Today we went off sightseeing to the Mesa Arizona Temple of the Church of the Latter Day Saints. The grounds had the most magnificent rich dark green grass. The gardener told me that it is Rye grass which dies out in the hot summer and Bermuda grass which is underneath it, comes up. Pioneers came this way in 1858, bought 20 acres and built this Temple, dedicated in 1927, one of the first built outside of Utah. Apparently there are 100 around the world. Their faith is based on the Bible and their Book of Mormon, all quotes from Christ, they say. There is a 13' marble statue of Christ in the foyer which they call a likeness of the famed Thorvaldsen Christus, with sunshine behind on the right going into stars and moon of the left. The Family History Center is where everyone can research their ancestors. There are Books of Mormon in over 107 different languages on a circular table looking out to the reflection pool leading to the Temple, which only the members can enter. They believe families are united in a way not limited by death, so hence the genealogy center, one of the largest of over 4500 in the world, for tracing ancestors. The Temple has classic architecture, said to be modeled after ancient temples and has intricately carved friezes which depict the gathering of Israel out of the four corners of the earth.
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