Gila Valley Arizona Temple

Temple #23

Gila Valley, Arizona

November 19, 2014

 

     The Gila Valley Temple was our first in Arizona. Kind of odd, since it's near the bottom of the state, but it's how our trip was planned. 

     We drove there one morning from our hotel in Phoenix. On the way there we passed hundreds of fields of cotton, and later found out that the Gila Valley is known for growing cotton. Many pioneers went to that area to grow crops and farms back in the day. 

     The Temple was a little small but beautiful, with mountains rising behind it in the distance. It had the feel of a smaller temple on the inside, but the look of a larger one on the outside. It was a wonderful day and a great way to start our adventure in Arizona. 

     One thing about traveling with Ivy and her family is this; no matter where you go in the world, you’ll run into someone they know, who through someone else they know them. Here in Gila Valley, the first counselor of the temple presidency’s wife was from randolph, which is where Grandma Ivy is from, and she knew her. It really is a small world, especially when you're a member of the church. 

     While traveling around the world, Ivy and I have continued to run into people we know or who know our parents. Every time is a tender mercy from the Lord. 

     We finished our session, took some fun pictures, and left the Temple and the hundreds of cotton fields. We had a good time there, but we had a schedule, and were excited to go and do another temple that day. 

     We wished more than anything that the Tucson Temple would have been built when we went, but that just gives us another excuse to go back to southern Arizona. While I write this the Tucson Temple is being finished and is set to be dedicated in August. It's always exciting to have new temples built, and I know when we do go to the Tucson Temple we will gladly go back to the Gila Valley Temple and enjoy the spirit there again.