'Special feeling' influences visitors
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In addition to serving as the venue for numerous conferences, concerts, stage plays and other special events, the Conference Center is a visitors attraction in and of itself. Reports of those hosting guided tours at the center during the past few months reflect memorable experiences enjoyed by those seeing the building for the first time.
Linda Rehart, a hostess at the center, took a Hindu family from India through the center. "They indicated at first that they didn't have much time, but once they saw the auditorium, they wanted to see everything," she reported. "The father, who has a Ph.D. in physics, made several positive comments about the auditorium regarding its size, beauty and design. As we viewed the artwork, they were appreciative of the quality and beauty."
As the group came past the "Alpine Meadow" on the roof of the center, the father asked Sister Rehart if the building is among the Wonders of the World. She said no. He mentioned that the Taj Mahal is one of the Wonders of the World.
"He mentioned [the center] and said it 'should be one of the Wonders of the World.' He said that the Taj Mahal was only about a husband and a wife, but this building reaches to everyone and there is a special feeling here."
Host Richard Grider told of taking a group of five Koreans — thee young men, a mother and her teenage daughter — on a tour. They hadn't much time but wanted to see the auditorium.
"We arrived at [the front of the auditorium] and [the mother] looked at the back of the auditorium and then at the organ and pulpit," he said. "Then immediately she fell to her knees in a prayerful position with hands folded and head bowed. She did not move. I quietly told the young men and the teenage girl a few things about the auditorium and noticed that all the time the mother was still in that same position. For over 15 minutes she was in that position and did not move, except to wipe her eyes and nose.
"Finally I addressed her and said that their time was running out and if they had to go, we should move on. She arose and wiped her face and thanked me for taking the time to bring her and her family down to that area. . . . They all thanked me, shaking my hand, and then she shook it a second time and said, 'I have had a wonderful time in your house.' "
Hostess Janet Hildreth related the following:
"I took a gentleman on a tour of the building. He was very impressed with all the art work, but when we arrived in the Book of Mormon Gallery, he felt the Spirit so strong that I believe it scared him, and he asked me, 'What is happening? What are you doing?' And he was crying. I told him that I wasn't doing anything, but that the Holy Spirit was testifying to him of these things and that our spirits know more than we do.
"He was OK until we were coming down the elevator from the roof. He asked me why I do this job. And again I told him it was because of the joy and happiness the gospel brings and bore my testimony to him — and again he broke down."
Another hostess told of showing a painting in the alcove at the entrance to the Book of Mormon Gallery. It depicts "Mercy" as a young woman reaching out to a repentant sinner, while "Justice," with sword in hand, stands behind her. A passage of scripture, Alma 42:24-25 is quoted on a plaque.
The hostess said a beautiful young woman in the tour group began to quietly sob as she looked at the painting and listened to the hostess's explanation. She then asked the hostess, "Do you really believe that Jesus could forgive me my sins?"
"Yes," answered the hostess. "He can forgive you all your sins if you repent and come unto Him." Later, as they completed the tour and came outside the Conference Center, the woman asked if she could return to the building and see the painting. The hostess took her back to the painting and stood back as the young woman gazed upon the painting with tears in her eyes.
A hostess who has served in the Conference Center for several years told of wondering if she was really doing any good. Then, one day., she received a letter from her son who was serving a full-time mission. In the letter, he told of a woman who let the missionaries into her home because she had been to Salt Lake City and toured the Conference Center, which had impressed her deeply, not just because of the structure, but also because of the Spirit she felt there.
Another missionary couple serving two shifts a week at the Conference Center greeted a couple from Germany at the entrance door earlier this year. The missionaries didn't speak German, and the couple didn't speak English. As is typically done, sister missionaries from Temple Square were requested to translate, but no one was available due to German visitors there.
The couple missionaries invited the German couple to take a seat while they pondered how to proceed.
Just then, another couple from Germany walked through the doors who spoke excellent English and offered to translate. During the course of the tour as they translated, these German couples learned that they lived within five miles of each other in the Berlin area, which added to the spirit of the tour.
Such joys and miracles are a normal way of life say missionaries serving at the Conference Center. — Elder Jerry Houck
