I believe the Choir member who chose to resign has provided the Church with the best publuc relations it has received in years.
We are viewed as mindless lemmings by much of America, assenting without comment or examination of issues if someone in a position of authority says something. We could not have asked for a better counter example to this narrative than our choir's former member acting on conscience.May God bless her for her courage. May God silence her critics.
CBowerJanuary 4, 2017
I heard someone draw a parallel between those who feel it is fine or even noble to refuse to perform at this Trump inauguration but also find it very wrong for a religious business owner to refuse to bake a cake, photograph, or arrange flowers for a same sex marriage. Double standards abound!
KurtJanuary 4, 2017
Freedom of belief and freedom of speech are among our most precious rights as U. S. citizens. And as Latter-day Saints, we are also accountable to God for “honoring, obeying, and sustaining the law.” Any disruptive activities by Latter-day Saints need to be replaced by support and by actions to help re-unify our country. The dangers of contention and divisiveness are clearly laid out in the scriptures. Regardless of how we feel about Trump as President, I hope we’ll pray for him regularly, as Mitt Romney committed to do (during Obama’s second term) in his concession speech in 2012.
Michael ScrimsherJanuary 4, 2017
Most folk don't even known about the 1965 event as the Choir was specially invited (fairly late in the game, I might add) by sitting Lyndon Johnson, who had a good relationship with DO McKay, even though politically the 2 were far apart. Ironically, Johnson was the only Democratic president to win Utah’s Electoral College votes in a long time, and Utah hasn’t since voted Democratic since. The 1965 event, with the Telstar satellite just launched, was the first presidential inaugurations to be broadcast via TV live overseas, so the 1965 event was quite the PR opportunity for the Church and the Choir. The book DO MacKay and the rise of Global Mormonism has all the details, very worth reading. So there is ample precedent that when the choir is invited to sing at the inauguration of a US president, they will perform.
VPartchJanuary 4, 2017
I so agree! The Choir must sing because they are singing for America and the Office of the President, who happens to be working for us! Not for Donald Trump
After all, they ARE America's Choir and may our Heavenly Father Bless all of them!
John NicholsonJanuary 4, 2017
The Mere fact that just one person put their refusal on the web has turned the whole thing political. Now every performance will be dubbed to be political! We certainly live in a sad world!
M.SmithJanuary 4, 2017
Excellent article. Well said and truth is not always popular, but thank you for your courage to speak truth.
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DanielleJanuary 9, 2017
I believe the Choir member who chose to resign has provided the Church with the best publuc relations it has received in years. We are viewed as mindless lemmings by much of America, assenting without comment or examination of issues if someone in a position of authority says something. We could not have asked for a better counter example to this narrative than our choir's former member acting on conscience.May God bless her for her courage. May God silence her critics.
CBowerJanuary 4, 2017
I heard someone draw a parallel between those who feel it is fine or even noble to refuse to perform at this Trump inauguration but also find it very wrong for a religious business owner to refuse to bake a cake, photograph, or arrange flowers for a same sex marriage. Double standards abound!
KurtJanuary 4, 2017
Freedom of belief and freedom of speech are among our most precious rights as U. S. citizens. And as Latter-day Saints, we are also accountable to God for “honoring, obeying, and sustaining the law.” Any disruptive activities by Latter-day Saints need to be replaced by support and by actions to help re-unify our country. The dangers of contention and divisiveness are clearly laid out in the scriptures. Regardless of how we feel about Trump as President, I hope we’ll pray for him regularly, as Mitt Romney committed to do (during Obama’s second term) in his concession speech in 2012.
Michael ScrimsherJanuary 4, 2017
Most folk don't even known about the 1965 event as the Choir was specially invited (fairly late in the game, I might add) by sitting Lyndon Johnson, who had a good relationship with DO McKay, even though politically the 2 were far apart. Ironically, Johnson was the only Democratic president to win Utah’s Electoral College votes in a long time, and Utah hasn’t since voted Democratic since. The 1965 event, with the Telstar satellite just launched, was the first presidential inaugurations to be broadcast via TV live overseas, so the 1965 event was quite the PR opportunity for the Church and the Choir. The book DO MacKay and the rise of Global Mormonism has all the details, very worth reading. So there is ample precedent that when the choir is invited to sing at the inauguration of a US president, they will perform.
VPartchJanuary 4, 2017
I so agree! The Choir must sing because they are singing for America and the Office of the President, who happens to be working for us! Not for Donald Trump After all, they ARE America's Choir and may our Heavenly Father Bless all of them!
John NicholsonJanuary 4, 2017
The Mere fact that just one person put their refusal on the web has turned the whole thing political. Now every performance will be dubbed to be political! We certainly live in a sad world!
M.SmithJanuary 4, 2017
Excellent article. Well said and truth is not always popular, but thank you for your courage to speak truth.
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