St. George Visitors’ Center Dedicated

The new visitors’ center on the St. George Temple grounds in St. George, Utah, offers an ideal climate to spread the gospel and strengthen the Saints, said Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve during dedication ceremonies.

The new visitors’ center, located on the southeast corner of the temple block, was dedicated 30 October 1993 by Elder Wirthlin, who is also a member of the missionary executive committee. Among those who attended the ceremonies were Elders Malcolm S. Jeppsen and Albert Choules of the Seventy, members of the Utah South Area presidency. Government dignitaries also attended, including Utah Governor Mike Leavitt and his parents, Anne and Dixie Leavitt. Brother Dixie Leavitt is the director of the new center.

Approximately fifteen hundred people attended the dedication, filling to overflowing the meetinghouse where the services were held.

Elder Wirthlin noted that “thousands from all corners of the earth will visit this magnificent edifice, which complements so beautifully the architectural grandeur of the temple itself. And they will leave with a most precious gift—that of an understanding of the Savior, Jesus Christ, and his divine mission.” Elder Wirthlin challenged all in the temple district to take full advantage of the center with its modern teaching devices to spread the gospel to their friends and neighbors who are moving into the rapidly growing area.

During the dedicatory prayer, Elder Wirthlin expressed appreciation for the stalwart, hard-working, faithful pioneers who sacrificed their lives to build the settlements in southern Utah.

The visitors’ center opened for one month prior to its dedication. Approximately twenty-five hundred people visited the building, including many tourists. These tours, combined with the impressive dedicatory services, filled those in attendance with an excitement about the potential for the center to lead people to the gospel.