Every year between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, the Mesa Arizona Temple (LDS) presents their “Garden Christmas Lights” display with a unique and spectacular exhibit of nearly one million lights that serve as a backdrop for the sounds of the holiday season.

The event attracts about one million visitors every year and features colorful lights, a large nativity display and holiday dioramas that blanket the garden area of the Mesa Arizona Temple. From the north side beginning at Main Street, there are light sculptures of The Three Wise Men walking with camels toward a large shining star located high above and to the southeast, where a beautiful nativity scene is located.

The beautiful Mesa Arizona Temple is situated on 20 acres near downtown Mesa and is accented by a large reflecting pond and Visitor’s Center in front. Construction of the temple was announced in 1919, with dedication taking place in 1929. It was one of the first temples constructed by the church.

Eight hundred volunteers donate more than 10,000 hours of labor throughout the holiday season to create and maintain the display. The lights display is turned on between 5:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. every evening during the season and includes a free 30-minute concert presented at 7 p.m. each evening, which features a variety of groups and musical styles.

This gallery was taken with a Canon 20D dSLR and EF 24-105/4L IS USM lens. Although a few photos were shot handheld, most were taken using a monopod and the following settings: Aperture priority, f/4.0, ISO 800, Partial Metering, Auto WB.