1 		 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 			Washington, D.C. 20549 			 ____________________ x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF 		 THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 	 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 				 OR 	 TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF 		 THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 		 For the transition period from to 			Commission File Number 33-14843 				_________________ 	 RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE GRANTOR TRUST (DESERET) 1988-D2 (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 				 NEW YORK 	(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) 				 36-6878768 		 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) 	 2201 Cooperative Way, Herndon, VA 20171-3025 		 (Address of principal executive offices) (Registrant's telephone number, including area code, is 703-709-6700) 			 ___________________ Securities Registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None. Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. 			 Yes X No 					 The Registrant has no common or voting stock. 2 		 DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE: 1. Form of Trust Agreement 2. Loan Agreement 3. Loan Guarantee and Servicing Agreement Exhibit Index located on page 13. 3 Part I Item 3. Legal Proceedings 	 None. Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 	 None. 4 Part II Item 5. Market for the Registrant's Common Equity and Related 	 Stockholder Matters a) There is no established trading market for the certificates 	 representing ownership of the beneficial interest in the Trust. b) As of March 28, 1997 there was one holder of certificates 	 representing ownership of the beneficial interest in the Trust. Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 	 See attached audited financial statements. Item 9. Disagreements on Accounting and Financial Disclosure 	 None. Part III Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions 	 None. 5 Part IV Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports 	 on Form 8-K a) The following documents are filed as part of this report: 	 1. Financial Statements 		 Report of Independent Public Accountants 		 Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of 			December 31, 1996 and 1995 		 Statement of Income and Expenses, for the Years Ended 			December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 		 Statement of Cash Flows, for the Years Ended 			December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 		 Notes to Financial Statements 	 2. Financial Statement Schedules are omitted because they 		 are inapplicable. 	 3. Exhibits 		 		 Exhibit 		 Number Description of Exhibit 		 4.1 Form of Trust Agreement, including the form of Rural Electric Cooperative 				 Grantor Trust Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to 				 Registration Statement on Form S-1 [No. 33-14843]). 		 10.1 Loan Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registration 				 Statement on Form S-1 [No. 33-14843]). 		 10.2 Loan Guarantee and Servicing Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 				 10.2 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 [No. 33-14843]). b) Form 8-K dated December 17, 1996. 	 Semi-annual Report to Certificateholders dated December 15, 1996. 6 Supplemental information to be furnished with reports filed pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act by Registrants which have not registered securities pursuant to Section 12 of the Act. No annual report, proxy statement, form of proxy or other proxy soliciting material has been sent to Certificateholders, and the Registrant does not presently contemplate sending any such material subsequent to the filing of this report. 7 Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the County of Fairfax, Commonwealth of Virginia on the 28th day of March, 1997. 	RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE GRANTOR TRUST (DESERET) 1988 D-2 	 By: NATIONAL RURAL UTILITIES COOPERATIVE 		 FINANCE CORPORATION as Servicer 		 By: /s/ Sheldon C. Petersen 		 Sheldon C. Petersen, Governor and 			Chief Executive Officer 8 		 RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE GRANTOR 			TRUST (DESERET) 1988-D2 	 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995, 	 AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994 		 TOGETHER WITH AUDITORS' REPORT 9 		Report of Independent Public Accountants To the Trustee of Rural Electric Cooperative Grantor Trust 	(Deseret) 1988-D2 and To the Board of Directors of National Rural Utilities Cooperative 	Finance Corporation We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities of Rural Electric Cooperative Grantor Trust (Deseret) 1988-D2 as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related statements of income and expenses and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Trust's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform an audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Rural Electric Cooperative Grantor Trust (Deseret) 1988-D2 as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and its operations and its cash flows for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. March 24, 1997 Washington, D. C. 10 RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE GRANTOR TRUST (DESERET) 1988-D2 		 STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES 		 AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995 _____________________________________________________________________ 					1996 1995 ASSETS Interest Receivable $1,191,767 $1,191,767 Note Receivable 152,895,000 152,895,000 Total Assets $154,086,767 $154,086,767 LIABILITIES Interest Payable- Grantor Trust Certificates $ 1,159,326 $ 1,159,326 Servicer Fees Payable 32,441 32,441 Rural Electric Cooperative Grantor Trust Certificates 152,895,000 152,895,000 Total Liabilities $154,086,767 $154,086,767 	 The accompanying notes are an integral part 		 of these financial statements 11 	RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE GRANTOR TRUST (DESERET) 1988-D2 		 STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND EXPENSES 	 FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995, AND 1994 _____________________________________________________________________ 				 1996 1995 1994 INCOME: Interest on note receivable $15,890,224 $15,890,224 $15,890,224 EXPENSES: Interest on grantor trust certificates 15,457,684 15,457,684 15,457,684 Servicer fees 432,540 432,540 432,540 Total Expenses 15,890,224 15,890,224 15,890,224 Net Income $ - $ - $ - 		 The accompanying notes are an integral part 			 of these financial statements 12 	 RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE GRANTOR TRUST (DESERET) 1988-D2 			 STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 	 FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995, AND 1994 _____________________________________________________________________ 					 1996 1995 1994 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Interest received on note receivable $15,890,224 $15,890,224 $15,890,224 Interest paid to Certificateholders (15,457,684) (15,457,684) (15,457,684) Fees paid to Servicer ( 432,540) ( 432,540) ( 432,540) Net cash provided by operating activities - - - CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from principal payment on note - - - Net cash provided from investing activities - - - CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITES: Principal payment to Certificateholders - - - Net cash used in financing activities - - - NET CHANGE IN CASH - - - CASH, beginning of year - - - CASH, end of year $ - $ - $ - ACCRUAL TO CASH BASIS RECONCILIATION: Accrual basis income $ - $ - $ - Change in accrual accounts: Decrease in interest receivable - - - Decrease in interest payable - - - Decrease in servicer fees payable - - - Total change in accrual accounts - - - Net cash provided by operating activities $ - $ - $ - 				 			 The accompanying notes are an integral part 				of these financial statements 13 	 RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE GRANTOR TRUST (DESERET) 1988-D2 			 NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 		 AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994 1. ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS 	Rural Electric Cooperative Grantor Trust (Deseret) 1988-D2 (the 	"Trust") was formed under a Trust Agreement dated February 15, 1988 	among National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation 	("CFC"), Deseret Generation & Transmission Co-operative, Inc. 	(the "Cooperative") and The First National Bank of Chicago 	(the "Trustee"). On that date, CFC made a loan to the Cooperative 	which issued a note (the "Note"), evidencing the borrowing to the 	Trust. The Trust issued to CFC Rural Electric Cooperative Grantor 	Trust (Deseret) 10.11% Certificates Due 2017 (the "Certificates") 	in the amount of $152,895,000. The Certificates are solely the 	obligations of the Trust and are not insured or guaranteed by CFC, 	the Cooperative, the Trustee, the Rural Utilities Service ("RUS") 	of the United States Department of Agriculture ("USDA") nor any 	other governmental agency. Each Certificate represents an undivided 	fractional interest in the Trust. CFC is the depositor of the Trust 	and acts as Servicer of the Note. CFC filed, on behalf of the 	Trust, a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration 	No. 33-14843) which became effective on May 4, 1988, and CFC 	resold the Certificates thereunder. 	The assets of the Trust consist primarily of the Note, bearing 	interest at 10.393% and maturing 2017, which is guaranteed 	(the "Guarantee") as to timely payment of principal and interest 	by the United States of America, acting through the Administrator 	of RUS. The amounts of principal and interest payments on the Note 	held by the Trust are sufficient to cover the scheduled principal 	and interest payments on the Certificates issued by the Trust and 	the scheduled amounts of servicer fees. The General Counsel of the 	USDA has issued an opinion that the Guarantee is supported by the 	full faith and credit of the United States of America. 	Debt service and servicer fee payments on the Note are made to the 	Trustee semi-annually (June 4 and December 4) by the Cooperative or 	RUS guarantor of the Note. The Trustee deposits all such receipts 	in the Trust account. The Trustee is authorized by the Trust 	Agreement to invest all funds in the Trust account at the direction 	of CFC in certain eligible investments that mature no later than 	the business day next preceding the day (June 15 and December 15) 	such amounts are to be distributed to the Certificateholders 	and the Servicer. The interest earned on the investments is 	distributed to the Cooperative. Any funds that are not so 	invested must be held by the Trustee in the Trust account. 	