Saga of the Sanpitch Volume 17, 1985 - Sanpete County

sagebrush. It wasn't until 1907 that approval was given by the First Presidency of the church for landscape
improvements. At this time the original terrace walls surrounding the grounds were removed with the
exception of the lower one "which was lowered by one half and the hill was graded to cone shape." Tons of
rich soil were hauled upon the hill and covered the once solid stone bed, making it possible to plant lawns and
flowers.
Before the beautification program commenced, the climb up the hill to enter the temple required
strength and fortitude. Loren D. Squire, who went to the temple to be baptized the day after his eighth
birthday, January 3, 1906, describes it this way, "My father had taken my mother and I to the foot of temple
hill on the west end of the hill. . .Mother and I started up a zig-zag trail from the road up the steep, rockcovered
hill to the west end of the temple. At each corner of the zig-zag trail was a cedar post set in the
ground and a 1 1/2 inch rope was anchored from post to post as a rail to help those climbing the hill. After
reaching the temple we went inside where we were guided to a room for me to change into white clothing
ready for baptism."
There was need for better steps than the zigzag trail. A beautiful, elaborate stairway was constructed,
leading from the street level and connecting with the roadway surrounding the temple on the west side. The
stairway was 20 feet wide with retaining walls on either side and with square pillars at each landing. These
pillars were fitted for electric lights. There were 125 steps with nine landings. Including the cement and iron,
there was a total of 2,500,000 pounds of material in the stairway. It took four months to construct.
The stone stairway bordering the southeast driveway and leading to the east entrance of the building
has 80 steps and is also a magnificent piece of work. In 1940 the west steps were torn out and lawn was
planted. Other lawn was added later on the south slope of the hill.
During the time L. R. Anderson was president of the temple, he told of a vision he had. The experience
was related by Glen A. Nelson of Manti who was hired by the Oakland Construction Company to use his truck
in building the south parking lot. Glen said, "President Anderson put his one arm around me and waving his
other hand back and forth, he said, 'Brother Nelson, some day this will be the most beautiful spot of the entire
temple hill. I don't know what it is that's going to happen. You will live to see it, but I will not, but there will be
thousands of people come to this hillside. . . I will not see it but you will.'" Glen thought in his mind that it
must be the gathering of the ten tribes or some such event during the millenium, but he concluded, saying,
"Now I know he envisioned the Mormon Miracle Pageant which his own son, R. Clair Anderson, was instrumental
in starting, which sees over a hundred thousand yearly come to the spot L. R. Anderson was talking
about."
Each temple president has assumed the responsibility of keeping the temple well cared for and has
made those improvements which the First Presidency has approved. Changes have come slowly or in phases.
Parking lots have been improved and constructed. Electric lighting was installed in channels which were
miraculously left in the original construction. The exterior lighting of the temple has "created a nightly beacon,
visible for many miles across the valley floor."
Another miracle is the temple spring, which is situated about a mile east of the temple. The flow of the
spring has increased as the temple needs have increased.
The annex on the north has also gone through many changes„ Extensive remodeling between 1935-
1940 provided more space for records, offices, a cafeteria and service rooms. Later, a reception room was
added and a heating plant was moved from the basement of the annex to a building immediately east of the
temple. A visitor's center was built to provide information and to serve as a missionary tool. Members of the
church from Manti and surrounding communities have also availed themselves of the services at the center in
the use of materials and films.
In 1946 considerable cleaning and renovating were done in the building. The murals in the Garden
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