New Temple Announced in Phoenix, Arizona

The First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has announced plans to build a temple in Phoenix. This will be the 140th temple in operation, announced or under construction and the third new temple announced this year. Church activity and growth is strong in the Phoenix metro area, with some 74 stakes currently assigned to the temple in Mesa. I was very surprised to see another temple announced in Arizona considering President Monson announced the Gilbert Arizona and Gila Valley Arizona Temples last month. This new temple will likely serve members in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Glendale, Peoria, Buckeye, and more rural areas like Prescott and Payson. The total number of stakes that could potentially be assigned to this temple would be in the range of around 20 or 30 depending on where the line is drawn between the Mesa Arizona and Phoenix Arizona Temple Districts (each temple has a certain geographical area in which members are assigned to). Today Church membership in Arizona is around 370,000 in 88 stakes. Arizona now has the third most temples in one state (five). Utah has the most temples (13), California has the second most temples (seven), and Texas has the fourth most (four).