"Any institution that has served continuously since 1850 deserves a new building."So said LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley Wednesday morning at the dedication of the new nine-story, 90,000-square-foot Deseret News headquarters at 30 E. 100 South.
President Hinckley was joined by various dignitaries including President Thomas S. Monson and President James E. Faust, first and second counselors in the First Presidency; President Boyd K. Packer, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve; Gov. Mike Leavitt; Salt Lake Mayor Deedee Corradini; and Deseret News officers and directors.
President Hinckley noted that the Deseret News is almost 147 years old, the oldest continuously operating business in Utah.
"That is a thing of great significance," he said.
He warned, however, that the past and the present are not good enough. The Deseret News must continue to produce solid news, honest and courageous editorials and interesting features.
"Truth without favor must be its watchword," he said.
President Faust said the new headquarters is a visual reminder that the newspaper is here to stay.
"The building of this building makes a statement about the future of the Deseret News," he said.
President Monson offered remarks and the dedicatory prayer.
He said this was a special and emotional day for him. He came to work at the newspaper in May 1948, "49 years ago."
Before stepping down as the newspaper's chairman last year, President Monson had worked or served in a number of capacities, including 31 years as a board member and 19 years as board chairman.
President Monson remembered that in the late 1940s, as he attended the University of Utah, he was dating his future wife, Frances, who happened to work in the newspaper's advertising department.
On New Year's Eve 1947 the couple was at a party with friends when Frances, just before midnight, said she had to go home because she had to work the next day, New Year's Day.
"I said, `What company would make someone work' " on a national holiday? President Monson recalled.
"Well, it was the Deseret News," he said, smiling because the newspaper employees have to work every day to put out a paper.
President Monson recounted the first small edition of the newspaper published on June 15, 1850. There were only two classified ads. He read one: " `John C. Calhoon is dead.' That was it."
In dedicating the building, President Monson prayed the pioneer heritage and role of the paper in today's society will be remembered, the building will "stand forever" and that the Spirit will guide and direct all who work in it.
The building's design was carefully thought out, especially since it stands on a small piece of land, difficult to build on, according to project architect Kent Fairbanks. Although the building is full of amenities inside and out, perhaps its most distinctive feature is the glass-enclosed circular staircase which runs from the lobby to the top floor.
"We think that is a nice little touch," said Publisher Wm. James Mortimer.
The building has a strong backbone. Located as it is near a major geologic fault line, it contains more than 1 million pounds of fully welded frame steel.
"This building is the first to be constructed under a new city building code and is probably the most earthquake-proof building in the city," said Deseret News board chairman Glen Snarr.
Brandishing a shovel that he used to break ground for the new building on Nov. 14, 1995, Mortimer said he had high hopes that day that the pages of blueprints would actually become reality.
"My high hopes have been realized," he said.
The building cost $15 million to build and was paid for completely in cash out of Deseret News reserve profits.
The gleaming structure contrasts sharply with the first Deseret News building, a one-room adobe building on South Temple just east of Main Street. A contemporary visitor, Scipio Kenner (actually Mark Twain), described the original building as "almost as easy to get on top of as into."
"The contrast between our home then and this state-of-the-art building is great," Snarr said. "However, there are some elements of similarity. The first Deseret News proclaimed, as its motto, `Truth and Liberty.' From this new building, the Deseret News carries on that tradition."
Editor John Hughes echoed that sentiment, noting President Hinck-ley recently said the Deseret News is published "for the good of the community."
"Not everyone will agree that we fulfill these ideals with perfection every day," he said. "We look at the world as it is, and not through rose-tinted glasses. Sometimes those we write about are not pleased - I do hope the governor and mayor are smiling as I say this. But even when the issues we write about are tough ones, we try to write about human beings with fairness."
Corradini couldn't resist a reply.
"After all the coverage I've received, I can't imagine why I'm here encouraging the growth of any media outlet," she joked.
Leavitt, who noted that he delivered the Deseret News as a boy in Cedar City, said the building is a great tool and that the Deseret News must match the tools with a corresponding vision.
No problem there, President Hinckley said.
"Wonderful is (the Deseret News') history," he said. "More wonderful is its future. . . . God bless the Deseret News."