Mormons have role in inauguration planning

Published: Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009 12:14 a.m. MST
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President Ezra Taft Benson and his second counselor, President Thomas S. Monson, were VIPs at the 1989 presidential inauguration of George H.W. Bush. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performed patriotic and religious music before the inaugural ceremony.

This year, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, both Mormons, are among four members of Congress on the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies and have responsibilities planning the Jan. 20 inaugural events for president-elect Barack Obama.

Bennett press secretary Tara Hendershott said Tuesday Bennett will be at the swearing-in ceremony on the platform in front of the U.S. Capitol. But even with the inauguration only a week away, Bennett may take on additional responsibilities that haven't yet been specified. "He'll be doing a lot more than we anticipated," Hendershott said, describing the role committee members like Bennett and Reid play as "both functional and ceremonial."

Fourteen members of Congress are Latter-day Saints, and all are given a place on the inaugural stand.

Read the full story at MormonTimes.com

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Recent comments

Are all five in the photo mormons?

Josh | Jan. 14, 2009 at 10:03 p.m.

The caravan is here and for all to see. Great story and shows onces...

Great Job | Jan. 14, 2009 at 9:50 p.m.

Obama has been open and available to the press continually since his...

To Dave S. | Jan. 14, 2009 at 9:36 p.m.

Image
Associated Press

Capitol acting architect Stephen T. Ayers, left, Dianne Feinstein, Bob Bennett, Harry Reid and Rep. Nancy Pelosi.

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