Lorenzo Snow was an Elder of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who played a role in the early history of the Manti Utah Temple. According to an undated document from the Church News Almanac, Snow was joined by other selected Church leaders during a private dedication of the temple on May 17, 1888. Those leaders included George Q. Cannon, Brigham Young Jr., and Heber J. Grant. During that same private dedication, President Wilford Woodruff, who was the senior Apostle after the death of President John Taylor, presided and offered the prayer.
Following that private event, a series of public dedications occurred. An undated source from the Manti Utah Temple history states that three public dedications were held between May 21 and May 23, 1888, and these sessions were directed by Lorenzo Snow. This period marked the completion of the temple, which was the third Latter-day Saint temple built west of the Mississippi River. The structure was designed by William Harrison Folsom, who moved to Manti while the building was under construction.
The construction of the temple was a significant undertaking for the local community. According to an undated document from the Church News Almanac, the temple and its furnishings cost a combined $991,991.81, an amount that was worth over $10 million when the temple was rededicated in 1985. During the construction process, the local population contributed through various means. Starting in 1877, Latter-day Saints within the temple district donated 50 cents or 50-cents worth of commodities every month for 11 years. One specific tradition mentioned in the Church News Almanac involves eggs laid by hens on Sunday, which were referred to as "temple eggs" and were donated to the bishops’ storehouse.
Laborers also contributed to the physical structure of the building. The Church News Almanac notes that at the start of October 1877, 107 people were working on the construction of the temple. Some of these workers lived in the city of Ephraim and walked seven miles from Ephraim to Manti every Monday morning, walking back home every Saturday night.
While Lorenzo Snow was involved in the initial dedication of the structure, the temple has undergone various changes and modernizations over the decades. The building was closed in fall 1981 for renovations intended to modernize the structure by adding upgrades such as plumbing, air conditioning, and new sealing rooms. Following these renovations, Church President Gordon B. Hinckley rededicated the Manti temple on June 14, 1985. This rededication included nine dedicatory sessions, with President Hinckley speaking at each one. The temple did not become fully operational until September 3, 1985, to allow time for the training of temple workers.
What this means for Manti
For the residents of Manti, the historical involvement of figures like Lorenzo Snow highlights the long-standing religious significance of the Manti Utah Temple. The building remains a dominant feature of the Sanpete Valley, representing a legacy of pioneer-era sacrifice and community devotion that has continued through major renovations and rededications over the last century.
