View source for Manti Utah Temple

{{short description|Historic church in Utah, United States}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{ LDS Temple/Manti Utah Temple
 |format= Infobox LDS Temple }}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name         = Manti Temple
| nrhp_type    =
| image        =
| caption      =
| location     = N edge of Manti, on U.S. 89, [[Manti, Utah]]
| coordinates  = {{coord|39|16|23|N|111|37|59|W|display=inline}}
| locmapin     = Utah#USA
| built        = 1877
| architect    = [[William H. Folsom]]
| architecture = [[Gothic Revival]], French [[Renaissance Revival]], [[Second Empire architecture in the United States and Canada|Second French Empire]], [[American colonial architecture|Colonial architectural]]
| added        = August 12, 1971
| area         = {{convert|4.3|acre}}
| refnum       = 71000854<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
}}
The '''Manti Utah Temple''' (formerly the '''Manti Temple''') is the fifth constructed [[Temple (LDS Church)|temple]] of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]. The temple construction was completed in 1888.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boatright Jr |first=Gary L. |title="We Shall Have Temples Built": Joseph F. Smith and a New Era of Temple Building |url=https://rsc.byu.edu/sites/default/files/pub_content/pdf/17%20Boatright.pdf }}</ref> Located in the city of [[Manti, Utah]], it was the third Latter-day Saint temple built west of the [[Mississippi River]], after the [[Mormon pioneers]] trekked west. (The [[St. George Utah Temple|St. George]] and [[Logan Utah Temple|Logan]] Utah temples preceded it.) The Manti Temple was designed by [[William Harrison Folsom]], who moved to Manti while the temple was under construction. The temple dominates the [[Sanpete]] Valley and can be seen from many miles. Like all Latter-day Saint temples, only church members in good standing may enter. It was previously one of only two remaining Latter-day Saint temples in the world where live portrayal was used in the [[Endowment (Latter Day Saints)|endowment]] ceremony (the other was the [[Salt Lake Temple]]). All other temples use a film in the presentation of the endowment, a practice that will also be used in Manti beginning in 2024 following renovation.<ref>{{citation |url= https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/manti-utah-temple/ |title= Manti Utah Temple |work= Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |publisher= LDSChurchTemples.com |first= Rick |last= Satterfield |access-date= October 11, 2012 }}</ref><ref name="Openshaw">{{citation |url= http://www.thisweekinmormons.com/2021/03/salt-lake-and-manti-temples-to-end-live-session-have-historic-mural-removed-permanently/ |title= Salt Lake and Manti Temples to End Live Sessions, Have Historic Murals Removed Permanently |work= This Week in Mormons |publisher= thisweekinmormons.com |first= Geoff |last= Openshaw |date= March 12, 2021 |access-date= March 25, 2021 }}</ref> It is an early pioneering example of [[Ordinance room#Four Room Progressive Style|four rooms]] representing the journey of life.<ref>[[Boyd K. Packer]]. ''[[The Holy Temple]]'', p. 35</ref>

==History==
[[President of the Church (LDS Church)|Church president]] [[Brigham Young]] announced the decision to build a temple in Manti on June 25, 1875, and dedicated the site on April 25, 1877. On the day of the dedication, Young took Warren S. Snow to the southeast corner of the temple site and told him, "Here is the spot where the Prophet [[Moroni (Book of Mormon)|Moroni]] stood and dedicated this piece of land for a Temple site, and that is the reason why the location is made here, and we can't move it from this spot."<ref name="Ensign">{{citation |title= The Manti Temple |journal= [[Ensign (LDS magazine)|Ensign]] |date=March 1978 |url= https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1978/03/the-manti-temple?lang=eng }}</ref>

The Salt Lake Temple had been announced in 1847, but construction was still underway and not finished until 1893. The Manti Temple was built, along with the St. George and Logan temples, to satisfy the church's immediate need for these structures. The site for the temple was the Manti Stone [[Quarry]], a large hill immediately northeast of town. Early pioneer settlers in the area prophesied that this would be the site of a temple. When Young announced the building of the temple, he also announced that the {{convert|27|acre|m2|adj=on}} plot would then be known as "Temple Hill."<ref name="Ensign" />

