Presbyterian minister to offer pre-parade prayer

As yet another sign that the annual Days of '47 celebration is becoming more multicultural, a Protestant minister has been asked to offer the prayer at the beginning of today's annual parade.

The Rev. Mike Imperiale from First Presbyterian Church said he got a call from the Days of '47 Parade committee asking if he would pray before the parade gets under way at South Temple and State Street. "It was a nice surprise, and I'll be there."

Organizers have made an effort to reach outside the LDS community in recent years, seeking more diversity in the cultural celebrations and soliciting the participation of area churches beyond congregations from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for parade entries.