LDS leaders host area clergy
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Standing shoulder to shoulder and sitting side by side, leaders of various churches from throughout the Salt Lake Valley and surrounding communities joined in a gathering of faith and song Dec. 18.
The area religious leaders were guests that evening of the First Presidency, Council of the Twelve and the Seventy at an open house in the Church Administration Building, and at a Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert on Temple Square.President Gordon B. Hinckley and President Thomas S. Monson of the First Presidency greeted the guests in the main lobby of the Administration Building. Joining the First Presidency in hosting the open house were Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Council of the Twelve, and the Utah Central Area Presidency: Elders Loren C. Dunn, Lloyd P. George and John E. Fowler, all members of the Seventy. The General Authorities' wives also greeted guests. Regional representatives and stake presidents from throughout the area assisted in hosting. Some 150 attended the open house.
President Monson said the purpose for the open house was to give LDS Church leaders and other religious leaders an opportunity to renew acquaintances and establish friendships. "We had a similar open house a few years ago, and it was a lovely event," he said. "We thought it was time to do this again."
The guests enjoyed the camaraderie not only of meeting LDS Church leaders but also visiting with each other as they moved through the reception line and partook of refreshments.
Many expressed delighted anticipation of the Tabernacle Choir concert. "I'm really looking forward to the concert," said Dr. Rosemary Cosby, who attended the reception with her husband, Bishop Robert Cosby of the Faith Temple Pentecostal Church. "I love the choir."
Dr. Max Glenn of Shared Ministries of Utah said: "I'm delighted to have opportunity to meet many of my counterparts, regional representatives and Church leaders. What delights me is to see the respect and understanding developing among the diverse religious groups in Utah. I think it's so important that the LDS Church is reaching out to groups that are minorities in Utah; they [the various groupsT may be major religious bodies in other states but in Utah they're certainly in the minority religious status."
