LDS Church Responds to Backlash After Choir Announced Their Participation at the Inauguration

By Moroni Channel Newsroom
Salt Lake City Utah, USA

After twitter hums with jokes, news articles and petitions questioning the participation of the choir at the Presidential Inauguration of Donald J. Trump, Church spokesman Eric Hawkins made an announcement in response.

“Response to the announcement has been mixed, with people expressing both opposition and support,” church spokesman Eric Hawkins said in a statement. “The choir’s participation continues its long tradition of performing for U.S. presidents of both parties at inaugurations and in other settings, and is not an implied support of party affiliations or politics. It is a demonstration of our support for freedom, civility and the peaceful transition of power.”

According to Deseret News, a change.org petition was created late Thursday morning urging the church to reconsider their decision to send the choir to Washington for the inauguration.

The Church’s participation will harm this spectacularly talented and beloved choir’s image, misrepresent the diversity of Mormons worldwide, and sends the wrong message to LDS children as they will perceive the Church’s participation as endorsement of a president whose words and actions do not align with our values, the post said.