18 Gilbert Temple Pictures: Sanctuary of Serentiy

The Gilbert Arizona Temple was the fourth Latter-day Saint Temple constructed and dedicated in Arizona. On March 2, 2014, the then President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Thomas S. Monson, dedicated this beautiful building.

An especially memorable portion of the dedicatory prayer reads:

“May this, Thy house, be a sanctuary of serenity, a refuge from the storms of life and the noise of the world. May it be a house of quiet contemplation concerning the eternal nature of life and of Thy divine plan for us … Shield us, we pray, from selfishness and sin and provide the power that we might rise above all that is below the dignity of Thy children. We desire righteousness for ourselves and our children and our children's children.” 

The Gilbert Arizona Temple has proved itself as a spiritual sanctuary for many local and visiting members of the Church. Many have found peace, direction, and answers from beneath the shade of its palm trees and from within the safety of its quartz walls. 

Enjoy these professional Gilbert Temple pictures.

Palm trees have become one of the most identifiable features of Arizona LDS Temples, including the Mesa Temple. We love these Gilbert Temple pictures, not only because they capture the natural personality of the local area, but because they carry a lot of symbolism.

The palm-tree lined path openly directs visitors to the entrance. These unique trees have come to symbolize warmth and happiness. Their open, immense leaves are welcoming and provide shelter from the heat. 

Likewise, our Father in Heaven wants us to feel welcomed when coming to His house. He wants us to find respite from the current challenges and noise of everyday life so that we can better face them.

The desert is just as notorious for its cold nights as it is for its warm days. These Gilbert Temple pictures capture a sense of the crisp night air and the hush of the day’s noise across the grounds. Characteristic of LDS Temples, nighttime photos are just as beautiful--if not in close competition--with daytime photos. The added silver of moonlight brings out a unique sheen not otherwise visible during the earlier hours of the day.

The deep blues of the sky, in combination with the ever-glowing lights of the temple, transport us to a peaceful and almost magical scene. Each photo is a reminder that at the end of the day God is still in control. When we dial down the world’s volume and adjust our focus, we can find peace in that certainty.

For many of us, Temples provide us with a breath of fresh air. Attending often grants us a new perspective on situations or a direction we had not seen before. We come to develop ourselves and our relationships with others. More especially, we come to understand our personal relationship with God. As with other forms of worship, temple attendance can help us slow down and remind us of what we truly value in life. 

These three Gilbert Temple pictures allude to that same idea. Sunrises and sunsets are symbols of life’s phases. Serving in the temple can help us recognize that our purpose on this earth is to improve and progress. That means we can permit ourselves to enjoy every phase. We can embrace each new beginning and bittersweet ending. In the end, we know that we can trust the words in the beloved hymn: Be Still My Soul.

“Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past, All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.”

“Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past, All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.”

Our LDS artists and photographers go to great lengths to get the right angles and perspectives. These two Gilbert Temple pictures were each taken from unique heights, giving us a full view of the building itself and the lush grounds.   

Of course, these categories do not cover all of the different types of photos we have. Some of our Gilbert temple pictures capture the colorful flower beds or vertical composition. Enjoy these last four photos by Scott and Robert, two of some of our loved LDS temple photographers. 

What memories or connections do you and your loved ones have with this sacred building? Let us know in the comments!  

For more Gilbert Temple pictures, check out our full collection!