The temple was completed in 1888, and a private dedication was held on May 17, 1888, with a prayer written by [[Wilford Woodruff]]. Three public dedications were held on May 21&ndash;23, 1888, and were directed by [[Lorenzo Snow]].<ref>{{citation |url= https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/1950-01-01/manti-utah-temple-may-this-delightful-location-be-known-as-a-holy-hill-of-zion-among-thy-people-37832 |title= May this delightful location be known as a holy hill of Zion, among Thy people |date= January 1, 1950 |newspaper= [[Church News]] }}</ref>

[[File:Manti Temple dedication admit May 22 1888.jpg|thumb|left|Manti Temple dedication admission, signed by Wilford Woodruff]]The Manti Temple was the location of the [[Holy of Holies (LDS)|Holy of Holies]] until the Salt Lake Temple was dedicated. The room was then used for [[Sealing (Latter Day Saints)|sealings]] until it was closed in the late 1970s.

A 1966 study found that 52 percent of temple work was being done in either the Salt Lake, Logan, or Manti temples, even though there were 13 operating temples by that time. This led to the building of the [[Ogden Utah Temple|Ogden]] and [[Provo Utah Temple|Provo]] temples to relieve the strain on the older pioneer-era temples.<ref>{{citation |first= Doyle L. |last= Green |date=January 1972 |title= Two Temples to Be Dedicated |journal= Ensign |url= https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1972/01/two-temples-to-be-dedicated?lang=eng }}</ref>
==Art==
The temple includes [[Mural|murals]] by several Latter-day Saint artists, including [[C. C. A. Christensen]] (Creation Room, 1886–87), [[Minerva Teichert]] (World Room, 1947, assisted by Frank Stevens<ref name="minervadd" />), Robert L. Shepherd (Garden Room, 1946), [[John Hafen]], [[J. B. Fairbanks]], and [[Dan Weggeland]].<ref>"[https://juvenileinstructor.org/things-i-did-not-know-dinosaurs-in-the-manti-temple/ Things I Did Not Know: Dinosaurs in the Manti Temple (Edit: New Images, ht Mina)]" by Edje Jeter, ''[[Juvenile Instructor#Blog|Juvenile Instructor]]''. August 4, 2013. Accessed April 13, 2021.</ref><ref>"[https://www.bofm.blog/manti-nephite-temple/ Manti- Nephite Temple]" by Rian Nilsen. ''BOFM.BLOG''. December 10, 2019. Accessed April 13, 2021.</ref><ref>"[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1978/03/the-manti-temple?lang=eng The Manti Temple]." ''[[Ensign (LDS magazine)|Ensign]]''. March 1978. Accessed April 13, 2021.</ref><ref name="minervadd">"[http://byustudies.byu.edu/article/minerva-teicherts-manti-temple-murals/ Minerva Teichert's Manti Temple Murals]" by Doris R. Dant. ''BYU Studies''. [http://byustudies.byu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/38.DantMinerva.pdf PDF of original print publication.]. Accessed April 16, 2021.</ref> Some of the original murals, having been damaged and unable to be saved, had [[sail canvas]] placed over them in order for new murals to be painted. The temple houses the only pioneer-era mural to survive inside a of a temple.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Anderson |first=Paul Lawrence |date=2020-04-01 |title=Preserving the Manti Temple |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.5406/jmormhist.46.2.0113 |journal=Journal of Mormon History |volume=46 |issue=2 |pages=113–122 |doi=10.5406/jmormhist.46.2.0113 |issn=0094-7342}}</ref> For instance, Weggeland's Garden Room mural still exists underneath Shepherd's original.<ref name="minervadd" />  

The temple is also filled with other paintings. The mix of paintings has changed over time, but among the paintings originally intended for the building include two by Christensen. One of those depicts the hill where the temple would later sit with a [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] encampment in the foreground, with the other being the temple itself and its landscaped grounds.<ref>"[https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6vh5m0s/326403 Carl Christian Anton Christensen]," ''Saga of the Sanpitch'', [[Snow College]]. Accessed April 13, 2021.</ref>

