Many years have passed since the Church membership was virtually contained inthe mountain valleys of the western United States. But, today's Latter-day Saints living near Church headquarters - a microcosm of the worldwide Church membership - still seem to fit the words of the hymn written by Felicia D. Hemans.

It is well-known that Zion's tent is expanding steadily throughout the world.The fact that the expansion continues even in the center stakes of Zion is underscored by the creation Nov. 1 of the Utah Central Area of the Church, which covers Salt Lake, Tooele, and Summit counties.Sheer size and growth of the Church on Utah's Wasatch Front, as well as the continuing decentralization of Church adminstration made it necessary to have three areas in Utah, members of area presidency agreed in a recent interview with the Church News.

The smallest geographically of the 18 areas of the Church, the new area also has the greatest density per square mile of Church members. There are 139 stakes in the Utah Central Area. Most of the members live in Salt Lake Valley. Others dwell amid the alpine beauty of Summit County to the east or the quiet, rural towns, farms and ranches of Tooele County.

The headquarters of the Church in the lofty, 28-story Church Office Building and the gothic Church Administration Building are located in the Utah Central Area. So are the Salt Lake and Jordan River temples, the Family History Library, the Museum of Church History and Art, LDS Business College, the Beehive and Lion houses, and other buildings and places rich in Church history.

Millions of people still equate Salt Lake City with the Church. Temple Square is by far the largest tourist attraction in the state, and the nationwide Tabernacle Choir broadcast, "Music and the Spoken Word," emanates from what its announcer calls "the crossroads of the West."

Microfilmed records of deceased persons from many parts of the world are stored at the Granite Mountain Records Vault hollowed out of a solid-rock slab in a mountain at Little Cottonwood Canyon east of Salt Lake Valley. The information from the records is distributed to family history centers around the world to be researched in an effort to provide saving ordinances for deceased persons in temples.

Elder J. Thomas Fyans of the First Quorum of the Seventy, president of the Utah North Area before the division, became president of the new area when it was created.

He unabashedly claims to have the "two best counselors in the area presidencies of the Church," Elders Albert Choules Jr. and Monte J. Brough, also of the First Quorum of the Seventy.

"We have the whole gamut of the Church here," he observed. "Perhaps every challenge in any place in the world

The mission of the Church - to proclaim the gospel, perfect the saints and redeem the dead - is an integral part of the area presidency's administration, Elder Fyans explained.

"Plans for implementing the misson of the Church are discussed in the weekly area presidency meeting for approval of the entire presidency. By agreement, each of us spotlights one of the dimensions of that mission of the Church in our area."

Elder Brough's administrative emphasis is on proclaiming the gospel and, hence, the Utah Salt Lake City Mission, with V. Dallas Merrell as president, is under his charge.

Elder Brough is currently touring the Utah Salt Lake City Mission, presiding over a series of six multi-regional meetings at which local Church leaders are trained in member missionary work.

The faithfulness of Church members in the area is demonstrated, Elder Brough said, by the attendance at the meetings. The first one, on Jan. 10, drew some 1,000 people.

"In the face of a terrible winter storm, we packed a stake center as full as we could fill it with people enthused and excited and very interested in spreading the gospel," Elder Brough commented.

With his emphasis on perfecting the saints, Elder Choules said he has met with regional representatives and discussed such objectives as increasing the number of Melchizedek Priesthood holders in each stake and increasing the faithfulness of those who already hold the Melchizedek Priesthood.

"We are trying to emphasize the programs we already have in the Church," he explained, "to increase the effectiveness of temple preparation seminars, to improve home teaching and intensify it toward those who need it the most."

The concept of using existing Church programs to improve the spirituality of the people also applies to efforts to redeem the dead, said Elder Fyans, whose administrative emphasis is on that dimension of the Church's mission in the area.

"One of the most exciting things from my perspective is what we call the family record extraction," he said.

Currently being implemented in stakes throughout Utah and elsewhere, the program involves members who, in their homes, read paper copies of microfilmed records, extracting information from the records. The information is then computerized for instantaneous access by anyone doing family history research.

Anyone can be involved, he pointed out, including the less-active, the unordained, the unendowed, the unsealed, the uninvolved, the youths, the homebound and singles.

"If we get this program out into all of the stakes of the area, there will be a great spiritual leavening occur," he said. "This is perfecting the saints and proclaiming the gospel as much as it is redeeming the dead."

Such a spiritual leavening could have a significant impact on the area, considering the predominance of Church members. Among the population of some 742,400, there are about 525,000 Latter-day Saints.

Many of them work with like-minded people in an effort to improve society, participating in programs to abate the spread of pornography and drug abuse, among other projects.

Elder Fyans participated Jan. 13 in a panel discussion of citizens who spoke against racism. Sponsored by the Democratic and Republican parties, the panel discussion was in observance of Human Rights Day Jan. 16. (See related story on page 13.)

The strength of the Church promotes a wholesome environment in the Utah Central Area. Utah law has long allowed for released-time instruction by religious denominations during the public school day. Thus, the Church maintains viable seminary programs at virtually every high school.

And there were 19 returned missionaries this year on the University of Utah football team.

With increasing frequency, Church leaders have encouraged members to extend friendship to their non-member neighbors, whether or not the neighbors show an interest in joining the Church. That was a topic of remarks by Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Council of the Twelve at October 1988 general conference, and by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Council of the Twelve at the April 1988 general conference. Because of the predominance of Church members, such counsel may apply more in the Utah Central Area than anywhere in the world.

Elder Fyans sets a good example in that regard. For several years, he has had a close relationship with a Jewish rabbi, a Catholic priest and a Protestant minister. The four religious leaders meet occasionally for lunch or interdenominational devotionals at which they strengthen and emphasize their common perspectives. (The Catholic clergyman good naturedly boasts to his colleagues in the ministry that he occasionally has lunch with the General Authorities, as Elder Fyans invites him to dine with him at the Church Administration Building. "They have the best food in town!" he reportedly says.)

The smallest area in the Church is also the location of the oldest existing stake. The Salt Lake Stake was organized Oct. 3, 1847, only a few weeks after the arrival of the pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley.

Pres. Alton W. Huffaker of the Laotian Branch in that stake speaks fondly of two missionaries serving from the branch, Sister Churiat Doungsoongnern in the California Fresno Mission, and Elder Kritichod Kumpin in the California Oakland Mission.

The two young missionaries, who both serve among the Laotian people, have had 20 conversions between them, Pres. Huffaker said.

"It thrills me to read their testimonies, " he added. "They were both baptized two years ago and I am thrilled that they they have grasped the meaning of the restored gospel so quickly."