Sharpton to meet with LDS officials all day Monday

The Rev. Al Sharpton will meet with LDS Church officials during an all-day visit Monday.

Scott Trotter, spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said the exact details of the meeting are still being worked out, including who exactly will participate. He could not confirm whether President Gordon B. Hinckley would meet with Sharpton, but did say it would include high officials.

"It will be meetings with the general authority level," he said.

The visit will also include tours of church grounds including Temple Square, Trotter said. That is at least partially because of Sharpton's previously expressed desire to learn more about the LDS Church.

Sharpton's visit was scheduled after he made comments during a debate with author Christopher Hitchens, when he seemed to disparage Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his Mormon religion. His comment that "as for the one Mormon running for office, those who really believe in God will defeat him anyway, so don't worry about that, that's a temporary situation" seemed to imply that Mormons do not believe in God.

After the debate, Sharpton said his comment was distorted for political purposes. He also apologized to "regular Mormons" and made a personal call to LDS Church officials to formally apologize.

Trotter said that the apology was all that was necessary, and that the meetings would not focus on the comment made during the debate. He reiterated the church's position that there is nothing more to discuss.

"We appreciated his phone call," Trotter said. "We now consider the matter closed."

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