=== Minerva Teichert's work on the World Room ===
Minerva Teichert was commissioned to create the World Room mural by church president [[George Albert Smith]].<ref>She said she was so happy that she said she almost had a heart attack, and was overwhelmed by the amount of work that she had to do, and said: “I have the hardest Temple room I have ever seen to do, 21 ft. high, 60 ft. long, and abt. 24 wide. The north side wall looks gigantic.”</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Dant |first=Doris R. |url=https://byustudies.byu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/38.DantMinerva.pdf |title=Minerva Teichert's Manti Temple Murals |publisher=BYU Studies |year=1999 |pages=9}}</ref> She was the first woman in the church to be commissioned to paint. She was given $4,000 for the project. At the time of creating the murals, Teichert was suffering from the effects of [[lead poisoning]], which can cause difficulties including [[nausea]], [[abdominal pain]], and [[optic neuritis]].<ref name=":0" /> She created a deadline of a month to finish the project, and would occasionally give a whole day just to a specific section.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Dant |first=Doris R. |date=1999 |title=Minerva Teicherts manti temple murals |url=https://byustudies.byu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/38.DantMinerva.pdf |journal=BYU Studies |page=11 }}</ref> She was known to ask for prayers for her health and would pray extra during times of difficulty working on the painting.<ref name=":0" />

Frank Stevens provided assistance with moving [[scaffolding]] and creating sketches under Teichert's supervision.<ref>Of Teichert, Stevens said: “I've never met a person in my life that even compared with her in her enthusiasm for the gospel and the building of the kingdom and how art could play its part.”</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Dant |first=Doris R. |date=1999 |title=Minerva Teichert's Manti Temple Murals |url=https://byustudies.byu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/38.DantMinerva.pdf |journal=BYU Studies |page=12}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Dant |first=Doris R. |date=1999 |title=Minerva Teichert's Manti Temple Murals |url=https://byustudies.byu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/38.DantMinerva.pdf |journal=BYU Studies |pages=13}}</ref> Much of the work of painting took place high up on scaffolding stretching up to 28 feet, and both Stevens and Teichert faced fears about working so high. While working on the [[Tower of Babel]] scene, she fell off a scaffold and hurt her arm.<ref name=":1" /> After consulting a doctor, she resumed work a few hours later, out on the same ledge as before. The mural features 120 figures, Techert referred to it as a “great pageant.”<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Dant |first=Doris R. |date=1999 |title=Minerva Teichert's Manti Temple Murals |url=https://byustudies.byu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/38.DantMinerva.pdf |journal=BYU Studies |pages=16}}</ref> At the end of the process, she related that she worked ‘very fast’ and that “No mural decorator in America ever beat that – nearly {{Convert|4000|sqft|m2}} in 23 days.”<ref>
It was said of Teichert that her goal was to please the general authorities of the church, and after finishing the mural, she wrote in a letter about meeting apostle [[John A. Widtsoe]], who was ‘incredulous’ about her completing the mural in 23 days, and that he was wondering how many years it would take her.</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Dant |first=Doris R. |date=1999 |title=Minerva Teichert's Manti Temple Murals |url=https://byustudies.byu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/38.DantMinerva.pdf |journal=BYU Studies |pages=15}}</ref> More work remained on the temple, and she returned at different times to continue touching up the mural, which ended up being about 28 days in total, with the last of the touch ups ending in March 1948.<ref name=":2" />

==Renovations==
The Manti Temple has undergone various remodeling and renovations. Construction of a great stone stairway leading up the hill to the west temple doors began in 1907.<ref name="ChurchNews1988-05-07">{{citation |first= John L. |last= Hart |date= May 7, 1988 |title= Manti Temple 100 years old, in mint condition for centennial |newspaper= [[Church News]] |url= https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/1988-05-07/manti-temple-100-years-old-148 }}</ref> In 1935, the temple was fully lit at night for the first time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 13, 2018 |title=Fifth LDS temple highlights Manti Temple Hill |url=https://www.heraldextra.com/special-section/2018/jun/13/fifth-lds-temple-highlights-manti-temple-hill/ |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=heraldextra.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1940, the stone stairs were removed and work began to beautify the grounds.<ref name="ChurchNews1988-05-07" /> Between 1944 and 1945 the annex, chapel, kitchen, Garden Room, and men's and women's areas were remodeled. There was once a tunnel beneath the east tower of the temple through which wagons and cars could pass, but it was closed off in the 1960s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yusaf |first=Shundana |date=2018-07-17 |title=Manti Utah Temple |url=https://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/UT-01-039-0042 |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=SAH ARCHIPEDIA |language=en}}</ref> Because of that, it was once said that "the Manti Temple is the only temple you can go through without a recommend."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-04-09 |title='Spirit level' helped workers build unique Manti Temple |url=https://www.deseret.com/2009/4/9/20311538/spirit-level-helped-workers-build-unique-manti-temple |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=Deseret News |language=en}}</ref>[[File:A_detail_of_the_north_wall_of_the_World_Room_in_the_Manti_Utah_Temple_as_painted_by_Minerva_Teichert.png|thumb|Detail of the north wall of the Garden Room as painted by Minerva Teichert.<ref name="minervadd" /> A window can be seen as a suggestion of scale.|220x220px]]In 1981, church officials decided that the interior of the temple needed extensive remodeling. The renovation took four years, during which murals and original furniture were restored, offices were enlarged and remodeled, a separate door was made to the baptistry, water and weather damage were repaired, an elevator installed, and locker rooms were improved among many other projects. In June 1985, [[Gordon B. Hinckley]], then a counselor in the [[First Presidency (LDS Church)|First Presidency]], directed the rededication ceremonies.<ref>{{citation |url= https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1985/08/news-of-the-church/manti-temple-rededicated?lang=eng |title= News of the Church / Manti Temple Rededicated |journal= [[Ensign (LDS magazine)|Ensign]] |date=August 1985 }}</ref><ref>{{citation |url= https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/1985-06-23/manti-utah-temple-cause-thy-holy-spirit-to-enter-and-pervade-all-of-its-rooms-and-facilities-37831 |title= Cause Thy Holy Spirit to enter and pervade all of its rooms and facilities |date= June 23, 1985 |newspaper= Church News }}</ref> Exterior preservation efforts have also occurred since that time.<ref>{{citation |url= https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/1995-06-24/two-temples-scheduled-for-exterior-preservation-8878 |title= Two temples scheduled for exterior preservation |date= June 24, 1995 |newspaper= Church News  }}</ref>

