LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley read "1776" and "John Adams" cover to cover, but he only skimmed another best-seller by historian David McCullough, the 1,000-page Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of Harry Truman.

"At my age of 97," President Hinckley joked Wednesday with McCullough, "I cannot afford to read anything that long."

McCullough joined additional luminaries and nearly 1,400 others crammed elbow-to-elbow into a downtown hotel ballroom to honor President Hinckley with the Municipal Citizen of the Century Award for his decades of work building bridges in Utah's communities.

The Utah League of Cities and Towns presented the award on the first day of a three-day conference marking the 100th anniversary of its founding in 1907.

The 150-minute celebration included a stirring, unannounced three-song performance by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, a history lecture by McCullough and a bridge-building prayer by the Most Rev. John Wester, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City.

"Bless particularly President Gordon B. Hinckley," Bishop Wester prayed. "We give you profound thanks, loving God, for the inspiration he is to all of us as president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We thank you for his leadership, not only of the church but throughout Utah and beyond. Fill him with deep peace, continued good health and the satisfaction that comes from being your servant and, indeed, your holy prophet."

President Hinckley has been praised locally and nationally for ecumenical outreach and encouraging tolerance. The Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce honored President Hinckley with a "Giant in Our City" award in 2003, when Jon Huntsman Sr. said President Hinckley had done more to shape Salt Lake City than anyone but Brigham Young.

Provo Mayor Lewis Billings read a proclamation praising President Hinckley's humility, understanding, optimism and concern for others.

"President Hinckley has indeed made life better for all Utahns," Billings said.

The proclamation was full of formal language, with words like "whereas" and "wherefore." President Hinckley earned big laughs when it was his turn to speak and he said, "Whereas, be it resolved, we've been here too long."

The surprise visit by 180 members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir delighted the convention of community leaders. The choir earned a standing ovation after singing "Praise to the Lord," "Danny Boy" (a favorite of President Hinckley's) and "Battle Hymn of the Republic."

"That music is such a summons to all of us," McCullough said. "I've never heard the Mormon Tabernacle Choir before except on the radio or television. To be here today has been as moving an experience as I've had in a long time."