WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah — Three soon-to-be-decommissioned Latter-day Saint meetinghouses — including the city’s well-known Lighthouse Church — are set to get a second life as vibrant community centers offering free classes, resources, and gathering spaces for local residents.
The initiative is part of a partnership between West Valley City, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and local nonprofit MyHometown, which already runs educational and enrichment programs in the area.
Turning Churches Into Community Centers
The city intends to lease the three buildings — the Lighthouse, Hillsdale, and Whitehall meetinghouses — for two years, then purchase them outright. During the lease, MyHometown will offer classes in sewing, driver education, and other life skills, open to all residents free of charge.
City community engagement director Craig Thomas told council members that the facilities will serve as “centers of connection” — vital community anchors where residents can learn, socialize, and strengthen neighborhood bonds.
“They’re centers of value to the residents and the neighborhoods, and they’re providing a great resource to our community,” Thomas said.
Under the proposed plan, the city will pay $2,000 per month per building during the lease period. The total purchase price for all three properties is about $7 million, with lease payments applied toward the final sale.
City Manager Ifo Pili said officials are exploring grants and alternative funding sources to support the purchase and upkeep, emphasizing that the two-year lease period provides flexibility before committing to the acquisition.
A Second Life for the Lighthouse Church
The most distinctive of the three — The Lighthouse Church, located at 3900 S. 4000 West — sits on more than six acres and features a gymnasium. The extra land could also be used by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.
Thomas confirmed that West Valley City intends to preserve the building’s architectural character, including its iconic steeple, while removing church-specific elements like signage and baptistries. The other two buildings — Hillsdale (2760 W. Lehi Drive) and Whitehall (3200 W. Whitehall Drive) — will have their steeples removed as part of the transition.
Community Push for a History Museum
Not all residents are on board with the city’s current plan. Sheri Biesinger, who manages the West Valley City History website, has been advocating to use part of the Lighthouse Church as a local history museum — something the city currently lacks.
“You can’t give us, the second-largest city in Utah, and one of the few that doesn’t have a museum, any space?” Biesinger said. Her petition for the museum has already gathered more than 1,200 signatures.
While city leaders say they plan to preserve the building entirely, they have not yet committed to dedicating any portion to a museum.
A Growing Network of Volunteers
The MyHometown program, which already runs classes twice a week in existing community spaces, has seen strong participation — with an average of 70 residents attending sessions regularly and more than 230 active volunteers. Organizers say they are continuing to recruit more as the program expands.
The plan still requires final approval from the West Valley City Council, but if approved, it could become a model for repurposing religious buildings into long-term community assets across Utah.
