SALT LAKE CITY, .
To the Presidents of Stakes, Bishop
and Saints generally:
It is with profound feelings of grat-
itude and thanksgiving to our heaven-
ly Father that we announce to the
Latter-day Saints that the Temple
which is being erected at Manti has
been so nearly completed as to be
ready for the upholstering, furniture,
carpets, etc., which are necessary to
put it in a state of complete prepara-
tion for the sacred labors to be per-
formed therein. This is the third
building of this character which in the
kind providence of God the
Latter-day Saints have been per-
mitted to erect and finish in
these mountains. The Temple
at Salt Lake City is also progressing in
a satisfactory manner, which, when
finished, will be the fourth Temple
that has been constructed by the
Saints under the direction of the Al-
mighty since we came to these val-
leys.
How blesed are the peope who
have had these glorious privileges
granted unto them! Our hearts swell
with inexpressible feelings of thanks-
giving and joy to our Father in heaven
that he has permitted His Saints to
build these houses. They now have
opportunities to act as Saviors of their
fellowmen, which but few genera-
tions of the children of men have ever
enjoyed. The great work of the res-
toration of the dead which will occupy
the time and thought of fu-
ture [8]generations has now begun,
never more to end until the earth is
sanctified and the plan of salvation de-
vised in the eternal worlds for human
redemption is fully consummated.
Our object in addressing you in this
circular is to present to all the mem
bers of the Church the opportunity of
contributing, according to their means
and liberality, something towards the
furnishing of the Manti Temple. Here
tofore the contributions for that build-
ing have been confined to the Stakes
which are numbered in what is known
as the "Manti Temple District." Be-
fore the Logan Temple was completed
an opportunity was given to the
Saints to contribute towards
the purchasing of its furnishings, fur-
niture, etc. They gladly responded to
the call which was made upon them.
We feel that they will, on the present
occasion appreciate the privilege of
contributing in like manner towards
the purchasing of suitable upholstery,
carpetings, etc., for the Manti Temple.
The funds of the Superintendent are
exhausted; and contracts are already
made for needed articles, which have
to be met at an early date.
Contributions will be taken from
twenty-five cents upwards, so that
those who are the most limited in
means need not be debarred, while
those who are more wealthy, can have
the satisfaction and pleasure of
making donations according to their
ability for the completion of this
noble edifice. We would like the
Presidents and Bishops to give every
one an opportunity of doing some-
thing in this direction, and the names
of all, with the amounts contributed,
should be carefuly taken.
We would like to see the names of
every man, woman and child in the
Church recorded in the Archives of
the Temple as having contributed
something towards its erection and
completion.
These funds with the donors' names,
can either be forwarded to the office of
the Presiding Bishop or to the Chief
Clerk—Brother James Jack, at the
President's Office.
It is important that these collections
should be made and remitted as
promptly as possible, as the need for
this means is pressing.
WILFORD WOODRUFF,
In behalf of the Council of the Apos-
tles.