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- The Tabernacle Choir performed in Peru for the first time, engaging with leaders.
- The choir received a medal of honor and met with Peru's president.
- Its main concert will be broadcast to over 70,000 people across South America.
LIMA, Peru — A first in the country of Peru as the Tabernacle Choir performs before hundreds of interfaith leaders, government officials and other dignitaries. The choir is in Lima for its fourth stop on its "Songs of Hope" world tour.
The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square performed for 90 minutes with a variety of songs, many of them in Spanish, inside a large ballroom at the Westin Hotel in Lima. The room was filled with leaders of faith and government agencies.
This is the first time in the choir's history that it is performing in Peru. But the choir is doing much more than singing.
The choir held a press conference with local and national media organizations in Peru.
Choir Director Mack Wilberg spoke of the joy and excitement of being in Peru and the warm welcome they have received. Elder Ulisses Soares, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is traveling with the choir along with former U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney.
Romney said he is good friends with the choir president and was invited to come along and was excited for the opportunity.
Romney also helped open political doors for the choir.
On Wednesday afternoon, the president of the Congress of Peru awarded the choir with a medal of honor for its service. On Thursday afternoon, choir leaders also met with the president of Peru at the presidential palace.
"These people that never had a contact with the top leaders of the church; we are engaging with them. The doors have been open because of the choir," Elder Soares told KSL TV.
"The choir coming here and then a number of us being able to connect with government leaders has them get a perspective of what the church is here, what we are doing here, what kind of impact we are having on the lives of people here," Romney added.
The choir is now preparing for their main concert event on Saturday which will be held at the National Stadium in Lima. More than 30,000 people are expected to attend the concert.
They also plan to broadcast it live to four other countries in South America.
Choir President Mike Leavitt said it will be the largest live broadcast for the choir, reaching more than 70,000 people.
The next stop for the choir's world tour is in Buenos Aires, Argentina in August.
At the press conference, Elder Soares announced the choir will be going to Brazil next year.
