The LDS Church's new Conference Center in Salt Lake will be used primarily as a gathering place for religious meetings. But it will also serve as a way for the Church to reach out to people of other faiths.
In part two of her Conversation with President Gordon B. Hinckley, religion specialist Carole Mikita talks with him about the importance of the relationship between Mormons and non-Mormons.
The building of the new center has not always been smooth sailing for the LDS Church. President Hinckley told me it's time to put all of that aside and let the community know "all are welcome here."
The new Conference Center was designed specifically not to overshadow but to compliment the Salt Lake Temple. Facing on the walls is the same granite that was used to build the temple. It came from Little Cottonwood Canyon, but this time there were residents who complained that excavating the stone was noisy, dusty and dangerous for them. President Hinckley says he's sorry.
LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley: "THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE FRICTION AND A LITTLE TROUBLE. TO ANYBODY WHO'S BEEN DISCOMMODED, WE GIVE OUR APOLOGY. BUT WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT IT'S WORKED OUT THE WAY IT HAS AND WE HOPE THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN INJURED IN THE RESULT."
And there were also the neighbors to consider. President Hinckley says some living near the new center let church leaders know they would be skeptical of the view.
"WHEN WE FIRST ANNOUNCED THIS BUILDING, IT WAS A MATTER OF GREAT CONCERN TO THEM. THEY SAID TO THEMSELVES, 'WHAT, ANOTHER UGLY ROOF THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT?!' THIS AS IT HAS BEEN DESIGNED AND BUILT, WILL BE A THING OF BEAUTY. THERE WILL BE A VARITABLE FOREST HERE AND RUNNING WATER AND BENCHES AND IT WILL BE A PLACE OF RETREAT, A PLACE TO WHICH PEOPLE CAN COME AND SIT AND MEDITATE AND THINK OF THE SPIRITUAL AND GOOD THINGS OF LIFE."
Hinckley is keenly aware that the church is frequently the source of controversy in Utah, over a variety of public issues like same-sex marriage, or the city's sale of a portion of Main Street to the Church.
He is concerned that those issues breed hostility, and he's concerned about negative thoughts some church members have about people of other faiths.
"I REGRET ANY ANOMOSITY PERCEIVED OR REAL THAT MIGHT OCCUR. I DON'T LIKE IT, I DON'T THINK IT'S NEEDED. I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY AND I DON'T THINK IT'S WARRANTED."
In his conference talks, President Hinckley has often encouraged Latter-day Saints to reach out to people of different faiths. This conference center, he says, will be a place for civic groups, service groups and church organizations to hold their meetings and have entertainment.
"WE HOPE THAT IT WILL SERVE A GREAT COMMUNITY PURPOSE, AS WELL... AND THAT PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THIS AREA, MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH AND NON- MEMBERS WILL FEEL WELCOME TO COME THERE, ENTER IT AND LOOK UPON IT AND FEEL OF THE SPIRIT THERE AND ENJOY IT."
President Hinckley says the new Conference Center will open April 1st but it will not be finished until the fall and will not be dedicated until October of 2000. He would also like to open it to public tours.
