Manti, Utah (ABC 4 News) - In a move that brings back memories of the battles over the Main Street Plaza in downtown Salt Lake, the Manti City Council is considering offering for sale a block of 1st East – and it appears the only interested party is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The stretch of 1st East between 400 North and 500 North is already the last block of a dead end road. It is bordered both east and west by property owned by the LDS Church – the Manti temple to the east and a park and family history center to the west.
The City approached the Church “several years ago” about the possible sale. But the issue has picked up considerable momentum since the council held a public hearing August 18th.
Manti Mayor Natasha Madsen sees the sale as an opportunity to free the town from maintaining a block of road that goes no where as well as perhaps a chance for the LDS Church to unite its two parcels of land and create garden setting similar to the Main Street Plaza.
It may also be an opportunity for the church to put some distance between protesters and the thousands who attend the annual “Mormon Miracle Pageant” on the sloping lawn of the temple.
In years past, protesters and pageant goers have mingled on 1St east in front of the temple grounds. Some protesters have carried crosses, others have held prayer circles and still others have dressed in pioneer garb and hung signs around their necks claiming they represent a polygamist wife of Joseph Smith – the founder of the Mormon faith.
Both members of the community as well as city leaders admit that the protests have been more “respectful” in the last couple years. Still if the church bought the stretch of road, it could ban the protesters – pushing them back to 400 South.
That possibility concerns the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah. After receiving complaints from 15 Manti residents, the ACLU wrote a letter to the Manti City Council warning of possible violations of the first amendment guarantees of freedom of speech.
Mayor Madsen counters saying the “interactions” between protesters and those attending the pageant will undoubtedly continue, just not immediately adjacent to the pageant grounds. She said many of the protesters already establish themselves at 400 North and 1st East and that intersection will remain public and open.
The council wants time to review all public comments and concerns. It will probably not take up the issue against for another month or two.
For it’s part, the LDS Church is saying only that it is exploring the “viability” of the sale with Manti City.
