Dixon said he and other officials plan to visit LDS leaders and hold an open house once they have set up shop.

Pastor Brian Hare-Diggs of First United Methodist Church downtown said his congregation is looking forward to volunteer and hosting opportunities the depot will provide.

"We're extremely committed to outreach — it's one of the hallmarks of our congregation," he said, noting one group just returned from Guatemala and another couple of members are in Pakistan, where the congregation built a sewing school for school girls to learn a trade.

"We believe you put your religion where your mouth is as a social gospel. Theology is pretty thin unless it's connected to what you do in your daily lives. All our pastors are extremely excited about it," he said, adding there are about 5,000 Methodists in Utah, with 22 churches scattered throughout the state.

E-mail: carrie@desnews.com