The morg is famous for building useless boxes of air but the conference center takes the cake for waste. How much is this thing even used? Only a cult swimming in ill gotten goods would waste qso much money on something that benefits so few. Do they let non morgs use it? I assume not since then it would be unclean.

So what is the percentage of the space used in a year? A few percent? I guess the morg thought building it meant that they have "arrived" but I only see a ridiculous waste. I wonder what the operating and maintenance costs are in a year?

It's used for the RS conference the week before GC

It is also used for other regional morg meetings and special musical performances, such as Christmas programs. That doesn't amount to that many days.

And it is something of a tourist attraction. Truly gigantic wastes of time and money tend to fascinate humans. Pyramids of Egypt, for example, or the Great Wall of China.


It's main purpose was to impress the heck out of journalists at the 2002 Winter Olympics. When the media showcased the great power and wealth of LDS Inc, symbolized by The Conference Center™, they would tremble in fear and awe, and the world would join "the Church" in droves.

Apparently the world didn't get the memo. So it was a $400 million PR Oops. I think the technical term is "nonperforming asset".

Only $400 mil? <scoff> That's chump change. Wait till they see how "nonperforming" an asset the Great and Spacious Mall is going to be.

There's frequent Mormon tabernacle choir and the symphony at temple square performances along with celebrations such as Christmas, Pioneer day, Prophet's Birthday etc.

Also some other organizations are able to rent it out as a giant meeting hall though I'm not sure how often that's done.

But it fulfills its purpose for every TBM wet dream of being in the same room as the prophet when he speaks. And that's tithing well spent.

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I still think it's a pity that with post 9/11 terrorism fears they closed off the roof top gardens to the public except when escorted on tours.

eldermalin Wrote:
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>
> But it fulfills its purpose for every TBM wet
> dream of being in the same room as the prophet
> when he speaks. And that's tithing well spent.
>

And that is why it is a cult.


So, the big box is a big empty box 90% or more of the time.

But since the performance needs to reasonably follow church standards, opportunities are limited.

I've taken the tour three times. Depending on the crowd, and the guide, one of the trips we were able to leisurely work our way through and ask any questions about the building (in between the sales pitches.) That same trip we got to wander around the rooftop for about an hour with only occasional glances our way from the tour guide.

However, the part that creeped me out was going through the halls of paintings of current and past church leaders. It reeked of self promotion -- probably like the building itself considering its limited functionality.

It's mockingly called "the great and spacious building" for reasons.

I saw this building when it was new and my mother was very proud of it as a reflection of the church. It made me think of the buildings of Hitler's architect, Albert Speer. He built massive, monumental structures to convey the message of the importance and world dominance of the regime. Needless to say, the conference center gives me the creeps.

My high school choir sang at the Conference Center once; that would have been about 10 years ago. It was a huge concert with a bunch of Utah schools and some international choirs. We also sang at the tabernacle on Temple Square a few times.

Honestly I think the same question could be asked of a lot of sports stadiums.