July 16th, 2025, 6:11pm MDT
In the 1960s, the Latter-day Saints’ Church of Jesus Christ operations spanned 20 to 30 buildings in Salt Lake City. This changed when the church’s office building was dedicated on July 24, 1975, and as former Bishop H. David Burton pointed out, it brought “synergy, efficiency, unity” among the general authorities.
For 50 years, the church’s office building has served as an important administrative hub for the Latter-day Saint Church of Jesus Christ, a constant “symbol of the Church headquarters” and “symbol of gifts” that witnessed the global expansion of the church and numerous historical events.
“Never forget what we owe.”
Construction of the church office building began in October 1961 in a parking lot and ended 10 years later. George Cannon Young designed the building. The building costs $31.4 million (about $241 million today). In its first design in 1961, the building nodded to Joseph Smith’s life and turned its 38th floor, commemorating 38 years of life.
Due to mechanical restraints and expected operations within the building moving elsewhere, the building has been reduced to 28th floor, standing at 420 feet (128 meters). At the time of its dedication, the building was the tallest in Utah.
The church was able to realize its dream of Joseph Smith’s Memorial Building in 1993, thanks to the dedication of the Joseph Smith Memorial Museum.
The church’s office building was dedicated in 1975, but opened in 1972 when all general authorities moved.
“We, living in such extravagances, should never forget what we do to what we owe (the pioneers),” President Spencer W. Kimball said with a dedication dedicated to the 128th anniversary of the pioneers settled in Utah.
President Kimball announced that the building represents the church’s international growth. President Marion G. Romney, the second counselor for the first presidency, called it a “giving house” for the services provided by all church departments within the building.
Tornado and Luncheon
The church has grown over the past 50 years, and the church’s office buildings have witnessed and held many important events that mean this.
During the 1999 Salt Lake City F2 Tornado strike, only some revolving windows were blown away, but the Delta Center had damaged the roof and other downtown buildings were severely damaged.
The country then prepared for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Salt Lake City hosted an event and decorated much of Downtown for the festival. Temple Square has turned on all the lights that you normally book at Christmas time, and the church’s office building was home to a senior figure skater and a flag from Utah Mackenzie Baltz along with other Skailis in the city.
Over the past 50 years, the church office building has hosted numerous events, including official directorate portraits, past press conferences that unveil the location of the new temple, and introductions to new sustainable senior leaders and various seminars and social circles. Among the more prominent recent events were the Relief Society Honorary Society luncheon and the acceptance ceremony between the church of quotes and New York state civil servants celebrating the 200th anniversary of Joseph Smith’s first vision.
“Friends to All Countries”
The art surrounding the church’s office buildings has evolved with the church.
A huge mural hangs inside the lobby. The work of artist Harry Anderson, “thus teaching all nations,” depicts the Savior giving the Apostle a great committee. Elsewhere, statues of two pioneer parents who bury the children stand to remind the public that they have made sacrifices.
When the church’s office building first opened, President Kimball turned on the building’s signature fountain. Andy Kirby, director of the church’s historic temple renovation, said, “The recent renovation of the temple square has significantly changed the square to “open access and views to the temple and make it more appealing to make it welcoming for people here.”
In 2024, the Plaza reopened with more than 91 flags from countries around the world. This is similar to the country flag at the Provo Missionary Training Center, as the church’s office building was designed to first house missionaries on the first four floors.
The Plaza now represents the Church’s commitment to being friends in all nations, and the belief that the Gospel one day “filled the whole earth” (Daniel 2:35). ”
“Moving around the world”
The church’s office building is no longer the tallest building in Utah, but it exists as a recognizable landmark for the church.
“This was where the church traveled the world,” Bishop Burton said. “The building is very visible and very iconic, and this is what the church’s international headquarters is.”
