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Mormon Tabernacle Choir To Perform At Inauguration

by Crystal Lewis

President-elect Donald Trump has had a difficult time finding performers for his inauguration on Jan. 20. Now, it looks as if Trump and his team have secured an act that's more than just him humming to himself about his victory: According to The Salt Lake Tribune and a spokesperson from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS, or "Mormons" as they're generally known), the Mormon Tabernacle Choir will perform at Trump's inauguration, despite the controversies surrounding his election. The Choir has previously performed at several other presidential inaugurations.

“The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has a great tradition of performing at the inaugurals of U. S. presidents," Ron Jarrett, president of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, said in a statement on the Choir's website.

"Singing the music of America is one of the things we do best. We are honored to be able to serve our country by providing music for the inauguration of our next president," he added.

Romper reached out to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, who declined to comment.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has performed at several inaugural events in the past, mostly for Republican presidents. The Choir performed at the official swearing-in ceremonies for Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965, Richard Nixon in 1969 and George H. W. Bush in 1989. They also performed at the inaugural parades for Ronald Reagan in 1981 and George W. Bush in 2001.

Deseret News, which is owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, reported the invitation to perform on Inauguration Day came after Trump visited the Mormon Tabernacle on Temple Square in September.

Despite the rich tradition of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performing at presidential inaugurations, the news is surprising given the fact that the majority of Mormons were against Trump during his campaign.

Trump's harsh attitudes towards Muslims, including his belief that mosques should be monitored, are a major reason why Mormons dislike Trump.

“The issue of religious liberty is an important one in the state, and the notion of a religious test for immigration raises deep concerns,” Chris Karpowitz, director of Brigham Young University’s Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy, told The New York Times. “Mormons are sensitive to issues like this because of their own history.”

Only 38 percent of Mormon voters said they would support Trump in the month before the election, according to The Washington Post.

The reaction to the news that the Choir will perform at Trump's inauguration hasn't exactly been positive, especially among the Mormon community.

The writers behind By Common Consent, a Mormon blog, blasted the Choir's decision on Twitter:

The Trump team has had a hard time booking talent for the event. Grammy winning musician David Foster turned down Trump's invitation for the inauguration because he feared he might offend his friends who supported Hillary Clinton, The Washington Post reported.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir's decision to put politics aside and sing at Trump's inauguration is a break for the president-elect.

But for those who are upset over Trump's presidency, all of the music in the world can't change that.