Sharpton to meet with LDS church leaders

[Amelia]

Sharpton to meet with LDS church leaders

The Associated Press

Sunday, May 20, 2007

SALT LAKE CITY -- The Rev. Al Sharpton is expected to be here Monday for an all-day meeting with leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a church spokesman said.

The meeting comes at Sharpton's request, weeks after the Pentecostal minister criticized Republican presidential nominee candidate Mitt Romney, a Mormon, during a debate and said those that "really believe in God" would defeat him.

Sharpton has said he didn't mean to imply that Mormons don't believe in God and that the remarks were misconstrued for political purposes.

Sharpton apologized by telephone to several church apostles, but not to Romney, who has called the remarks bigoted.

The minister is expected to tour Mormon church headquarters and grounds and meet with high-ranking church leaders. Whether that will include President Gordon B. Hinckley is unknown.

"We're still working out the details," church spokesman Scott Trotter said.

Monday's meetings will not focus on Sharpton's remarks or politics. Church officials appreciate Sharpton's apology and consider the matter closed, Trotter said.

Sharpton reportedly told church leaders he wanted to meet to learn more about the faith.

This will not be Sharpton's first visit to Utah. He came here in 2002 to address the annual luncheon of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials.