Elder Bateman joined President Hinckley and park administrators in thanking Stanley and Mary Ellen Smoot, who were approached several months ago about funding a half-million-dollar completion of what will now be known as Smoot Hall at Brigham Young Academy. After considering the request for a short time, the Smoots agreed to not only put their resources behind the project but made suggestions for additional features.

The building now houses an innovative Family Search Center for family history enthusiasts on the lower floor, complete with new software that "interviews" visitors and — based on their responses — compiles individual short stories into a soft-cover bound book.

The main floor is comprised of a large meeting/lecture hall that will seat 250 to be used for a variety of events. A small theater will show a video tour of This Is the Place Heritage Park. Administrative offices for the park will be housed on the upper floor. Paul Williams, president and CEO of This Is the Place Foundation, was one of the principals to approach the Smoots for help in completing the building, the shell of which had already been constructed with funds generated by the BYU Women's Conference. Stanley Smoot is a great-great-grandson of Abraham O. Smoot, and his wife is a former general president of the LDS Relief Society.

The couple told those assembled Wednesday that the endeavor meant a great deal to them and their extended family, and they hope the new building will help draw additional visitors interested not only in Utah's pioneering history, but in their own family history as well. Music for the ceremony was provided by the Smoots' children and grandchildren.

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