Not only was Monday's inauguration ceremony for Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and other state officials the first held on the steps of the Capitol, there's little doubt it was also the first such ceremony to attract squealing teenage girls.

They were there to hear "American Idol" finalist David Archuleta, a Murray High School student, sing the national anthem. Some slipped away after the young star was escorted off the makeshift stage following his performance.

Most of the several hundred people gathered at the foot of the south staircase, however, continued to brave temperatures well below freezing to see Huntsman take the oath of office and hear him urge Utahns to "lift the life of a fellow human being" in these tough economic times.

"This is the time when we stand up, decide who we are and where we are going," the governor said. "The West is still about optimism. ... We are not people who are easily fenced in by recession, disasters or anything else."

Huntsman said Utahns need to focus on not just the economy, but also public and higher education, health insurance reform and providing needed human services. "Our success in the challenging months ahead will require a little bit from all of us," he said.

The governor ended his speech by declaring Jan. 5 as Utah Utes Day and proclaiming the winner of the Sugar Bowl as "America's new No. 1" football team.

President Thomas S. Monson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints delivered the benediction, asking that those newly sworn-in state officials be blessed "with wisdom, with foresight and with understanding as they begin a new term of office."

Besides Huntsman, Utah Supreme Court Associate Chief Justice Matthew Durrant also administered the oath of office to Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert, Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, Auditor Auston Johnson and Treasurer Richard Ellis.

Spectators Brooklynne Brown, 12, and her sister, Bailey, 6, could not explain the purpose of the noontime ceremony — except that Archuleta performed.

"I almost collapsed when I heard him sing," said Brooklynne. Asked about the ceremony, she paused. "I guess ... you got a new governor?"

Bailey described the singer as "awesome."

Huntsman, who'd had Archuleta perform at his first inauguration four years ago, joked about the singer's popularity. The governor said while he was limiting himself to two terms, no one would ask the same of Archuleta.

The decision to hold the ceremony outdoors in the bitter cold rather than in the Capitol rotunda was a metaphor for Utah's current tough situation, Huntsman said.

"We're out on the steps of the Capitol. It was historic. It was freezing cold. The elements were tough, and we were ready to withstand them," he said.

Four years ago, when the Capitol was closed for a massive renovation project, Huntsman was sworn in in a lavish ceremony at Abravanel Hall that included a performance by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

E-mail: lisa@desnews.com