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Summarized by Kent Larsen
Manti Utah LDS Pioneers To Be Honored With $3 Million Center
Salt Lake Tribune 1Mar00 D6
By Mark Havnes: Salt Lake Tribune
MANTI, UTAH -- The Manti Destiny Committee is proposing to construct
a museum, historical library and reception hall in Manti to honor the
51 pioneer families sent by Brigham Young to establish the city of
Manti in 1849. The center would be surrounded by a memorial garden,
including a bronze statue of a mortal Moroni and a globe showing
where the descendants of these pioneers live today.
The committee proposes to build the center at 400 North and Main
Street in Manti on land it has already purchased. It estimates that
the cost of the center will be $3 million, $1 million of which has
already been raised from donations, including $375,000 from the
George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation, a charitable foundation
established by descendants of Mormon pioneer David Eccles, founder of
what is now First Security Bank.
If the committee can get small donations from many of the descendants
of the Manti pioneers, they should reach the goal easily, "There
are about 5 million descendants of the original settlers around the world
now, and 400 so far have purchased the plaques,'' says Don Vorhees,
fund raising chairman of the committee. Vorhees also expects
donations from other philanthropic organizations in the state, and
thinks the project could be completed in 2002.
While Manti has a lot of LDS heritage and the pioneers were sent by
then-LDS Church President Brigham Young, the LDS Church isn't
involved in the project. However, the committee is trying to get a
representative of the Ute Indians on the committee's board. Young
sent the pioneers after Ute chief Wakara asked for someone to teach
his tribe about agriculture.
The committee believes the center will fit nicely into the annual
"Mormon Miracle Pageant," held on the grounds of the Manti
LDS Temple. The pageant attracts about 100,000 people each year, many of
whom would visit the center.
See also:
Group plans memorial to Manti pioneers
Deseret News 29Feb00 D6
By Carma Wadley: Deseret News senior writer
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