Continuing the tradition that has lasted more than three decades, the Mesa Arizona Temple Gardens will again host the spectacular Christmas lights display that is recognized as one of the most beautiful in the state.
The largest known volunteer-driven Christmas lights display, it is the result of more than 10,000 volunteer hours, said Dee Hobbs, a volunteer with the lights committee, who has directed the placement of the lights for the past nine years. Each year, for several weeks before Christmas, volunteers work in waves to hang lights and construct the displays that attract thousands each year.
Hobbs said the local units of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have specifically designed the free annual event to convey a message of peace and goodwill and to share the true message and the wonder of the Christmas season. The title itself is an invitation that beckons community members to Celebrate the Birth of Christ in Lights and Music.
The Mesa Temple Garden Lights Display is known for its stunning exhibit of lights in unique and interesting patterns, some in the gardens along the ground, and others high overhead in the tall palm trees. In addition to the thousands of lights, also featured are outdoor figures, including a large nativity, life-size replicas depicting Mary and Joseph on their journey to Bethlehem and a figure representing the Biblical prophet Isaiah, who prophesied of Christ’s birth. Recorded messages at various spots around the garden are available in Spanish and English.
Inside the adjacent Visitors’ Center is an exhibit of international nativities. Each year the display is different, featuring dozens of large nativity sets, numerous miniatures and other artistic renderings, all made of the finest materials and in the tradition of the artisans’ and their various countries.
The co-founder of the international nativity display, Sally Johnson, who started the display eight years ago, says, while the display presents beautiful pieces from around the world, the real beauty comes from the message the nativities convey — that people in every nation reverence the birth of the Savior.
“Jesus Christ is worshipped by people throughout the world in their own way,” Johnson said. The nativity display includes approximately 100 nativity sets, including a collection of miniatures as well as art on the walls and other items.
Along with the international nativities, permanent features in the Visitors’ Center include a 13-foot marble replica of the original Christus sculpture, audiovisual presentations, as well as a 10-minute film depicting the birth of Christ.
Outside, on the north side of the Visitors’ Center, free holiday concerts, with different performers each night, will be offered beginning on Dec. 1 and running through Dec. 25. Each concert begins at 7 p.m. and will last about 30 minutes. Because of limited space, early seating is recommended.
Among the concert performers will be Rob Gardner and the Spire Choir, Mesa High School A Capella Choir, Westwood High School Honor Choir, Firefly—the Merchant Sisters, Chandler Children’s Choir, the St. Anne’s Catholic Church and Gilbert Stake Choir, and Grace United Methodist Church Chancel Choir and Canterbury Bells. Also appearing will be Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix, Vanessa Joy and Marvin Goldstein, the Tyler and Linsey Maxson family and the Michele and Sterling Baer family. For a complete list of concerts, go to www.mesachristmaslights.com.
“We are thrilled to be able to share the event with the community again this year and we welcome all that choose to celebrate the spirit of the Christmas season with us,” says David E. LeSueur, LDS Church Area Authority.
The free Mesa Temple Garden Lights Display opens to the public Friday, Nov. 23, and the lights will be turned on from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. every night through Dec. 31. During the weeks of the lights display, the Visitors’ Center will be open from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. each day.
The Mesa Arizona Temple and Visitors’ Center, located at 525 E. Main Street, in Mesa, has free parking available in adjoining parking lots or on neighboring streets. For more information about the Temple Garden Christmas Lights Display call (480) 964-7164 or visit www.mesachristmaslights.com.
soricobob posted at 4:28 am on Fri, Nov 23, 2012.
OK I think I get it: these LDS have great spectacular, displays of the season, and they seem to receive a tremendous amount of support from their members. Now, besides their youth proselytizing, and their adult members tithing a percentage of their income to the church, in what ways do they reach out to the poor?
downtownresident posted at 7:36 am on Fri, Nov 23, 2012.
I wonder who pays for it all?
