As for being a father, "no experience is more demanding and no accountability so great." The reality of responsibility has shaken him into selflessness. "You mean all this time it wasn't all about me?" As a parent, "I now know it is all truly about them."

Those who often quip that it "takes a village to raise a child" often fail to underscore the reality that the village "has to be made up of families," he said.

Other speakers included Barbara B. Smith, former general president of the LDS Relief Society, Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, and Alan and Suzanne Osmond, whose eight sons performed as "The Osmonds — Second Generation."

In a display of patriotism, local Boy Scouts and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir joined the Osmonds and the Tongan Singers of Utah in paying vocal tribute to America and its armed forces.

Jan Saeed of the Bahai faith and chairman of Utah's Interfaith Roundtable opened the ceremonies with a prayer, and Masood Ul Hasan of the Islamic Society of Utah closed the program, petitioning Allah to help all parents "teach our children love and compassion for their fellow men."

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E-mail: carrie@desnews.com