After a two-and-a-half-year renovation, the distinctively beautiful Manti Utah Temple is now rededicated as a house of the Lord. Originally dedicated in 1888, it is one of the oldest pioneer-era temples in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
An integral part of the renovation focused on the restoration of priceless works of art that have become synonymous with this sacred structure.
“We needed to care for the murals,” said Emiline Twitchell, Church History Department conservator over the project for The Church of Jesus Christ.
“To be able to increase the lifespan of these murals means that we increase a symbolic entry point into understanding our own worship, our own story.”
The historic magnitude of these murals (including the oldest mural in an existing temple of the Church) is not lost on the conservators tasked with bringing back each mural’s brilliance after decades of repairs and overpainting.