The Light Rail Comes to Mesa

 Saturday, August 22, 2015 marked the opening of the Light Rail from Phoenix to four new stops in Mesa.  It is called the Central Mesa Extension.  

Separate activities were held at each of the new stops welcoming people to the sites and businesses adjacent to each one.  

The Linford brothers provided Fiddling for the visitors as they arrived at the Pioneer Park

The East Valley Public Affairs Office, the Easter Pageant, Christmas Lights and Visitors' Center sponsored several displays at the Mesa Drive Stop

The theme of the displays was travel and progress  

From pioneer wagons to the light rail.  Handcarts and covered wagons were displayed in from of tents, where visitors were introduced to the events sponsored on the Mesa Temple grounds.

Youth from the Apache Junction and Maricopa Stake demonstrate the Handcart experience from the past

Banners depicting the life of the Savior were loaned by the Visitors' Center as backdrops in each tent.  In addition to the banners taken from the new Bible videos produced by the LDS Church, clips from Meet the Mormons, the Easter Pageant and the Christmas Lights concerts and celebrations were continuously streamed on two players.

Brother and Sister Farr from Christmas Lights join the Linfords as they watch the Fiddlers

Jenee Prince and Alan Collier greet visitors at the Easter Pageant tent

Each visitor was given a pass along card and invited to visit the Visitors' Center and attend Easter Pageant and the display of Christmas lights.

The Light Rail at the Mesa Drive Stop

Sister Makaya Brady and Beach volunteer in the Just Serve Program

The Ahlstrom family rode the light rail to Mesa

Sister Hernandez and Gonzalez-Calderon help visitors as they arrive on the Light Rail

Sister missionaries greet Elder Cameron

Because the Mesa Drive stop is immediately across Main Street from the Visitors' Center, we are hoping it becomes known as the Mesa Temple stop.