By Cortney Bean
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir canceled its European tour for summer 2005 because of terrorism and security concerns. Instead, the choir will tour the Pacific Northwest region.
'President Hinckley just didn''t feel good about sending us over there,' said Ann Turner, choir secretary.
With the initial security concerns, plans were made to tour Great Britain and Paris instead. But ultimately, the trip was canceled and replaced with a tour in the Northwest.
'Bottom line is we live in a different world,' said Brian Roberts, choir member.
Roberts said this is not the first time the choir has relied on President Hinckley for direction regarding the choir''s plans. Although Mac Christensen is the choir president, he said, President Hinckley is the choir''s immediate priesthood leader and they report to him.
During the first Gulf War in 1991, the choir had scheduled a tour in Eastern Europe. As plans were about to be finalized, leaders of the choir approached the First Presidency with safety concerns for the trip. President Hinckley''s advised the choir to go, not to worry, and let the Lord take care of them.
As a result, Roberts said the choir had a wonderful tour and many doors were opened for the church.
'We have a living prophet that has a little more insight than we do when those things are concerned,' Roberts said.
The tour for the Northwest includes stops in Boise, Idaho; Spokane and Seattle, Wash.; Portland, Ore.; Oakland, San Jose, and Sacramento, Calif.; and Reno, Nev.