The Trustee may not reinvest any returns of principal or investment 	earnings on eligible investments and the Trustee may not sell any 	eligible investment prior to its maturity except, at the direction 	of CFC, to preserve the value of the corpus of the Trust. 	On or before five business days after each date on which payments 	are made on the Certificates, the Trustee is obligated to supply 	the holders of such Certificates a report provided by the Servicer, 	which includes certain pertinent information as to how the payment 	is to be allocated to principal, interest, servicer fees and 	premium, if any, as well as the principal balance outstanding 	after such payment. 	The fiscal year of the Trust is the calendar year. Within the 	prescribed period of time for tax reporting purposes, after 	the end of each calendar year during the term of the Trust 	Agreement, the Trustee is obligated to prepare and mail to 	each Certificateholder of record for the Trust, at any time 	during such year, a report setting forth the information as is 	reasonably necessary for the preparation of such 	Certificateholder's Federal income tax return. 14 	Payments of principal on the Certificates are scheduled to be 	repaid over a period of fifteen years, beginning in 2003. 	The principal payment in 2003 is scheduled to be $5,200,000. 	The Certificates are not subject to redemption prior to December 15, 	1997. Thereafter, such Certificates are subject to optional 	redemption, in whole and with premium until 2006, upon redemption 	or purchase of the related Note. The Trust Agreement will 	terminate after payment in full has been made on the Certificates 	issued thereunder. 2. TAX STATUS OF THE TRUST 	Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, counsel to CFC, has advised CFC 	with respect to the Trust that, in its opinion, (i) the Trust will 	not be classified as an association taxable as a corporation, but 	will be classified as a grantor trust and (ii) each Certificateholder 	will be treated for Federal income tax purposes as the owner of an 	undivided fractional interest in each of the assets held by the Trust. 	It is expected that the Trust will not have any liability for Federal 	or State income taxes for the current or future years. 3. INTEREST AND SERVICER FEE ACCOUNTING 	The Trust records interest income as it is earned and accrues 	interest expense and servicer fees as they are incurred. Servicer 	fees represent ten basis points of the outstanding principal balance 	of the Certificates and the Note and recognition of conversion fees 	over the life of the loan. 4. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS 	Use Of Estimates 	 	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with 	generally accepted accounting principles requires management 	to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts 	of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements 	and the reported amounts of expenses during the reported period. 	The estimates involve judgments with respect to, among other 	things, various future factors with are difficult to predict and 	are beyond the control of the Company. With regards to the fair 	values below, actual amounts could differ from these estimates. 	The following disclosure of the estimated fair value of financial 	instruments is made in accordance with FASB Statement No. 107, 	"Disclosure about Fair Value of Financial Instruments." Whenever 	possible, the estimated fair value amounts have been determined 	using quoted market information as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, 	along with other valuation methodologies which are summarized below. 	Below is a summary of significant methodologies used in estimating 	fair value amounts and a schedule of fair values at December 31, 1996 	and 1995. 	The carrying amounts reported for Interest Receivable, Interest 	Payable - Grantor Trust Certificates, and Servicer Fees Payable 	approximate fair values due to the short term maturity of these 	instruments. 15 	Note Receivable 	Fair value is estimated by discounting the future cash flows 	using the current rates at which similar loans would be made to 	borrowers with similar credit ratings and for the same remaining 	maturities. 	Rural Electric Cooperative Grantor Trust Certificates 	The fair value of the Certificate is estimated using quoted market 	prices for similar notes over the same remaining maturities. 	The carrying and estimated fair values of the Trust's financial 	instruments as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, are as follows: 					 1996 1995 				 Carrying Fair Carrying Fair 				 Value Value Value Value Assets: Interest Receivable 1,191,767 1,191,767 1,191,767 1,191,767 Note Receivable 152,895,000 203,695,422 152,895,000 217,016,169 Liabilities: Interest Payable - Grantor Trust Certificates 1,159,326 1,159,326 1,159,326 1,159,326 Servicer Fees Payable 32,441 32,441 32,441 32,441 Rural Electric Cooperative Grantor Trust Certificates 152,895,000 204,856,226 152,895,000 218,567,765 		 16 	 RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE GRANTOR TRUST (DESERET) 1988 D-2 			 Exhibit Index Exhibit Number Description of Exhibit 4.1 Form of Trust Agreement, including the form of Rural Electric Cooperative 		Grantor Trust Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Registration 		Statement on Form S-1 [No. 33-14843]). 10.1 Loan Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registration Statement on 		Form S-1 [No. 33-14843]). 10.2 Loan Guarantee and Servicing Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to 		Registration Statement on Form S-1 [No. 33-14843]).