The story of the Deseret Foundation's Holiday Quilt Show & Auction is one of generosity: of time, of talent, of materials and most of all, of spirit.

It is the story of dedication on the part of quilters, but also by researchers and doctors who benefit from the funds raised and in turn benefit lives everywhere.

It is the story of heritage and legacy, of respecting tradition and linking past and present.

For two years, quilters around the state work on quilts that are donated to the auction. The quilts are then sold to raise money for medical research and education.

Since 1983, when it all began, more than $2 million has been raised for the Deseret Foundation. One hundred percent of the proceeds benefit work at the Intermountain Medical Center, LDS Hospital, Alta View Hospital and The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital.

This year's quilts will be on display to the public from Nov. 14-19 at the Little America Hotel, with the auction to follow on Nov. 20.

What makes the show even more remarkable is that every one of the quilts in it was quilted by hand.

"Machine quilting is very popular these days, and gorgeous work is being done," says Jean Detton, chairwoman of this year's show. "But we want to preserve the art of hand-quilting." This is the way quilts have been made for centuries, she says, and its an art and craft that should be honored.

Many of the quilts were made at monthly Quilt Days at the Colonial House Mansion in the Avenues in Salt Lake City.

Quilts are set up in various rooms, and quilters gather around them to work, to learn, to visit. "It has all the flavor of the old-fashioned quilting bee," says Detton.

New quilters come all the time, she says. "Quilt Day has grown tremendously this year for some reason. We used to have three quilts up at any one time; this year we've almost always had a fourth up. It's fabulous to see the beautiful work done by hand by these excellent, skilled quilters. And to see them teach one another. We have people come, not knowing anything about hand-quilting. But give them a few months and they are doing the same beautiful work."

It's a diverse group, she says, with women of all ages. "We not only have older women, but we've been getting more women in their 20s and 30s. My 9-year-old granddaughter even loves to come. She made one of the blocks in one of the quilts this year. And the women come from all over. We even have a woman who flies in from Los Angeles to attend Quilt Day."

Most of what Detton — who has been quilting for nearly two decades — has learned about quilting, she says, "I learned here."