Comments about ‘Lines long as City Creek marks Day 1’

I see a whole bunch of kids in that picture. Shouldn't they be in school?

nice mall but I am having a hard time justifying the LDS church paying for this. I understand it wasn't tithing dollars used however it was money from the church and that money - it seems to me - could be and should be spent in ways that actually benefit the church and its world wide members.

"And he received them ... and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it ... and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt"

i think the church knows what they are doing. i love the ones that do the questioning. got a problem with a church being divinely led?

@ute alumni
"i love the ones that do the questioning. got a problem with a church being divinely led?"

It's difficult to answer that question seeing as I don't believe the church to be divinely led. I see an entity that discloses that it has donated 700 million to humanitarian aid over the past 20 years which is wonderful but... that's half the cost of just this mall investment.

The church has done exactly what patriot mentioned - "benefit[ted] the church and its world wide members" They have repeatedly said that they would do what is necessary to keep the area near the temple from becoming a rat hole (my words, not theirs). This does benefit the membership worldwide I visited Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The entire area surrounding it was filled with hawkers, venders, food mess and unorganized insanity. What a difference to have peace and serenity near the temple and quality buildings across the street. And you can be certain that they have wisely invested the money and will recoup it at sometime. It's for sure that if the church every went public on the market (and of course, they never will, but...), they'd be the first ones I'd invest with. If the government had only a pinch of their financial planning ability, we wouldn't be in the mess we find ourselves experiencing now.

I'd bet kids are the local high school choirs being part of the opening ceremony. Good for them if that is the case.

@patriot @atl134

You have to admit there exists the possibility that the LDS church views this mall as an investment - you know, someplace they can put their money that will result in more money in the future. What if they could turn this $2 billion into $4 billion and therefore do even more good for humanity.

I'm guessing you haven't sold all your material goods and given them to the poor. You still have a computer and internet obviously. So why are you casting stones when you haven't done what you are asking the church do?

Patriot,

I see no evidence that the church is neglecting its mission or underserving its worldwide membership by building this tremendous project. Temples are being built all over the world, the mission training center in Provo is expanding with new buildings, welfare square is expanding, chapels are being built etc etc. So, I don't quite see your point. Beyond providing members with direct cash allowances what would benefit members more?

Very positive community involvement by the LDS Church. It is a great accomplishment that will benefit generations of Utahns. Divinely inspired? It's not for me to say, but from a secular perspective, it is very positive. There are those who cast stones at anything the church does and this seems to be little different.