Sixty-four women of the Manti and Ephraim Stakes of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made a special tour of the Manti LDS Temple the day before its open house for the public began.
The women toured the building in reverential awe--until they arrived in one special sealing room just off the entrance to the Celestial Room. There, the quiet tour participants did a strange thing. One by one, they turned the chairs over. Reverent hands fingered needlepoint diamonds of sea-green. Ninety-five pieces of exquisite needlepoint were examined in minute detail. Names on the back of the chairs were sought and noted. Then, once again, an almost-awed silence settled in for a moment.
The 64 women had spent a creating the 95-pieces of needlepoint covering the chairs and altar in the sealing room. Sixty-four pairs of hands had meticulously stitched the special design prepared by Florence Jacobsen, interior decorator for the Manti Temple.
Mrs. Jacobsen said this particular needlepoint project was unique within the church. She thanked the women who had turned her design into upholstered works of art wrought in fine Persian yarn.
Helen Dyreng, Stake Relief Society President, echoed Mrs. Jacobsen's praise. "A great deal of love, care and pride was sewn into each article by wonderfully dedicated women," she said.
Mrs. Marjorie Tibbs, Stake Homemaking Counselor, was chairman for the project. Mrs. Lily Jane Miller was project co-chairman and a supervisor. Mrs. June Cos, Manti, and Mrs. Colleen Nielson, Mrs. Bonnie Olson, and Mrs. Barbara Bailey, all of Ephraim, were project supervisors.
"As we turned the chairs over, looking for our names," said one of the needlepointers, "I thought, 'I wish my Grandma could be here to see this.' Then I realized, she probably was."
"Concern, sacrifice and a high quality of artistic handwork are the earmarks of this project," Mrs. Dyreng assured the women.
[Editor's note: The article above was printed in a newspaper but was taken from a photocopy. I was unable to determine which newspaper carried the original article nor who was author of the piece.] Posted By Myrna Rae Trauntvein to Grammy's Gleanings at 10/19/2003 11:01:00 AM
Myrna wrote: Merilyn Jorgensen, Do you have a copy of this and do you know where it was published?
Merilyn wrote: No—I don’t think I have this either!! But I recognize my comment about my grandma J. I’m sure it was in the Manti Messenger, but have no clue who wrote it.
Merilyn wrote: PS thinking back, I’m recalling that this was in the Des. News—maybe Church section. They had quite a few things in when the temple was re-dedicated.
Myrna wrote: I looked there. Thanks for thinking with me.
Merilyn wrote: Myrna, I found the original J I’ve been going thru my memorabilia, and found the article in question. There was a special supplement to the Manti Messenger, July 1985. There was no by-line, but there was a note elsewhere in the paper, from the editor, thanking staff for all their work during the open-house and dedication. He noted all the hours by Pat Mellor in researching details, etc., so I’m pretty sure she wrote this one.
I haven’t even cut out all the articles I’ve saved—let alone put them in an album. You’ve inspired me—I’m going to get to work on my ‘temple’ albumJ As a side note, I should tell you my story of doing the needlepoint, and what my grandma had to do with it. I need to write it up for my album/posterity.
Please keep sending me these ‘goodies’. Merilyn
PS my name IS on a chair:)
PS #2 I’ve always called my little grandma ‘Grammy’.
PS again—the reporter at that time was likely Bruce Jennings, but it also may have been Linnie Findlay (who did this one.) THE OTHER ONE
OOPS!
Thanx again, my friend.
Merilyn wrote: Did you get my latest—with correct info??
Myrna wrote: Three cheers for you (or 20 or 100)! Yes, I did. I answered this one before I read that one. Sorry! I meant to answer it but I was not feeling well and went to bed instead.
Merilyn wrote: Sorry—hope you’re feeling better today. Some days are just the pits—many more than we’d like.
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