From the Church

First Presidency Sending 2 Apostles to U.S. Presidential Inauguration

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In keeping with tradition, the First Presidency will send two Apostles to attend the presidential inauguration on January 20. Elder D. Todd Christofferson and Elder Gary E. Stevenson will represent The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, continuing "a tradition, going back more than a century, of Mormon leadership supporting and celebrating the process that makes possible the peaceful transfer of power," according to Mormon Newsroom.

Since the early 1900s, the First Presidency or a member of the Quorum of the Twelve have attended the inaugurations of presidents, beginning with Theodore Roosevelt in 1905. (See the full list here.)

In addition to the inauguration, Elder D. Todd Christofferson will attend the National Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral on January 21.

“A presidential inauguration is a civic ceremony that transcends the person being inaugurated,” Elder Christofferson told Mormon Newsroom. “It is an act of state, not of politics. Its primary purpose is for the president-elect to take the constitutionally required oath of office, and for the people by witnessing it to bind him to that oath. It is a time to reaffirm collectively the enduring principles that have sustained this country for over 200 years, including the peaceful transfer of power, which remains a remarkable event even in this modern world.”

Lead image from Mormon Newsroom
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