===Removal of murals===
In March 2021, the First Presidency announced significant renovations for the Manti and Salt Lake temples, including ending the live endowment. The decision to end live endowments was rooted in the need for the temples to offer more sessions throughout the day and in different languages; live endowment sessions were only available in English in either temple. To accommodate these changes, it was announced the interiors of the temples would be reconfigured for single-room, multimedia-based endowment sessions as done in other temples, which would also involve the removal of historic artwork in the temples, including Minerva Teichert's murals in the Manti temple.<ref name="Openshaw"/> A week following the initial announcement, the church issued an updated statement on the plans for the Manti Temple, stating it would consult with art preservationists about the best way to remove part or all of the Teichert murals, which are canvas affixed to plaster, and preserve them for public display.<ref>{{citation |url= http://www.thisweekinmormons.com/2021/03/church-will-now-try-to-preserve-manti-temple-murals/ |title= Church Will Now Try to Preserve Manti Temple Murals |work= This Week in Mormons |publisher= thisweekinmormons.com |first= Geoff |last= Openshaw |date= March 24, 2021 |access-date= March 25, 2021 }}</ref>

On May 1, church president [[Russell M. Nelson]] announced that upon reconsideration, although the temple would be updated to use film, care would be taken to preserve the temple's interior, including its art. To increase temple capacity for the area, he announced that an additional temple would be built in [[Ephraim, Utah]].<ref>"[https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/ephraim-utah-temple-manti-temple-renovation President Nelson Announces a New Temple Will Be Built in Ephraim, Utah]." Church Newsroom. May 1, 2021. Accessed May 1. 2021.</ref><ref>"[https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/breaking-treasured-manti-temple-murals-won-t-be-destroyed-ephraim-temple-will-be-built/ar-BB1gg0dK Breaking: Treasured Manti Temple murals won't be destroyed; Ephraim Temple will be built ]" by [[Peggy Fletcher Stack]]. ''Salt Lake Tribune'' via ''MSN News''. May 1, 2021. Accessed May 1, 2021.</ref><ref>"[announces LDS church announces temple to be built in Ephraim; Manti Temple renovation plans altered ]" by Genelle Pugmire. ''Daily Herald''. May 1, 2021. Accessed May 1, 2021.</ref>

==Style==
The Manti Temple combines the [[Gothic Revival]], French [[Renaissance Revival]], [[Second Empire architecture in the United States and Canada|Second French Empire]], and [[American colonial architecture|Colonial architectural]] styles. The temple has {{convert|100373|sqft|0}} of floor space, eight sealing rooms, four ordinance rooms, and a Celestial room. The exterior is made of fine-textured, cream-colored [[oolite]] limestone from quarries in the hill on which the temple stands. The two towers of the temple are {{convert|179|ft}} tall, and the open center spiral staircases inside the towers are marvels of pioneer ingenuity.

