VALLEY TEMPLE SCHEDULES Mesa Arizona Temple 101 S. LeSueur, Mesa, AZ, 852014 (480) 833-1211 Temple Closed During Renovation For an excellent source of updated info regarding renovation work, visit Mesa Temple Construction on Facebook.
Help & Healing Behind Bars
Gilbert Arizona Temple 3301 S. Greenfield Rd, Gilbert, AZ, 85297 (480) 822-5000
By Hillary Jade Fevrier
W
e’ve all seen it on our screens, we’ve seen it on the news, we’ve seen it depicted in fiction and nonfiction programs alike. But what is prison really like for those who are there? Branch President Marvin John was able to give a glimpse into the Latter-day Saint Branch at Perryville Correctional Facility. Perryville is a women’s-only prison located in the southwest corner of the Valley. The reality of these women is that they live in a very different situation than most of us. While their life experience may be unorthodox, their humanity is just as real and just as important as our own. These women suffer from feelings of isolation, depression, anger and guilt, just to name a few, just like all of us. Another thing that we share in common with the inmates at Perryville is that some of them attend services offered by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. President John oversees operations for not only Perryville, but also for the Arizona State Prison Complex – Lewis. The volunteer and service opportunities at Perryville are plentiful, and President John says there is a great interest and a great need for help. Some ways to get involved with the Perryville Branch include letter writing or teaching Sunday School.
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CORONAVIRUS QUARANTINE RESTRICTIONS. Services Clothing rental now available, no cafeteria, no patron housing available Distribution center: Inside nearby Deseret Book Store: 2894 S. San Tan Village Pkwy #103, Gilbert
Marvin John, Branch President at multiple correctional facilities.
Endowment Sessions Tuesday - Saturday: Every 45 min from 5:30am – 7:45pm Spanish Sessions: Tuesday, 7:45pm; Saturday, 8:30am ASL Session: 3rd Saturday of the month, 11:30am 2020 Temple Closures Saturday, 4 July Saturday, 3 October 200 Monday, 5 October - Monday, 26 October Wednesday, 25 November - Thursday, 26 November Thursday, 24 December - Friday, 25 December Thursday, 31 December
Photo Courtesy of Marvin John
Letter writing involves writing snail mail letters to inmates in a “pen pal” style communication. Visitations are heavily regulated at the prison, so many of the women there have little opportunity to connect with anyone aside from the other inmates. Letter writers can be a source of strength and support for women in a difficult situation. Sunday School teachers are desperately needed at Perryville and other correctional facility locations Valleywide. To become a Sunday School teacher at a correctional facility, a
Photo by Suzy Hazelwood via Pexels
Most of us are familiar with prison only through its depiction on television.
volunteer needs to be pre-screened and background checked, as well as interviewed by their bishop and the high councilor over prisons. Perhaps these rules and regulations have dissuaded people from participating in this wonderful opportunity in the past, or maybe people simply don’t know about this opportunity, but President John says, “People don’t understand. [Working in the prison] is a very spiritual ministry. If [the inmates] are sincere, it changes their lives. They are being offered hope in Christ through the atonement.” Our Exemplar taught us that “They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick” (Mark 2:17). Women in Perryville Correctional Facility are in need of helping hands. Branch President Marvin John is eager and available to get volunteers serving the sisters at Perryville. Maybe in some small way, we could be instruments in His hands to help spread the healing of the gospel, wherever that may take us. For more information, contact: Branch President Marvin John 602-919-4200 perryvillebranchpresidency@ gmail.com marvinjohn@live.com
Phoenix Arizona Temple 5220 W. Pinnacle Peak Road, Phoenix, AZ 85310 (623) 474-9500 SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CORONAVIRUS QUARANTINE RESTRICTIONS. Services No clothing rental, no cafeteria, no patron housing available. No distribution center nearby Endowment Sessions Tuesday & Thursday a.m.: 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30 Tuesday & Thursday p.m.: 4:30, 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 Wednesday a.m.: 6:00, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30 Wednesday p.m.: 4:30, 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 Friday a.m.: 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30 Friday p.m.: 12:00, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:30, 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 Saturday a.m.: 6:00, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30 Saturday p.m.: 12:00, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:30, 5:30, 6:30 Spanish Sessions: Tuesday, 7:30pm; Saturday, 7:30am ASL Session: 2nd Saturday of the month, 12:00 noon 2020 Temple Closures Saturday, 4 July Saturday, 3 October 200 Wednesday, 25 November (Limited Hours) Thursday, 26 November Monday, 30 November - Monday, 14 December Thursday, 24 December - Friday, 25 December Thursday, 31 December (Limited Hours)
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