The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 44th Deseret Industries store was dedicated Wednesday, October 25, 2017, in Riverton, Utah.
Bishop Gérald Caussé, Presiding Bishop of the Church, spoke and dedicated the facility located in the southern part of the Salt Lake Valley. Also providing remarks was Sister Reyna Aburto, second counselor in the general presidency of the Relief Society. Other Church leaders attended, as did the mayor of Riverton, Bill Applegarth.
All that occurs at each Deseret Industries follows the principle of work, explained Bishop Caussé, and the example for this was set by God and His Son, Jesus Christ.
“Most people only have one type of experience with a Deseret Industries facility — that of a supplier. You drop off items that you are no longer in need of and then drive away without another thought,” he said.
Bishop Caussé said one person’s surplus provides more than just discounted clothing and merchandise. “It provides many individuals with a second chance and, in some cases a third, or a fourth chance. Deseret Industries provides associates with the opportunity to work and improve their life circumstances, and every resource is made available to help them succeed.
Deseret Industries is a nonprofit business enterprise owned and operated by the Church, designed to provide employment and to aid in the economic rehabilitation of disadvantaged persons.
The new 52,000-square-foot building has about 24,000 square feet of that dedicated to retail. Typically, the Deseret Industries sells clothing for all ages, electronics, books, toys, furniture, housewares and many other items. The retail space in this store is larger than other facilities because of the larger population it serves. Sharing space with the store is Deseret Counseling Services, also a Church welfare entity.
Work blesses our lives, Bishop Caussé continued. “It is likely that the only time we truly appreciate the opportunity to work is when we no longer have it. We need work for the more obvious temporal reasons — to provide food, clothing and shelter for ourselves and our families — but we also need work to sustain us spiritually, mentally and emotionally.”
Deseret Industries facilities are located in the western United States with 21 in Utah, nine in Idaho, five in California, three in Arizona, two each in Washington and Nevada and one in Oregon.