Hosts aim to 'open doors and warm hearts'
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Whether they're marveling over the Conference Center's expansive assembly hall or taking in the panoramic view from the Church Office Building's 26th-floor observation decks, visitors to some of the Church buildings in Salt Lake City have a host at their side to show them around, answer their questions and welcome them.
That is the mission of Building Hosting Church-service missionaries.
"Often, hosts and hostesses are the first contact visitors have had with a member of the Church," said Sister Else Visick, one of the program's assistant directors.
Because of that, the hosts and hostesses must at all times make a positive first impression as representatives of the Church.
"We have the same goal and purpose in all of our buildings, as President Kimball said, 'to open doors and warm hearts,' " said program director Sister Carol Crist who, along with her assistants, is also a Church-service missionary. "We hope visitors have a positive experience."
Sister Shirlene Maughan, who serves with her husband, Rex, in the hosting program, said she likes to visualize the visitors she encounters going home and, when the missionaries come to their door, greeting them warmly because of the way they were cared for as visitors in Church buildings.
Hosts commute from throughout Utah and from Idaho, Sister Crist said.
A lot are people who are retired, but some are still employed full time. She noted that one sister working in the Church Office Building is 98 years old and hopes to keep serving until she is 100.
"It's a great place to work," said Brother Maughan who, with his wife, supervises a shift in the Conference Center. Brother and Sister Maughan have been fulfilling their current mission for about two years and said they have formed very close friendships with others on their shift, and also feel that they have made new friends with guests they take on tour.
While hosts answer visitors' questions about the Church, they are not required to teach missionary lessons. If visitors show a considerable interest in receiving information about the Church, they can be referred to the full-time missionaries on Temple Square.
Sister Crist traced the history of the building hosting program from its beginning in 1965 when President David O. McKay called Sister Irene Staples as official Church hostess. More hostesses were added in 1971 as the Church Office Building opened. When the Joseph Smith Memorial Building — converted from the Hotel Utah — opened in 1993, men were added to the hosting program. That same year, hosting began in the Relief Society Building. The Conference Center became the fourth building in the program in January 2001.
"We think of ourselves as friendship ambassadors," said Sister Crist, who pointed out that even though hosts have a tremendous responsibility, anyone with a desire to serve and who meets the requirements can seek a calling. She said there are approximately 1,300 service missionaries in the hosting program now, but there are many more openings available.
Church service missionaries in the Building Hosting program serve part-time for a term of three years, committing to fill at least one 4-hour shift each week. Shifts are from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 1-5 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. Hosts are available in the Conference Center seven days a week, in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building every day except Sunday, and in the Church Office Building and Relief Society Building weekdays. Hosts are also needed in the Church Office Building on Saturdays during the summer.
Building Hosting applicants must be age 18 or older and can apply individually or as married couples.
