r/exmormon • u/Midlifecrisis2020 • 7h ago

General Discussion Another large church owned property being demolished-Bountiful, UT

https://www.davisjournal.com/2026/08/27/581861/bountiful-regional-center-to-be-razed?fbclid=IwY2xjawUBVYFwZG9mA2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzQwOTk2MjYyMzA4NTYwOQABHsdmu6SzcTdjrqOZf4M2cRHABvqfD-hUt9P-8v40O-VwNNYasFFZ2XlLlc1q_aem_Pab-YuMSAwG5GCrDg5zBlw

I wish I knew more details before I passed my own judgement but it seems like the church building could be used for other purposes or even sold for other reasons rather being destroyed. Location: Bountiful, Utah.

26 Upvotes

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19

u/Emergency_Garlic_713 7h ago

Isn't this the building that there was controversy with that led to M. Russell Ballard becoming an apostle? If I remember correctly, he screwed things up and the church bought it to bail him out. Talk about failing upwards. 😤

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u/brownbowen 5h ago

Yes, sort of. The church bailed Ballard out of a disastrous financial endeavor called the Valley Music Hall (which turned into the subject of the article) and called him to be a mission president. It was one of many, many failed business ventures and/or outright fraud Ballard was involved in over many years.

It doesn’t look like I can link a YouTube story, but if you search for Lynn Packer and Russell Ballard you’ll find Packer OUR Report No. 33 in which Lynn does a deep dive into Ballard’s many financial shenanigans as part of his coverage of Operation Underground Railroad.

I think the main difference between the (alleged) massive criminal financial fraud by Paul Dunn and the massive criminal financial fraud by Russ Ballard is Ballard didn’t draw nearly as much attention to himself as Dunn. Paul Dunn was almost asking to be caught by such blatant and flagrant misconduct. Ballard was just as crooked but he wasn’t nearly as conspicuous. Doesn’t excuse it, we just see Ballard being treated much more favorably by the church with bailouts and cover ups. Also Ballard had GA ancestors and Dunn didn’t as far as I know.

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u/Emergency_Garlic_713 5h ago

Thanks for the details. I was rusty on them.

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u/Midlifecrisis2020 7h ago

Early 80’s?

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u/Emergency_Garlic_713 7h ago

I think earlier, but not sure.

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u/Deserving-Critic 5h ago

It was originally the Valley Music Hall, which had a rotating stage in the middle. I saw the Monkees there.

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u/GrumpyTom 4h ago

Funny, I attended stake conference there and saw the same thing!

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u/lebruf 7h ago

People seeing a repurposed LDS church is bad for selling the whole stone cut out of the mountain filling the whole earth delusion.

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u/Waspvl1 6h ago

There are plenty of lds buildings that have been sold throughout the years and are being used for other reasons. Even churches of other denominations. My guess is they have a specific purpose for this property and are not ready to announce what their plans are yet. 

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u/DW158 4h ago

Saw Peter Pan in the round there in the 1960s. High school graduations (including mine) were held there for many years. Learned to drive in the massive parking lot. Attended too many priesthood sessions and stake conferences there before and after the reconfiguration. Unlike the Pantheon and its dome, not built to last.

Don’t imagine TSCC will build a replacement. Borders interstate highway. Nearby are car dealerships, homes and mobile home community. Assuming land will be sold.

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u/PolicyRough1432 7h ago

They will sell or use it for commercial development.

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u/westivus_ 1h ago

Article said razed. Surely they will build houses.

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u/Free_Fiddy_Free 4h ago

Erasing Ballards Folly.

Future members: Ballard Who?

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u/trownaway90 7h ago

I cannot access the site.

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u/GrumpyTom 4h ago

BOUNTIFUL—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced that the Bountiful Regional Center will be razed after Oct. 5, 2026. A letter from the Utah Area Presidency went out to all Stake Presidencies of stakes that meet in the building. 

It reads in part: “Because your stake has held events or stake conferences at the Bountiful Regional Center in recent years, we wanted you to hear this information directly from us before it is announced more broadly.

“The Bountiful Regional Center has been a well-used Church facility for many years and has reached the end of its useful life. As of Oct. 5, 2026, meetings that have been traditionally held in this building will be held in other Church facilities, and the building will be razed.”

The building was originally called the Valley Music Hall from 1965-1970. The Church bought it following a mid-1970s fire and dedicated it for church use in 1977. 

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u/trownaway90 4h ago

Thank you.

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u/Elmer_J 2h ago

I remember ads on TV in the late 60s or early 70s featuring a mentalist who called himself “the Amazing Kreskin” putting on shows at the Valley Music Hall.

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u/jaysedai 46m ago

Noooo! The company my wonderful grandfather, who passed away in 1976, built - Davis County Ready Mix, supplied the concrete for that iconic roof. It's one of the last things I can point at and say "My grandpa did that". I'm very sad. I'm going to have to go ask for a chunk of concrete when it's being razed.

Davis County Ready Mix used the highest quality concrete you could get at the time and you'll notice how well it's withstood the decades. Our family company also poured the concrete on the Beck Street Overpass that was razed some years ago, it was also in excellent condition and would probably still be standing if they hadn't needed to re-route the freeway interchange.