Recently The Church announced it would remodel the Manti, Utah Temple. As part of the renovation they plan to remove the murals that have adorned the walls of this edifice for decades. We respectfully ask them to reconsider. 

These murals were painted by artists who consecrated their time to enhancing our worship experience. C.C.A. Christensen was a Danish pioneer who painted many images capturing life in early Utah. He painted the creation room mural, which is the oldest surviving temple mural. 

Minerva Teichert is a renowned twentieth-century artist. Her husband was not a member of the church, but supported Minerva in her membership and donations. She painted the murals depicting the history of the world in the endowment rooms. Her complex images portray the history of the gentiles one on side and Israel on the other. 

These paintings are so meaningful, not only to the decedents of these honored pioneers, but to the community of Manti, and to all members of the church. The pioneer sacrifice is a heritage we all share, weather our ancestors crossed the plains or we joined last month. Once these murals are destroyed they will be gone forever. Photographs taken of them will not do justice to art and sacrifice of the artists. These paintings should be seen by people as they worship in the Manti Temple. A blank wall in their place, no matter how ornate will be a lose of our heritage. 

We implore the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to rethink their decision to remove these murals and ask that they be preserved and restored as was done in Idaho Falls, Cardston, and Saint George. If funding is the issue, we ask that fundraising be allowed. We believe saving these murals would fit with the Thirteenth Article of Faith which states in part  "If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."