What would the proprietor of the George Q. Cannon & Sons bookstore, opened in 1866 and the forerunner of Deseret Book Company, think of the new downtown Salt Lake City flagship Deseret Book Store?
"I've thought more than once I hope he's pleased with what we're doing with his vision," said Sheri Dew, president and CEO of Deseret Book, of the man who started it all at a location near the new store.
President Cannon, who served as a counselor to four Church presidents, would likely be very pleased with the new store at 45 W. South Temple, directly across South Temple Street from Temple Square's south gate. The 14,000-square-foot establishment is a U-shaped shopping sensation opened just in time for April general conference. It wraps around the condominium lobby on the ground floor of the Richards Court East building, which is a residential part of the City Creek development beginning to blossom downtown.
The store's grand opening coming on conference weekend was a natural time for book signings between sessions and a "Ladies Night" celebration including book signings and other activities during general priesthood meeting Saturday from 6-8 p.m. Food for sale off the grill in the plaza outside the west entrance to the store all day Saturday is a tasty addition to grand-opening planning.
When it comes down to it, though, Sister Dew — during a Church News interview about the new store — said, "To appreciate what we've done and why we've done it, it's important to understand where we've come from."
She then talked about President Cannon's insight in starting what has become the largest commercial publisher and seller of LDS books in the world.
"The Church was only 36 years old when [President Cannon] sensed a need to provide literature that the saints weren't getting anywhere else," she said. "He sensed the need to provide literature that would reinforce the values and the beliefs and the understanding of the saints here in the [Salt Lake Valley]. So he founded George Q. Cannon and Sons."
She continued, "Since those very early days, Deseret Book has been woven into the fabric of the history of the Church."
She cited some of the classic books Deseret Book has published such as History of the Church by the Prophet Joseph Smith, A Marvelous Work and a Wonder by Elder LeGrand Richards, the founder President Cannon's own Gospel Truth, and Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage. She noted that Elder Talmage was Deseret Book's first chairman of the board.
"We're the only publisher on the planet that has published the writings of every president of the Church and published a biography of every president of the Church," Sister Dew said.
She pointed out that Deseret Book was founded long before such well-known publishing companies as Random House, Doubleday and McGraw-Hill, and has been a retail book outlet much longer than Borders, Waldenbooks and Barnes and Noble.
"And why is this the case?" she asked. She answered, "Part of the reason is because of the mission and purpose of this company. The mission and the purpose is to be a resource to members of the Church. It is to support members of the Church as they try to live the gospel. That's what we've been trying to do now for 144 years. You'll see that our new tag line is 'Bringing values home since 1866.' We've been trying to allow believing members of the Church to take things into their homes that would reinforce what they believe and what they know and what they value."
Of the flagship store, Sister Dew said, "The hope is that when you come to the store you not only find products there that are of interest to you and that would be reinforcing in some way to you or your children or your family or whatever, but also that would reinforce you as you go around the store and see artifacts from our Church history, see displays that help you reflect on the fact that we're led by a prophet and we've always been led by prophets in this dispensation. You'll see displays and other kinds of things that just reinforce what we really care about."
To make that happen, Sister Dew said, the store has been designed to give moments of discovery and some "Aha!" moments. Those could be discovery points where something can be learned such as how many languages the Book of Mormon has been translated into as well as the first language into which it was translated after the original English version was printed.
When the flagship store was unveiled to the public on Thursday, March 25, it showed itself to be different from its 37 sister stores in many ways.
One is the large window on the northwest corner overlooking Temple Square. To make use of the prime display area, a tribute was set up to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's 100 years of recording. It features an impressive replica of the Salt Lake Tabernacle organ pipes, the choir's gold and platinum records, historical photos, and a life-size mannequin replica of the announcer standing on a stepladder above the Tabernacle pulpit to narrate into a microphone the choir's first radio broadcast. The ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the opening of the store was done by choir director Mack Wilberg and choir general manager Scott Barrick in front of the display.
There are other features that separate the flagship store from other Deseret Book Stores.
One that Sister Dew is particularly pleased with is an area to display Deseret Book's limited-edition leather-bound classic books. "We've never really been able to feature our limited edition leather-bounds," she said. Now they are displayed on elegant bookcases just inside the South Temple entrance.
Among other features and services are custom scripture rebinding, an old-fashioned Sweet Treat Emporium and a fine art gallery with custom framing available.
Within the store is a Church Distribution Services Center where sacred clothing is available. It is behind glass doors to maintain a peaceful atmosphere.
Sister Dew said another feature is underground parking, accessible from South Temple just west of Utah Woolen Mills, where people can leave their cars and exit right into the Deseret Book Store.
Reflecting back again on President Cannon's vision in opening the predecessor to Deseret Book, Sister Dew said, "We're trying to do the same thing he was trying to do and that is deliver in a whole lot of different formats things to the members of the Church that will reinforce them as they live the gospel. We're not the source; the Church is the source. We're just a resource, but grateful to be one."
The store is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTEnJ%2BuqpOdu6bD0meaqKVfZ31yfI5tZmxnYmh%2Fc4SUamxopJGqu6S0yKeeZpldm7mis9KhoKlllJrApr7ErWSbp5%2BgerC8xKeqZpldo7K4edKtpqudXZ67br%2FApatmpJGgsm6vyK2w