The following is excerpted from the Church Newsroom. To read the full article, CLICK HERE.
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 extend the lifespan of these murals means we preserve a symbolic entry point into new understandings of our temple worship, theology and relationship with the divine.”
The historical significance 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.
The Purpose
Each mural, completed by renowned artists of the time, represents a different historical setting. One illustrates the earth’s creation, conceived by C.C.A. Christensen. Another is symbolic of the Garden of Eden, painted by Joseph Everett and Robert Shepherd. The third depicts the fallen world, created by Minerva Teichert. Combined, they evoke sacred reminders of spiritual progression.
To read the full article, CLICK HERE.
