Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Temple Renovation

On October 2, 2021, the Manti Utah Temple closed for a major, multi-year renovation. Modified plans for the renovation (originally announced on March 12) were presented at a press conference held on Saturday, May 1, at the Manti Tabernacle where a prerecorded message by President Russell M. Nelson was shown.¹ Highlights of the project include the following:

• Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems will be evaluated and renewed or replaced.
• Water infiltration into the temple will be addressed primarily along the east wall and footing.
• Audiovisual equipment will be installed for film presentations in the instruction rooms. The instruction room murals will remain and undergo cleaning and restoration.
• The historic spiral staircases will also remain.

Temple Locale

Perched atop a rising knoll, known as "Temple Hill," the magnificent Manti Utah Temple dominates the Sanpete Valley of Central Utah. Located just off Highway 89, approaching travelers can glimpse the distinctive towers from miles and miles away. Across the highway from the temple is the Pioneer Heritage Center and Gardens—a 2.5-acre park featuring a reflecting pool for the temple, meandering walkways with park benches, an amphitheater, finely crafted statues, and beautiful landscaping.

Temple History

The Manti Utah Temple was the third temple built in Utah.

The Manti Utah Temple was originally named the Manti Temple.

The Manti Utah Temple was built on a rattlesnake-infested site, known as the Manti Stone Quarry. Once Brigham Young designated the site for a temple, it became known as Temple Hill. The quarry's stone, Manti oolite, is the same cream-colored stone used for the temple exterior.

Twin self-supporting, open-centered spiral staircases wind five stories up each of the octagonal towers on the west side of the Manti Utah Temple. No joints can be felt in the walnut hand railings due to the expert skills employed. The dramatic stairways are considered an engineering marvel of the pioneer Latter-day Saints.

A large arching tunnel under the east tower of the Manti Utah Temple, which has since been closed, allowed cars to pass from one side of the temple to the other.

The endowment was presented by live acting in the Manti Utah Temple for 133 years until the temple was closed for major renovation on October 2, 2021. During the closure, the instruction rooms were converted to film presentation of the endowment.

The Manti Utah Temple features beautiful hand-painted murals on the walls of its progressive-style ordinance rooms: Creation Room, Garden Room, World Room, Terrestrial Room (no murals), and Celestial Room (no murals).

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Manti Utah Temple was held a month before the groundbreaking ceremony for the Logan Utah Temple, marking the first time that two groundbreaking ceremonies were held in the same year. The two buildings share a similar castellated appearance.

Lightning struck the east tower of the Manti Utah Temple in 1928, which started a fire that burned for three hours before it could be extinguished.

Murals in the Manti Utah Temple were repainted in the 1940s when the deterioration of wall plaster meant the garden and world room murals by Danquart Weggeland and C.C.A. Christensen could not be saved. Robert L. Shepherd painted the Garden Room, and Minerva Teichert painted the World Room with scenes depicting Biblical stories of the Tower of Babel, Abraham, Joseph in Egypt, Moses, and Esau; worldwide expansion of the Pilgrims, oriental traders, European crusaders, and Christopher Columbus; and the North American continent with a Native American, fur trapper, pilgrim, and city of Zion.

In 1985, the Manti Utah Temple was formally rededicated following a four-year renovation project that included updating the auxiliary systems; adding three sealing rooms, new dressing rooms, a nursery, and offices; restoring the pioneer craftsmanship and artwork to their former glory; and extensively renovating the baptistry including the addition of an exterior entrance. Apartments for temple workers were also constructed during the renovation. The three-day open house was attended by 40,308 visitors.

In 2019, the annual Mormon Miracle Pageant was held on the grounds of the Manti Utah Temple for the last time, following a 53-year run.