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Sam Penrod ReportingLeaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were on the campus of BYU today to dedicate a new building. The new Joseph F. Smith building becomes one of the largest buildings at BYU.
The new building is several stories high and is on the west end of campus. And it brings much more classroom space to BYU.
The BYU Marriott Center filled with more 20- thousand students, all there to hear from Church President Gordon B. Hinckley as he dedicated a new building on campus.
President Gordon B. Hinckley: "This is an awesome sight, with this great hall filled with people, it's almost frightening..."
President Hinckley was joined by other members of the First Presidency to pay tribute to Joseph F. Smith, the sixth president of the Church.
President Gordon B. Hinckley: "It is a wonderful thing which we do in honoring the memory of President Joseph F. Smith as we dedicate the magnificent new building, which carries his name."
The new building is more than 280-thousand square feet and includes 25 classrooms, as well as research areas and faculty offices. It is the home to BYU's Humanities and Family Home and Social Sciences Colleges.
It is built on the same location, of the previous building, which was also named for Joseph F. Smith and was torn down to make room for this new building, which President Hinckley says will honor one of the church's greatest leaders.
President Gordon B. Hinckley: "It is my opinion that no man, save the prophet Joseph only, has had a greater and better understanding of the origin and history of the church."
A couple of unique building's characteristics include its interior courtyard and a spiral staircase that leads to a skylight. Students started moving in last spring, but now the building is officially open.