RubidouxFalcon posted at 7:54 am on Fri, Nov 23, 2012.
Soricobob,
You can find the eastvalleytribune.com online but you can't find lds.org? Here is one link from our website telling our members what we've done. No, we don't get abc news to come to our annual thanksgiving meal, but it doesn't mean we don't contribute millions in aid world wide. Did you know for example, that on my donation receipt I can mark tithing, fast offering and humanitarian services, among the many choices?
Interestingly, if you found that we donated enough money to the poor, would you then have a desire to be baptized? Probably not. No, if you found we donated enough money to the poor to meet your standards, you'd move on to another complaint. Oh well. Hope you come on down and see some lights and a cool nativity collection.
Start with the below link and do some searches. I'm going to spend some time with family today, but will check back to see if you need more help finding information on our efforts to "reach out to the poor".
Your link: http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/sandy-cleanup-update?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LDSNewsRoomTop15+%28RSS%3A+LDS+Newsroom%29
MesaNative1 posted at 8:19 am on Fri, Nov 23, 2012.
Soricobob, downtownresident: Who pays for it? What do they do to reach out to the poor? Are you kidding me? Where have the both of you been the last year? With all the info on the Church in the media, you both are so ignorant to the facts you would
make comments like this! Unbelievable. Check out RubidouxFalcons link, then get back to us..........
downtownresident posted at 8:56 am on Fri, Nov 23, 2012.
MesaNative1,
Are you talking about the re-branding of the cult in an effort to elect a fellow cult member to high public office?
This propaganda effort might have had some effect on casual observers, but, I've been in the temple.
I've seen the millions, now billions, of dollars worth of gold and artwork horded there, while the cult harvests millions more every day from those who believe the false promises offered by "elders" on up to "bishops".
Hey, cokes all around. That proves "you people" are just normal Joes' right.
When are you going to get rid of the underwear? And those uniforms you send the "elders" out in? That's so descriptive. ELDERS? Are you kidding? These children have no real idea what they are really doing?
Hypocrites, the lot of you!!!!!!!
And a bunch of lights makes it all OK???? Give me a break!
downtownresident posted at 9:11 am on Fri, Nov 23, 2012.
MesaNative1,
Election propaganda. Not real substance. Let's all have a coke and kick back with Mitt.
I saw in the paper where he actually knew where the gas filler was on a vehicle he was driving. Wait, the article didn't say he was actually driving the vehicle.
Mormonism is a CASH COW!
Now, get rid of that disgusting "garment" thing and we'll be making real progress.
There's so much about your cult to ridicule. The secrecy, the afterlife, the wives, the GOLD, the misguided belief that you will become gods!
I mean really, it's all so over the top. I haven't even gotten to women, minorities and their non-status in the cult.
Bright lights do not legitimize this sham religion.
downtownresident posted at 9:27 am on Fri, Nov 23, 2012.
Sorry about the duplicate rants above.
MesaNative1 posted at 12:39 pm on Fri, Nov 23, 2012.
WOW! How did we go from " I wonder who pays for it " to that?? You obviously have
some deep seeded concerns about the church. Isn't it great that we live in a country
founded on the principal of freedom of religion? And the freedom of speech? So people can worship God in their own way, and you can spew forth your hatred.
Awesome!
downtownresident posted at 12:43 pm on Fri, Nov 23, 2012.
I don't hate you. I feel sorry for you.
RubidouxFalcon posted at 10:08 am on Mon, Nov 26, 2012.
Billions of dollars of gold and artwork hidden in the Temple? There is some church artwork in there, with those gold painted large frames you see in other large buildings. I'd guess there's several thousand dollars worth of art, depending on who was the buyer and based solely off of the size of the pieces. But gold? Why not diamonds? Or pearls? I wonder, when you decided to make stuff up out of thin air, did you choose gold?
I realize now that engaging with "downtownresident" is about as useful as chatting politics with my father-in-law.
Good luck, sir.