On April 25, 1877, the pioneer colonizers of Manti, the fourth community established in Utah, began taking from the south side of this hill the oolite stone used to build their temple. The third of these sacred edifices erected in Utah, it was begun before the other two were completed. When the site was dedicated, Brigham Young, who planned the structure, announced that no money was to be spent for labor. Consequently, many months of labor were donated by skilled workmen, and together with contributions of materials and money this made possible the completion of the building. The temple's construction was carefully and tastefully executed, and its workmanship, decoration, and furnishing represented a high quality of skill and design. One outstanding interior feature is a beautiful spiral staircase extending to the top floor. After eleven years of construction, the Manti Temple was completed on May 21, 1888, at a cost of one million dollars. It stands as a monument to the thrift, industry, and self-sacrifice of these early Mormon colonists.