Photo courtesy of Greater Zion Pioneer Park
You heard it here first: St. George, Utah, is about to boom. So get there before everybody else does. The largest town in Southwest Utah is slowly and comfortably embracing its growth at just the right pace. A quiet community of less than 90,000 people, St. George is best known for its proximity to the great outdoors, especially Zion National Park, but it s turning into a worthwhile destination in its own right.
The story of St. George is much like other Utah cities. It was founded as a Mormon settlement, but eventually developed its own identity. While other parts of the state see snow-capped mountains throughout the year, St. George has a warm, desert climate that along with a history of cotton production earned the nickname Utah s Dixie. The tag is a source of local pride, but has obvious complications, reflected in movements currently underway to rename the Dixie Convention Center and Dixie State University.
RootsTech Family Discovery Day has looked very similar for years thousands of eyes on the massive stage at the Salt Palace, a beloved Church leader or leaders sharing an inspiring message, and a broadcast enabling those not in attendance physically to experience a taste of connection.
But in 2021, Family Discovery Day looked different. The in-person audience for Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s and Sister Patricia Holland’s remarks was small. But the members of that audience included those who are most important to the Hollands their own children.
The backdrop of Family Discovery Day is southern Utah, and through video, photographs, and a tour around St. George, we see places and hear memories that shaped the family.