Inside 5 LDS Temples in Arizona

The Baptistry at the Phoenix Arizona Temple in northwest Phoenix. The Temple will be open to the public until Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. The 12 Oxen represent the 12 tribes of ancient Israel.

The Baptistry at the Phoenix Arizona Temple in northwest Phoenix. The Temple will be open to the public until Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. The 12 Oxen represent the 12 tribes of ancient Israel.

Celestial Room at the Phoenix Arizona Temple in northwest Phoenix. The Temple will be open to the public until Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014.

Entry at the Phoenix Arizona Temple in northwest Phoenix. The Temple will be open to the public until Saturday, Nov.1, 2014.

Entry at the Phoenix Arizona Temple in northwest Phoenix. The Temple will be open to the public until Saturday, Nov.1, 2014.

Detail of the art glass at the Phoenix Arizona Temple in northwest Phoenix. The Temple will be open to the public until Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014.

Exterior at the Phoenix Arizona Temple in northwest Phoenix. The materials and workmanship are of the highest quality, and the grounds are created and maintained to bring a sense of peace and tranquility to those who enjoy the grounds and the surrounding community.

Exterior at the Phoenix Arizona Temple in northwest Phoenix. The Temple will be open to the public until Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014.

Reflecting pool at the Phoenix Arizona Temple in northwest Phoenix.

Instruction Room with mural at the Phoenix Arizona Temple in northwest Phoenix. The Temple will be open to the public until Saturday, No.1, 2014.

Instruction Room with mural at the Phoenix Arizona Temple in northwest Phoenix. The Temple will be open to the public until Saturday, No.1, 2014.

Instruction Room with mural at the Phoenix Arizona Temple in northwest Phoenix. The Temple will be open to the public until Saturday, No.1, 2014.

Interior details at the Phoenix Arizona Temple in northwest Phoenix.

Sealing Room is the room for connections to family members at the Phoenix Arizona Temple in northwest Phoenix.

Sealing Room is the room for connections to family members at the Phoenix Arizona Temple in northwest Phoenix.

Interior stair details at the Phoenix Arizona Temple in northwest Phoenix.

Exterior at the Phoenix Arizona Temple in northwest Phoenix. It is a single-story building and has a footprint of 27,423 square feet, with a full basement and an 89-foot spire.

The Gilbert Arizona Temple, owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, stands at 195 feet tall and 85,326 square feet. The structure, which took three years to complete, opened in early 2014 and was open for public tours for about a month before being formally dedicated that March.

The Gilbert Arizona Temple, owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, stands at 195 feet tall and 85,326 square feet. The structure, which took three years to complete, opened in early 2014 and was open for public tours for about a month before being formally dedicated that March.

The Gilbert Arizona Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was formally dedicated on March 2, 2014. It was the 4th Temple completed in the state.

The Gilbert Arizona Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was formally dedicated on March 2, 2014. It was the 4th Temple completed in the state.

A look inside the Celestial Room in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints' Gilbert Temple in January of 2014. This was the fourth LDS temple in Arizona.

The Gilbert temple s baptismal font is built on top of 12 bronze oxen, which is said to be a feature of King Solomons Temple in Jerusalem and representing the 12 tribes of Israel.

The Gila Valley Arizona Temple is located in Thatcher in eastern Arizona. It opened in May of 2010 and is more than 18,000 square-feet in size.

The Gila Valley Arizona Temple is located in Thatcher in eastern Arizona. It opened in May of 2010 and is more than 18,000 square-feet in size.

GILA VALLEY TEMPLE

The Snowflake Temple on a media preview day in January of 2002. It was the second temple to open in the state.

The Snowflake Temple on a media preview day in January of 2002. It was the second temple to open in the state.

This deep baptistry in the Snowflake Temple is used for full immersion baptism, a central teaching of the church. The recessed baptistry rests on 12 large white oxen that represent the 12 tribes of Israel. Church members are baptized for themselves and also baptized by proxy for ancestors who have died. T

ypically, temples do not contain stained glass but this antique window was found in Boston and donated by a church member to the Snowflake Temple. Other art throughout the temple includes framed Navajo rugs, and original and reproduction paintings depicting scenes from the Book of Mormon and from the Bible.

The Celestial room in the Snowflake Temple is the highest point in the temple, both physically and spiritually. The halls slope up slightly to get to the room that is always predominantly white, a representation of the presence of God. After receiving the "endowments" in the Ordinance and Sealing rooms, church members come here.Talk is discouraged, even for visitors on the tour, so the presence of the spirit can be felt in the quiet. The finest furnishings are used, and the Snowflake Temple has a blue, white and gold theme. Native American design elements are sculpted into the white carpet and worked into the gold-painted accents on the white walls. LDS photo

SNOWFLAKE MORMON TEMPLE - After baptism, worthy church members come here to begin deeper instruction and make commitments to God. The rows of chairs face a video screen, and behind the screen is a curtain, the veil that members will go through symbolic of passing into the presence of God. The temple has another, simpler ordinance room as well, with more rows of chairs, where church members are taught further church doctrine. The Ordinance room has a mural painted by Heber artist Linda Curley-Christensen.

The Mormon Temple in Mesa, Arizona, in 1927.

1940s aerial view of the Mesa Arizona Temple looking south before home construction began. This LDS temple was the first in Arizona.

In 1975, the Mesa Arizona Temple was open to the public from March 19 to April 3 to give people a look inside after remodeling had been completed. The LDS temple was the first in Arizona.

In 1975, the Mesa Arizona Temple was open to the public from March 19 to April 3 to give people a look inside after remodeling had been completed, including this view of the Sealing Room.

In 1975 the Mesa LDS Temple was open to the public from March 19th to April 3rd giving people a look inside after remodeling had been completed. Here the baptismal font rests on the backs of oxen.

In 1975, the Mesa Arizona Temple was open to the public from March 19 to April 3 to give people a look inside after remodeling had been completed, including this view of the Sealing Room.

The Mesa Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the first in Arizona. This is a view of the west-facing entrance.

The Mesa Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the first in Arizona. This is a view of the west-facing entrance.

The Mesa Temple's Christmas decorations shone brightly in 2013. This view of the Temple is looking south across the reflecting pool.