Manti Utah Temple: A Historical Overview
The Manti Utah Temple, serving as the third dedicated temple in operation within the Utah Territory, was announced on June 25, 1875. The groundbreaking for the temple occurred shortly thereafter, with formal dedication taking place on April 25, 1877, officiated by Brigham Young. A private dedication was later conducted on May 17, 1888, by Wilford Woodruff, followed by a public dedication from May 21 to May 23 of the same year, led by Lorenzo Snow.
Notable events in the temple’s history include a public open house held from June 6 to June 8, 1985, and a subsequent rededication from June 14 to June 16, 1985, conducted by Gordon B. Hinckley. A forthcoming public open house is scheduled from March 14 to April 5, 2024, with rededication planned for April 21, 2024, presided over by the Prophet Russell M. Nelson. The temple is situated on a 27-acre site.
The exterior of the Manti Utah Temple features fine-textured, cream-colored oolite limestone, sourced from nearby quarries situated on the hill upon which the temple is constructed. Architecturally, the temple is distinguished by two attached end towers. Its interior comprises four instruction rooms, nine sealing rooms, and one baptistry, all within a total floor area of 74,792 square feet. The temple rises to a height of 179 feet and is located at an elevation of 5,657 feet, commanding a prominent view over the Sanpete Valley of Central Utah.
The site of the Manti Utah Temple, historically known as the Manti Stone Quarry, was once notorious for being infested with rattlesnakes. After Brigham Young designated it for temple construction, it became recognized as Temple Hill. The stone used in the temple’s exterior, Manti oolite, is derived from the very quarry that once characterized the landscape.
An engineering marvel, the temple houses twin self-supporting, open-centered spiral staircases that ascend five stories within each of the octagonal towers located on the west side. The craftsmanship is exemplified by the walnut hand railings, in which no joints are discernible, reflecting the high level of skill employed by the pioneer Latter-day Saints. For 133 years, the endowment was presented through live acting until the temple closed for significant renovation on October 2, 2021. During this closure, the instruction rooms were upgraded to facilitate video presentations of the endowment.
In a historical incident, lightning struck the east tower of the Manti Utah Temple in 1928, igniting a fire that raged for three hours before it was extinguished, marking a notable event in the temple’s storied past.