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SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake City has been named the National Bible City by the National Bible Association. From Saturday, Nov. 23 to Monday, Nov. 25, events will be held around the Salt Lake Valley to celebrate the Bible and its heritage.
The National Bible Association is a non-profit organization started during World War II to boost Bible literacy in the United States. Once a year, the group chooses a city to host events as part of its National Bible Week. For 2013, Salt Lake City made the cut and will be host to a concert focused on Bible worship and a scripture reading at the State Capitol Building.
Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas are predominantly populated by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A little less than 50 percent of Salt Lake City's population identify as members of the Church, and the state's Latter-day Saint population comes in around 60 percent.
Church members read from the Book of Mormon but also study from the Bible as well.
Church leader Russel M. Ballard said in a General Conference address in April 2007, “I bear solemn witness that we are true and full believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and in His revealed world through the Holy Bible. We not only believe in the Bible, we strive to follow its precepts and teach its message.”
Saturday Nov. 23, a Concert of Praise will be held at the Tabernacle on Temple Square starting at 7 p.m. Performers will include the University of Utah Institute Singers, the Brigham Young University Singers, Jewish Cantor Emmanuel Perlman and The Salt Lake City Mass Choir.
On Monday, Nov. 25, a public Bible reading will be held at the rotunda of the State Capitol Building at 12 noon.
