Located just east of the original Mesa Townsite, which was settled by pioneers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mesa Arizona Temple was the first temple built in Arizona and the seventh dedicated temple in operation. Additionally, this was the first temple to present the endowment in a language other than English.

Located on a 20-acre site, the temple anchors a historic district, which has predominantly retained its residential character. A public visitors' center shares the meticulously manicured grounds of the temple, which feature a cactus garden and large reflection pools.

The Easter season brings thousands of guests to the temple grounds each year to watch Jesus the Christ, the largest annual outdoor Easter pageant in the world. At Christmas time, the grounds are converted into an exquisite Nativity display accented by hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights.

Following the temple's first public open house since 1975, it was rededicated Dec. 12 2021.