CEDAR CITY, Utah — Elder Spencer V. Jones of the Seventy rededicated the Cedar City Institute of Religion building across from the Southern Utah University campus at a service attended by students, faculty, guests and contractors June 8.

The building, originally dedicated in 1972 by Elder LeGrand Richards of the Quorum of the Twelve, has undergone major renovations, including the addition of more classroom space, an activity room, a student lounge, and audio/visual upgrades.

"I'm appreciative of such facilities," Elder Jones said during his remarks.

Elder Jones also encouraged students to "not get detoured from the path our Father in Heaven has laid out for us," and went on to discuss the importance of looking past earthly goals in order to "understand why earthly goals are set."

Comments were also made by Institute Director Daniel M. Jones, president of the Cedar City University 3rd Stake. He cited a parable told by Elder Boyd K. Packer in the April 2000 general conference about a merchant who owned a prized pearl, and had a beautiful jewel box crafted to display it. The merchant was saddened when people admired the box more than the pearl.

"The students are our pearls," President Jones said, reminding the congregation of the purpose of the building. He said there had been more than 45,000 students taught since the building was dedicated in 1972. The number of students continues to grow; last year enrollment at the Institute grew despite a decline in enrollment at the university.

Having President Jones and SUU president Steven Bennion present was also historically significant because of the contributions of two of their great-grandfathers.

In 1925, William R. Palmer, president of the Parowan Stake, began a seminary building project. Local members contributed more than $15,000 for the construction of the building and Thomas J. Jones was appointed chairman of the building project. His great- grandson is Daniel Jones. The seminary was to assist the students at the Branch Agricultural College, which had both college and high school students. When Andrew Anderson arrived to teach the high school students as principal of the new seminary under construction, he immediately saw the need for a separate class to teach the college students also attending the school. With no curriculum existing for such a course, he relied on an outline for an ethics course Steven Bennion's great-grandfather, Milton Bennion, had developed at the University of Utah. Milton Bennion was the first principal of the agricultural college.

The Oct. 9, 1925, Iron County Record described the course as "the first college Seminary class in the church school system." This pioneering class came even prior to the establishment of the first Institute of Religion in Moscow, Idaho, in 1926, according to Robert A. Cloward, Cedar City Institute faculty member.