New Bishops' Central Storehouse to be built in Utah
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For some, the perfect birthday is spent on the golf course or maybe at a nice restaurant surrounded by gifts, cake and candles.
Not Glen L. Rudd. The Church's so-called "Mr. Welfare" celebrated his "perfect" 92nd birthday with a commemorative shovel in his hand, turning soil to mark the beginning of construction of a new Utah Bishops' Central Storehouse on Salt Lake City's west side. It was, in his own words, "the best birthday ever."
A former Seventy and a storied Church welfare leader, Elder Rudd has witnessed the growth of Bishops' Central Storehouses since the first was built in 1939 on Welfare Square. That building was 80 feet wide and 140 feet long. The future Bishops' Central Storehouse will cover approximately 535,900 square feet and be built on a 36-acre site near 5400 West and 300 South. Church and welfare leaders gathered at the future site on May 18 — Elder Rudd's birthday — for the ceremonial soil turning and a dedicatory prayer to bless the site and the construction project.
Presiding Bishop H. David Burton presided at the event and offered the dedicatory prayer. He was joined by his first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, Bishop Richard C. Edgley, along with Sister Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president. Others in attendance included Elder Rudd's wife, Sister Marva S. Rudd, Welfare Services managing director Terry Oaks, and Brother Oaks' predecessor, Dennis Lifferth.
"We think we're going to have the best facility west of the Mississippi — and maybe east of the Mississippi," said Bishop Burton in his brief remarks.
He spoke of the history of the Bishops' Central Storehouse, adding that the new facility was being built to meet the needs of the 27,000 bishops serving around the world. The new facility will help the Church observe the Lord's second commandment to "love thy neighbor."
The new Bishops' Central Storehouse project has been in the works for many years and is made possible by the generosity of the Church members worldwide, he said. Even in times of economic challenges, faithful members are combining their resources through fast offerings and other forms of generosity, "to reach out and do what they need to do to share."
Bishop Burton then paid tribute to Elder Rudd, saluting his many decades of Church welfare service and leadership.
During the soil-turning ceremony, Elder Rudd was the first to drive a shovel into the soft dirt. He was followed by the other Church, welfare and construction representatives in attendance. "This is a happy day," said Sister Beck as she lifted a heaping shovel-load of soil.
After the ceremony, Elder Rudd reminisced on his almost lifelong connection to Church welfare and Bishops' Central Storehouses. He was thrilled to play a role in opening a new facility. "I'm delighted — this is a great honor."
Brother Oaks said the new facility will be beyond expectations. His thoughts also turned to the generosity of the members "who make things like this possible." He is certain the lives of faithful members will be blessed as they help build and stock the storehouse to assist those in need.
The future two-story Bishop's' Central Storehouse will consist of bulk and rack storage areas with approximately 63,000 square feet of freezer/cooler/cold dock. A 23,630-square-foot Deseret Transportation facility, a tire storage building and a fire pump house will also be included on the site. The site will also include fueling islands for Deseret Trucking.
The construction project is expected to be completed this year.
