Given all the demolishing, renovating and perpetual jackhammering happening in downtown Salt Lake City these days, you'd half-expect Deseret Book president Sheri Dew to be conducting business in an OSHA-approved orange hard hat.

Photo by Jeffrey D. Allred/Deseret Morning News

Now at a streetside location near ZCMI mall, Deseret Book has roots to 1866 as the George Q. Cannon and Sons Bookstore. It was purchased by the Church in 1900 to be the Deseret News Book Store. The Sunday School Union Bookstore began separately in 1909. Deseret Book was formed in 1919 with the merger of the two stores.

But rumblings aside, things for Deseret Book and Sister Dew are, well, business as usual — with a few twists. You can still find that new book or CD you're looking for at Deseret Book's downtown location — just not at its familiar ZCMI Center locale. Now customers can visit the company's flagship store in an easy-to-locate space just kitty-corner to Temple Square at 20 E. South Temple, just a few paces west of its previous location.

Meanwhile, Sister Dew and her staff continue their quest to provide quality, values-based media — the kind of stuff, she said, you could buy for your nieces and nephews — in a competitive, evolving market.

First, the store move. The ongoing Downtown Rising project necessitated a change for Deseret Book's popular downtown store. Combining equal parts planning and hustle, the company was able to make the transition to its new location in just two days. "We were laying carpet and painting at the same time," said Sister Dew, smiling.

The new store offers greater visibility and accessibility for folks visiting Temple Square. It's a bit smaller, but the store's inventory hasn't diminished, said Deseret Book Vice President D. Mark Clegg.

Deseret Book has long been a favorite element of the general conference experience for Utah residents and visitors, alike. That won't change. As in the past, Deseret Book will host several events in conjunction with the October general conference. The "author signings" events will take place at the nearby Joseph Smith Memorial building, while the company's popular "Ladies Night" will be hosted at the downtown store on Oct. 6 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Change is synonymous with the publishing and retail business. Deseret Book operates dozens of retail stores throughout the western United States. But a visit to a Deseret Book retail store still offers a few moments of peace from a hectic shopping day. As a Church-owned company, Deseret Book feels a deep commitment to provide its customers with an uplifting, wholesome environment with each store visit.

"There is an influence and spirit that flows throughout the organization that hopefully translates into a customer feeling something different.... be it at a retail store in, say, Phoenix or in Denver," Brother Clegg said.

The company's reach is global thanks to its online store, deseretbook.com. Sister Dew said the company's commitment to its varied customers is universal: "We're trying to provide an alternative to the wide range of trash — and I'm going to use that word — that's available everywhere you look in the world today."

Indeed, Sister Dew said Deseret Book develops and selects inventory designed to build faith and testimony, "or just give you a clean, entertaining experience, as opposed to what you might find somewhere else. That's why we exist."

The company asks three challenging questions when selecting a book or other products. First, is it appropriate for Deseret Book customers and does it reinforce those customers' beliefs and lifestyle? Second, is the product good? And third, will it sell?

Sister Dew admits that sometimes an item slips through that might offend some — a by-product of sheer volume. Plus, what offends one customer may not offend another. Customers have the responsibility to decide what works and doesn't work for them.

"But at least (they) know they are in an environment where there has been an enormous effort expended to provide products that will fit with your values," she said.

Regular visitors know Deseret Book offers doctrinal books and the writings of many General Authorities, along with selections that are values-based, but not overtly LDS. Such items, said Sister Dew, can not only uplift and entertain — they also allow those who might not know much about the Church to "bump into truth."

Deseret Book is commercially diverse, managing several business units. Still, the company's anchor remains the written word. Sister Dew has heard the predictions that the humble book faces a grim future in an increasingly high-tech world. She's not buying it.

"I know everybody sings the blues about the book business, but it's just not our experience here. We'll have several things we publish this year that will sell in excess of 100,000 copies. We'll sell a lot of books this year."

Still, Sister Dew's optimism for Deseret Book's future goes beyond the staying power of books. There is "zero chance" that the company's market will decrease, she said. First, because the Church continues to grow. And second, Deseret Book and its uplifting inventory remain increasingly essential in a perilous world.

"The adversary has managed to pollute just about every single form of media in ways that I could have never, ever imagined," Sister Dew said. "But there are truth-loving, truth-seeking people everywhere who are looking for the truth but know not where to find it."

Deseret Book, she hopes, can play a role delivering such truth. "Our opportunities are only increasing."

E-mail to: jswensen@desnews.com