To Make it a Beacon City, do the Things that Will Make it a Beacon City

  Do we look at scripture and suggest that Utah might become a place where all nations will come? I wonder, if we were to want to help bring this to pass, what would we do to bring the world to the Salt Lake Valley?
  That passage in Isaiah, where it says that in the last days, "the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains," does it not end with, "and all nations shall flow unto it"?
  I don't know that it is doctrine -- this belief that Isaiah 2:2-3 is speaking of the Salt Lake Valley -- but, it is certainly a common belief among the people, whether official doctrine or not.
  In our modern world, much of the travel -- when you are going from one nation to another -- is by airplane. So, if you are to have all nations flowing unto you, many of them are likely to be arriving by plane.
  If you were to want all nations to flow unto you, then build the things that bring the air passengers, do the things that will cause all the world to fly into Salt Lake City International Airport.
  Maybe they will come naturally. Maybe they will come simply because the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is here, simply coming to see it, to learn its ways.
  But, I see no wrong with planning. I see no wrong in laying plans to make this valley the world's beacon city. Planning is a plus. Sometimes, goals aren't achieved unless you make the plans that get you there and do the leg work that allows your goals to be achieved.
    So, the world's visitors largely travel by airplane in these latter days? And, surrounding our airport we have a vast stretch of undeveloped land? In all the time since Brigham Young arrived here, the land to the west has gone undeveloped. Such a happenstance; Such a fortune. Has ever a city thought to place the things that bring visitors right next its airport? Convenience, they call it. Location, location, location.
   Decide who you want to attract, and built the things they will come for. Tourism? Surely, surely so. All of the world's visitors are tourists, of sorts. But, sort them out. Just as Las Vegas attracts one set of tourists and Branson a little different set, set your sights on who you want.
  Maybe you just want to attract them, and then let them hear your message once they arrive. If so, make the Salt Lake Valley the home of sporting tournaments, hobby festivals, and conventions. Have the facilities necessary, and go after the gatherings of bird-watchers, chess players, fiddle players and all else. Invite associations to have their conventions here, and create your own events. No reason Salt Lake City needs to wait for the United State Chess Federation to bring a tournament here. It can set up its own chess tournaments.
   And, quilting gatherings, and horseshoe tournaments and model train confabs.
   The scripture says the latter-day location will be "exalted above the hills." Why not seek to make this area a place the world comes for commerce, and government, and education?
   One possible idea is to make this a place where issues are discussed. Bring in authorities and experts and politicians and scientists to discuss the world's issues and needs. Bring in, as well, the common people for similar discussions and studies. Make it so convenient to come and participate that all the world comes. Have it so convenient that they can fly in one day, and take a walk or a shuttle to a symposium just to the west of the airport -- and then fly out that very same day. No taxi or hotel required. The price of your airfare is the price of your visit.
   Say a news story breaks -- as it did this past week -- suggesting that one of the most effective ways of fighting greenhouse carbons is to plant trees in every spot worldwide that you can. Bring in the experts who are suggesting this. Invite a few Congress members. Invite other experts. Invite in those who do not believe in climate change. Have them all sit down and discuss the proposal. Have a large auditorium (separated from the stage by bullet-proof glass to protect the participants) where public from around the world can come in and listen and perhaps even offer input.
   Utah can become a place where governing matters are weighed. It can become a beacon city in so many ways. But, becoming a city such as I've described is not likely to happen unless you plan it to happen.