On this sixth day - a Sunday - I left early and headed south to Salt Lake City. Fortunately I was able to find a spot to park the rig close to "Temple Square". It was 9.30 and much to my delight the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, accompanied by full orechestra and organ had just started a half hour Father’s Day concert at the Conference center. What a treat! It was being televised. The performance included "Oh Clap your Hands" by John Rutter and Sing! - music by David Willcocks (who was choirmaster at King’s College Chapel Cambridge) based on the Toccata from Widor’s Organ Symphony number 5. It was a stunning performance in the hugh convention center which was less than a quarter full. Following this I walked around Temple Square with its two visitor centres and extra ordinary history of how Brigham Young first started the building of the first temple and how the work was carried on by Joseph Smith.
As a student of world religions it was fascinating to understand the history and realise how much of the work of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day saints has been funded. They clearly rely on many volunteer believers. I had a fairly long conversation with two young women who were very good at proselytising and informed me they were volunteers but also that those who are members of the church contribut 10% of their wages to the church. The photo of the choir is a rehearsal that took place after the concert.
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