Lighting the way at Mesa temple
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MESA, ARIZ.
Thousands of volunteers spend countless hours taking special care in setting up the Mesa Temple Garden Christmas lights display, called "Celebrate the Life of Christ in Lights and Music."
Now in its 30th year, the event draws people from across Arizona and far beyond to partake of the Christmas spirit on the sacred grounds of the temple.
Decorating the temple grounds means as much to the volunteers as decorating their own homes and many of the important elements — from a star with nearly 10,000 lights over a large Nativity scene, lighted arches that hang from palm trees, to clusters of light bulbs that look like flower bouquets throughout the gardens — were made by hand.
"Much of this is homemade, and what we try to do is keep it that way," said Dee Hobbs, president of the Christmas lighting event.
President Hobbs estimates that there are more than 4,000 people who help make it all happen. They put up hundreds of thousands of lights, perform in the concerts, serve as hosts and hostesses and work in the warehouse. "It gives a lot of opportunities for serving the community, and a lot of love goes into it," he said.
"We want this to be a place to come and get the spirit of Christmas, enjoy the lights and get the family out together," he said.
This year new figurines of a shepherd boy and sheep are included with near life-size representations of Mary and Joseph on their journey to Bethlehem, which made their debut in 2005.
Julie McFarland and her husband, Kirt, of Mesa, were serving as lighting directors when they were inspired by the cover of the December 2000 issue of The Ensign, which featured a painting, "The Road to Bethlehem," by Joseph Brickey. "We wanted to add something more spiritual to the grounds," said Sister McFarland. "This painting seemed to capture the quiet nature of that moment."
The figurines are the work of artist and sculptor Rennie Godfrey of Safford, Ariz. She spends much time researching and is meticulous in the details: She covers the sheep with real sheep pelts — the donkey's tail is made of horse hair — and she inserts eyelashes and hair with a needle, hand-dyes fabrics with natural products and secures items from Middle Eastern countries.
"I try to be as natural and authentic as I can," she said. "Working on this has a lot of meaning for me and I hope to be able to make something that will touch hearts and bring others to Christ; that's what these images are all about."
Another one of her figurines is the Biblical prophet Isaiah, who prophesied of Christ eight centuries before He was born. An audio recording playing at the scene presents some of those scriptural passages.
The lighting event also features nightly half-hour concerts featuring a variety of groups and musical styles, tours inside the Visitors Center and a display of international crèches.
The event opened Friday, Nov. 27, and the lights are on 5:30-10 p.m. nightly through New Years' Eve. More details can be found online at www.mesachristmaslights.com.
