Conference brings influx of travelers to Salt Lake City

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    By Erin Kingrey

    People traveling to Salt Lake City for the general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints often do more than just attend a conference session or two.

    Salt Lake City offers various options for people between conference sessions.

    Kathryn Skene has been an usher for general conference since 1995.

    She says it is generally hard to get tickets to more than one session of conference. Nevertheless, many people that make the trek to Salt Lake City choose to stay on Temple Square for the entire day.

    Between sessions, most people either go to lunch or bring their lunches with them to eat on the grounds, she said.

    When conference resumes, people without tickets typically attend the session in one of the other church buildings on Temple Square, she said.

    Skene said that people just don”t want to leave Temple Square.

    Throughout the time she serves as an usher, Skene said she looks forward to the time between sessions. Although she must stay at her post, she said it is a great opportunity to feel the Spirit and talk to visitors.

    Some people save their money for years to be able to afford a trip to Utah for just one session of general conference, she said.

    She said it is a special experience to listen to their stories between the conference sessions.

    “It helps me realize what we have here and how grateful we should be. We are so blessed to have a living prophet,” Skene said.

    The Family History Library for the Church of Jesus Christ on Temple Square also notes an influx of visitors between conference sessions and throughout general conference weekend.

    Tim Bingaman, a research specialist who works in library public affairs department, said there is a definite influx of visitors each year during conference weekend, compared to other times of the year.

    Although the library does not make any special accommodations for the extra visitors, Bingaman said the library is always prepared for high numbers.

    He said it could comfortably accommodate up to 2,300 visitors a day.

    Local businesses close to Temple Square do make preparations for the weekend and time between general conference sessions.

    George Ray, the operations manager for the McDonald”s at Crossroads Mall, said they are gearing up for business between sessions.

    Ray said there is typically a significant increase in business between morning and afternoon sessions of general conference.

    To serve hungry patrons, he said the Crossroad”s McDonald”s prepares for conference by increasing both staffing and food product availability.

    Ty Sarratt, a manager at Frontier Pies on North Temple in Salt Lake City, said Frontier Pies receives much more business between general conference sessions than on other weekends.

    There is a significant ramp up to meet customer needs, Sarratt said.

    For people with family near Salt Lake City, the situation may be different.

    Hilary Farris lives in Provo, but goes to her sister”s house in Salt Lake City every conference weekend.

    There, she watches all of the sessions of general conference with members of her family, she said.

    Between sessions she said she typically goes grocery shopping or takes a nap.

    Although she chooses not to attend conference on Temple Square, Farris said she enjoys watching conference on TV and being with her family.

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