Make Salt Lake City the Place Where, 'All Nations Flow Unto It'

   I think of that prophecy in Isaiah 2:2-3, of how, "it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it."
  It is said, by those of the faith I belong to, that this speaks of Utah, of people coming here, flowing from all nations. If so, perhaps the prophecy is already adequately fulfilled, and needs no more fulfillment.  People come from around the world to see the Salt Lake Temple. Never a day goes by without a host of international visitors. And, what of the visitors attracted to Utah for skiing, and to see the five national parks and other sites.
   Utah is not a home to the world, but it is a destination, already.
   Regardless, I do have a thought as to what Utah could do to vastly increase the flow of people here, should it want, should it choose.
   Build a better welcome. Built an All-Nations-Flow-Unto-It Center. Give the world reason -- even more than there is now -- to flow unto Salt Lake. And, I mean Salt Lake. I mean the area around the airport, which is near the Great Salt Lake. Make that our welcome district, for if people are to come from all over the world just to see Salt Lake, they will arrive by flight. The land around the airport becomes your welcoming zone.
   Oh, here is just a little bit of what to do: Place your finest businesses here. Save land there for large companies that may someday choose to come. Once here, they will fly people in and out, and they will attract visitors, themselves. Place novelty businesses here, such as chocolate shops, that can be offered as tourist sites.
   Then, make this a place to come to learn, a place where people can come to get a one-day degree, so to speak, a place where you can come and learn how to lay cement, how to make candy, how to weave, or how to teach a dog to obey, or whatever. Change up what you offer according to how popular each one becomes. The One Day Degree University, or whatever you choose to call it, becomes the world's place to come to learn.
   Have a House of Discussion, where you can come and join in live discussions on whatever the topic, on issues such as abortion and guns, on interests such as Star Wars and Shakespeare. Have a room for each, and have a request board, where a person can say, "I'm in town to discuss Civil War history. Is there anyone who wishes to join me?" Have as many hosts for as many topics as you can keep on staff, so when someone does want to discuss Civil War history, you have someone there to do it.
   But, don't just stop at having discussion rooms. For many interests, you can become the world capital. Why not, then, become the world capital for as many hobbies as you can? I think of chess, and how there is no place where a person can come in, and play a grandmaster in a blindfolded game, or come an play on a challenge ladder against some of the best chess talent. Why not have such a place here? Why not make Salt Lake City the place you come to test your talents as a chess player? Why not make Salt Lake City the chess capital of the world? Why not become the capital for as many hobbies and interests as you can?
  I think Isaiah was speaking of something else, other than the things I have just mentioned, when he said, "And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths." Still, why not make Salt Lake City the place where people from all over come to learn, to learn almost anything?  While they are here to learn about their chosen interest, many will step next door to Temple Square and learn about God's ways.
   Most of all, make this a welcoming district. Have entertainment. Hail your entertainment. If you are home to some of the world's best organ players (whether they perform in the welcome zone or remain at Temple Square), advertise that. Advertise the daylights out of the wonderful talents, and then give as many as possible of those entertainers, stage right near the airport.
   Have a circus that never leaves town, a world-class museum, a destination-worthy amusement park. Keep the standards high, morally, though, for all you bring in. Bring in comedians, but not those with crude jokes. Bring in dancers, but not those with little clothing. Bring in musicians, but not those with songs having questionable lyrics.
   It may be a grand vision, of sorts, and you might wonder if we could pull it off. I say, try. One never succeeds without giving something a shot. If there is no such place in all the world, why not? And, why shouldn't it be here, in Salt Lake City? Why not make this home to the world, a place where the best of the world is all packed into one tourist and convention area?