5 Billion Dollar Shopping Mall and the Nauvoo House

I have heard enemies of the church, and they can be called such whether of the faith or otherwise if they fight against the Lords Prophets, say that the City Creek Center project is a waste of sacred funds. That it would be better spent helping the poor, the needy and so forth. Too often these attacks come from members within the faith. These short sighted attackers seem to forget the past. The purpose of the City Creek Center and the Nauvoo house are the same. “a house [place] where strangers may come from afar to lodge therein; therefore let it be a good house, worthy of all acceptation, that the weary traveler may find health and safety while he shall contemplate the word of the Lord; and the cornerstone I have appointed for Zion. This house shall be a healthful habitation if it be built unto my name…the governor which shall be appointed unto it shall not suffer any pollution to come upon it. It shall be holy or the Lord your God will not dwell therein.” (D&C 124 22-34) I could talk about all the jobs this has brought to Utah during harsh economic times, I could also talk about the projected return on investment that the mall is projected to generate, but all of that pales in comparison to the real reasons for the investment. This [Salt Lake City] is for all intents and purposes currently home base for the Lord’s church. More people visit Temple Square than any other spot in Utah annually by a large margin. In fact Temple Square is the 15^th most visited spot in all of the United States, with well over 5 million out of town visitors annually. With so much attention and so many visitors it is no wonder the church has taken upon itself to make a place where “strangers may come from afar” to “contemplate the word of the Lord” and to a place where they will be safe from the “pollution”. Indeed it will be a healthful habitation! So what are these pollutions that are to be kept out? No snarky t-shirts, no low-hanging jeans etc.In short the Mall is designed to be a "higher standard", a family experience, etc. A place where travelers can come and see the best that Salt Lake City has to offer, not a place where our dirty laundry hangs out. I hope the church is able to fully accomplish its design in creating a buffer zone between the outside world and the Temple. As visitors visit these locations the ambiance will hopefully be more fitting for the sacred experience they will be able to have if they are willing and ready for it. Just as the Nauvoo house was to provide a place for travelers to rest from the world, City Creek Center will offer the same respite. No cost is too high if it helps even one individual feel the spirit and be moved to repentance.