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GILBERT, Ariz. — President Thomas S. Monson, prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was in Gilbert, Ariz., Sunday dedicating the church's newest temple.
Members of the LDS Church have been waiting for this special day since 2008 when the temple – the church's 142nd operating worldwide – was first announced.
The temple and grounds cover 85,000 square feet and is the largest temple built in the last 17 years. Its ivory-colored exterior with precast concrete and stone is accentuated with rustications and art glass windows.
On Saturday night, 12,000 young Latter-day Saints cheered the arrival of President Monson as they gathered to perform in their cultural celebration.
They paid tribute to each group who contributed to life in Gilbert and came together at the end to celebrate the Lord.
It was a night President Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency, said they would tell their children about.
"You will tell them how you felt as you participated in this great cultural celebration before the dedication of this beautiful temple," he said.
It is the fourth LDS temple in the state of Arizona. The others within the state are in Mesa, Snowflake and the Gila Valley. A fifth is under construction in Phoenix and a sixth was announced in Tucson a year ago.
