The community of Mesa, Arizona has a long and strong connection to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, beginning during the late 19^th century, at which time the area was settled in large part by Mormon pioneers. The Mesa Arizona Temple, once known as the Arizona Temple, was actually one of the first temples to be constructed by the church. Mormon settlers first began to arrive in the Mesa area toward the end of the 19^th century, but it was not until 1919 that construction of the temple was announced and a site was selected. The Mesa temple was constructed due to the fact that a significant Mormon population had amassed in the Mesa area and trips to existing temples in Utah often proved to be long, arduous and expensive.

Plans for construction of a Mesa temple had actually begun as early as 1908. The beginning of World War I delayed the plans and it was not until 1922 that construction on the temple actually began. The temple was completed in 1927 and became the third largest temple in use. Today it still remains one of the largest temples in the world. While many temples constructed the LDS often feature spires that was not the case with the Mesa temple. The Mesa temple was one of three temples to be constructed at that time which were designed in a style similar to that of the Temple of Solomon. Today the Mesa temple is still in operation and actually became the first temple to offer ordinances in a language other than English.