==Temple presidents==
Notable [[temple president]]s include: [[Daniel H. Wells]] (1888–91); [[Anthon H. Lund]] (1891–93); [[John D. T. McAllister]] (1893–1906); [[Robert D. Young (LDS Church leader)|Robert D. Young]] (1933–43); [[Jack H. Goaslind Jr.]] (2000–03); and [[Ed J. Pinegar]] (2009–12). As of February 2024, the temple president and matron are Richard W. and Linda N. Wheeler.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Presidents and Matrons of the Manti Utah Temple {{!}} ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org |url=https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/manti-utah-temple/presidents/ |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-25 |title=These temple presidents and matrons were recently called — learn about them here |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/2021/2/25/23218384/new-temple-leaders-california-canada-brazil-texas-manti-redlands-monticello |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=Church News |language=en}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Northeast Courtyard of the Manti Utah Temple.jpg|Northeast Courtyard of the Manti Utah Temple
File:Manti Temple East Wall Distance.jpg|Manti Temple South Wall at a Distance
File:Manti Temple face.jpg|West Face of the Manti Temple
File:Manti Temple Door Handle.jpg|Manti Temple front door handles
File:Manti temple distance sky shot.jpg|Manti temple on the Northeast side
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|Christianity|Latter Day Saints}}
{{LDS Temple Map Group Utah}}
* [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah#Temples|The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah]]
* [[Comparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]
* [[List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]
* [[List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by geographic region]]
* [[Mormon Miracle Pageant]]
* [[Temple architecture (Latter-day Saints)]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
{{Refbegin|2}}
*{{citation
 | first        = Nani
 | last         = Bendixen
 | contribution = The Construction of the Manti Temple
 | title        = BYU Religious Education 2009 Student Symposium
 | location     = Provo, UT
 | publisher    = [[Religious Studies Center]], [[Brigham Young University]]
 | year         = 2009
 | pages        = 135–147
 | url          = http://rsc.byu.edu/archived/byu-religious-education-student-symposium-2009/restoration-and-history-church/construction-
}}
*{{citation
 | last    = Dant
 | first   = Doris R.
 | year    = 1999
 | title   = Minerva Teichert's Manti Temple Murals
 | journal = [[BYU Studies]]
 | volume  = 38
 | issue   = 3
 | pages   = 6–44
 | url     = https://byustudies.byu.edu/content/minerva-teicherts-manti-temple-murals
}}
*{{cite thesis
 | last      = Hargis
 | first     = Barbara
 | year      = 1968
 | title     = A folk history of the Manti Temple
 | degree    = M.A.
 | publisher = Department of English, Brigham Young University
 | url       = https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/4761/
}}
*{{citation
 | last      = Rasmussen
 | first     = Victor J.
 | year      = 1988
 | title     = The Manti Temple
 | location  = Manti, Utah
 | publisher = Manti Temple Centennial Committee
 | oclc      = 18171497
}}
*{{citation
 | last      = Stubbs
 | first     = Glen R.
 | year      = 1988
 | orig-year  = 1976
 | title     = Temple on a Hill: a History of the Manti Temple
 | location  = Rexburg, Idaho
 | publisher = [[Brigham Young University–Idaho|Ricks College Press]]
 | edition   = 4th (Centennial)
 | oclc      = 24263168
}}
*{{cite thesis
 | last      = Stubbs
 | first     = Glen R.
 | year      = 1960
 | title     = A History of the Manti Temple
 | degree    = M.S.
 | publisher = Department of History, [[Brigham Young University]]
 | url       = https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/5150/
}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Manti Utah Temple}}
* [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/details/manti-utah-temple?lang=eng Manti Utah Temple Official site]
* [https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/manti-utah-temple/ Manti Utah Temple] at ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org
* {{HABS |survey=UT-71 |id=ut0065 |title=Manti Temple, Main Street (U.S. Route 89), Manti, Sanpete County, UT |photos=8 |color= |dwgs= |data=7 |cap=}}

{{LDS-Temple-USA}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:19th-century Latter Day Saint temples in the United States]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Sanpete County, Utah]]
[[Category:Churches on the National Register of Historic Places in Utah]]
[[Category:Temples (LDS Church) completed in 1888]]
[[Category:Temples (LDS Church) in Utah]]
[[Category:1888 establishments in Utah Territory]]
[[Category:Historic American Buildings Survey in Utah]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Sanpete County, Utah]]
[[Category:Manti, Utah]]