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After being closed for two years, the Church of Jesus helping with ushering and other duties. Christ of Latter-day Saints opened the doors to the newly renovated Manti temple, drawing many visitors to take a tour during the open house event.
From March 14-April 5, Sanpete County was filled with anticipation from locals and visitors to explore the
historical building. Located in the city of Manti, it was the third temple built by early Utah pioneers and was first dedicated in 1888. The temple has many ornate rooms and varieties of historic artwork within, each a statement of the skilled craftsmen and artists who spent 11 years assembling all aspects of the building.
While the temple’s historical significance is definite, its religious purpose is why it is truly significant. It has
served as a place of worship for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for many years before being closed for renovation in 2021, and its reopening has brought many people to tour it before it is rededicated to conduct sacred ceremonies.
According to a recent NS Times survey, 70 percent of students at NS visited the Manti temple open house.
In fact, 230,665 visitors from all over the state of Utah, the United States and other countries toured the structure— according to the Open House Committee. Reflecting these high numbers of travelers, the line to gain entry to the temple was long.
“[I waited] about 40 minutes…” senior Jessica Cook said. “I’ve heard [people have] waited for four hours.”
As expected from the large masses, this event required many volunteers to work as ushers to guide and keep the event organized. Many NS students spent time helping with ushering and other duties.
“I volunteered four times,” freshman Spencer Bradley said.
Many volunteers in the temple’s district, like Bradley, were kept busy to aid in the organization of the temple
tour. Not only were the volunteers kept busy, but the food workers of local businesses throughout Sanpete County also have bustled with life from both the tourists and locals looking for something to eat.
“[Shalan’s] was constantly busy… a lot of [businesses were]: Wheeler’s, Root’s [89 Grill], Malt Shop, ” Cook said, who currently works at Shalan’s in Moroni.
The increase of patrons throughout food restaurants in Sanpete has not only kept the workers busy, but it has
been profitable for the businesses.
“It has helped lots of businesses get more sales, with so many people coming, and has helped draw people together…” Bradley said.
Though the ripple effects of the temple’s reopening influenced not only the businesses’ revenue; the flow of visitors also led to difficulties. The masses of people resulted in raised traffic on the roads and highways throughout Sanpete County.
“[The open house] definitely affected the traffic,” Cook said.
Despite the traffic and busyness, the college community of Ephraim took the most of this opportunity. Snow College students connected with visitors and supported their cause.
“I know [the open house] helped Snow College students,” sophomore Mason Murphy said. “A lot of the college students were able to sell books for a fundraiser that they had been doing… when people were going out
to eat and even in the lines, they were selling books.”
Despite the long lines and heavy traffic, the reopening of the Manti Utah Temple was a significant occasion or both visitors and residents. From the bustling lines of people eager to tour the temple, to the local businesses
thriving from increased patrons, to even the troubling traffic, the event both had some positive and negative impacts on the community.
