"We had a great turnout, especially with all the snow," she said. "Spirits were high, people were enthusiastic. It was outstanding."

In Utah County, about 400 students participated in various service projects as part of Brigham Young University and Utah Valley State College's Community Service Day.

The event was well worth it, said UVSC student Trevor Howard, 23, student coordinator for the college's service council.

"It's tempting to sleep in when you don't have school," said Howard. "But it's great to be with people who all want to do service. It's a lot better than sleeping in."

Meanwhile, lawmakers heard from a sixth-grader whose dream is world peace and Bishop John C. Wester of the Salt Lake Catholic Diocese as they met for what could be the last time on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Voters will decide in November whether to move the session's start date up a week to honor the holiday.

King had the choice to do nothing, fight or find an alternative to the two options, and he chose peaceful resistance, Wester said.

"Greatness lies in the heart," Wester said. "He was a great leader because he allowed grace to guide him as he trusted in divine providence. ... He had courage of heart and was willing to take risk, leading people on a path less traveled."

Speaking at the Salt Lake Memorial Luncheon, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. said he hoped that in the days leading up to the November election, Utahns would take an opportunity to reflect on King's legacy, realizing "we all share a common humanity," and on coming together as neighbors in an increasingly diverse community.

"Our racial and ethnic makeup is going to change," Huntsman said. "As we have this debate, let's anticipate what the future is going to look like."

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com

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Contributing: Nicole Warburton, Amy K. Stewart