxy, spireless style. I think that was simply one of the modern, popular styles for public buildings in that generation (modified to incorporate those “touches of Meso-American temple styling” for Mormon taste, but still basically a popular building pattern.) Some of the “Latter-day Saint Images” collections from those years (check the “Topical Guide” at the top of the sidebar) have shown chapels, like the 1918 Brooklyn chapel, and one in the Northwest (Portland?) that have quite a bit of architectural similarity to those three temples.

(Some reader who knows more than I do undoubtedly could tell us the name of that style.)

By: Steve C.

Steve C. — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:12:04 +0000

One additional comment about these three temples (and I will also include the Idaho Falls temple because it fits into a general building trend) and that is these temples were the first built in the 20th century and were the first outside of Utah, though they were built in areas with a significant LDS population. The next round of temple building in the 1950s/60s was completely out of the traditional LDS strongholds–i.e. Los Angeles; Bern, Switzerland; Hamilton, New Zealand; London; and Oakland, CA. (At the time there were not even organized stakes in Europe or New Zealand).

By: Steve C.

Steve C. — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:06:27 +0000

KaraLyn: According to the Church Almanac, the architects for the Cardston, Alberta and Laie, Hawaii temples were Hyrum C. Pope and Harold W. Burton. The Mesa temple was designed by Don C. Young and Ramm Hansen. The Mesa temple was the last of those three to be built as well. The Cardston and Laie temples were built primarily during the Joseph F. Smith administration (though both were dedicated after JFS’s death) whereas the Mesa temple was built during the H.J. Grant administration. The Cardston and Laie temples were designed based on a Grecian look with touches of Meso-American temple styling. The Mesa temple also had a pre-Columbian look as well as a hint of the temple of Herod. I’m not sure, however, why the Church built these temples without spires or why the Church went back to using spires on the temples.

By: Velikiye Kniaz

Velikiye Kniaz — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:47:19 +0000

It is possible that the frieze was not so much an ‘invitation’ for the Saints in all the world to continue to gather to Zion in the American West but rather a visual illustration of Isaiah’s famous passage prophesying that in the last days,”…the mountain of the Lord’s House shall be established in the tops on the mountains and all nations shall flow unto it…” and that “…one shall turn to the other and say, ‘Come let us go up unto the House of the Lord…” (paraphrased). With so many figures seemingly on the move I believe that that frieze could just as easily be construed as an invitation to embrace the Restored Gospel and to gather to the House of the Lord to make the covenants and receive the blessings that can only be afforded there. I offer this explanation as another interpretation. Regardless of it’s original meaning, it should in no wise be removed or covered since it is a vital design element of the structure. With the frieze removed, the facade would become decidedly more bland and static.

By: KaraLyn Drake

KaraLyn Drake — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 06:03:07 +0000

I visited the Mesa temple for the first time this weekend. I had seen pictures, but never really realized how unusual the architecture was. I loved it. I wanted to know all about it, and asked the sister missionary in the visitor’s center. She gave me a little information, most of it wrong, but she didn’t know much. Thanks for your informative article. Is there a book you could recommend about the three temples with the boxy style architecture. Were they designed by the same architect? What made the church do three so different, and then continue on with the spire design? I love the symbolism in the temple architecture. This one is not so much symbolic, but actually telling a story in the carvings.

We are in the San Diego temple district. Much of our temple is decorated with an eight pointed star, which was a design of the architect, but was found later to be, according to Hugh Nibley, the star used by Melchizadek. Lots of special things to learn in our temple designs.

By: Justin

Justin — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 14:26:21 +0000

I haven’t seen it in person, but Knaphus’ “woman at the well” bas-relief at the Cardston temple looks impressive in photographs.

By: Kim Siever

Kim Siever — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 23:57:21 +0000

That’s really cool. I’m pretty sure Cardston doesn’t have this, but I should check next time I go. Or at least check for something just as cool.

By: Brian Duffin

Brian Duffin — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 23:36:31 +0000

When I worked as a security guard at the Mesa Temple, I used to take my breaks in the temple president’s office and would often read a book on the dedication of the temple that was kept in that office. I believe I recall seeing information about the friezes in that book.

Anyhow, the Mesa Temple is a fascinating structure both inside and outside. I have enjoyed many quiet evenings walking alone inside that sacred edifice.