Two apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints attended President Donald Trump’s second inauguration on Monday in Washington, D.C.

Elders Gary E. Stevenson and Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles represented the church at events and meetings surrounding the inaugural ceremonies for Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

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25 times Latter-day Saint leaders attended U.S. presidential inaugurations

“Being in Washington, D.C., at such a time as this is an honor,” Elder Stevenson said in the statement. “The enduring principles that have been the foundation of our nation are important guides for our personal lives, families and communities.”

The apostles continued a longstanding tradition of church leaders attending the inaugurations of presidents of both major American political parties. Elder Stevenson and Elder Gong attended the Trump inauguration under the direction of the First Presidency, according to a statement.

Sister Susan Gong and Elder Gerrit W. Gong, left, join Elder Gary E. Stevenson and Sister Lesa Stevenson President Donald Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025.
Sister Susan Gong and Elder Gerrit W. Gong, left, join Elder Gary E. Stevenson and Sister Lesa Stevenson inside the U.S. Capitol rotunda, site of the 2025 presidential inauguration. The apostles represented The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at events and meetings in Washington, D.C., surrounding the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump and Vice President JD Vance on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

“We wish this administration and all those that serve this country in any capacity strength and wisdom for so great a cause,” Elder Gong said in a statement. “Our best wishes and heaven-sent prayers to all our local, national, and world leaders at this important time.”

The church said in a news release that the tradition of sending leaders to inaugurations is one “of supporting and celebrating freedom, civility and upholding the principles of the Constitution.”

Latter-day Saint leaders have attended U.S. presidential inaugurations at least 25 times since 1873

1873 — Inauguration of President Ulysses S. Grant

Elder George Q. Cannon, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Utah Territorial delegate.

1877 — Inauguration of President Rutherford B. Hayes

President George Q. Cannon, assistant counselor in the First Presidency and Utah Territorial delegate.

1905 — Inauguration of President Theodore Roosevelt

Elder Reed Smoot, Quorum of the Twelve and U.S. Senator from Utah.

1909 — Inauguration of President William Howard Taft

Elder Reed Smoot, Quorum of the Twelve and U.S. Senator from Utah.

1913 — Inauguration of President Woodrow Wilson

Elder Reed Smoot, Quorum of the Twelve and U.S. Senator from Utah.

1917 — Inauguration of President Woodrow Wilson

Elder Reed Smoot, Quorum of the Twelve and U.S. Senator from Utah.

1921 — Inauguration of President Warren G. Harding

Elder Reed Smoot, Quorum of the Twelve and U.S. Senator from Utah.

1925 — Inauguration of President Calvin Coolidge

Elder Reed Smoot, Quorum of the Twelve and U.S. Senator from Utah.

1929 — Inauguration of President Herbert Hoover

Elder Reed Smoot, Quorum of the Twelve and U.S. Senator from Utah.

1953 — Inauguration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower

Church President David O. McKay and Elder Ezra Taft Benson, Quorum of the Twelve and nominee, Secretary of Agriculture.

1957 — Inauguration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower

Elder Ezra Taft Benson, Quorum of the Twelve and Secretary of Agriculture.

1961 — Inauguration of President John F. Kennedy

Elder Ezra Taft Benson, Quorum of the Twelve and Secretary of Agriculture.

1965 — Inauguration of President Lyndon B. Johnson

President Hugh B. Brown, first counselor in the First Presidency. (Church President David O. McKay was invited but did not attend because “his doctors ruled out the trip.”)

1969 — Inauguration of President Richard Nixon

Elders Ezra Taft Benson and Richard L. Evans, Quorum of the Twelve. (Church member J. Willard Marriott, who would represent the church at the 2001 inauguration of President George W. Bush, was the chairman of President Nixon’s inauguration committee in 1969.)

1973 — Inauguration of President Richard Nixon

Elder Boyd K. Packer, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. (Church President Harold B. Lee planned to attend but did not due to illness.)

1977 — Inauguration of President Jimmy Carter

President N. Eldon Tanner, first counselor in the First Presidency.

1981 — Inauguration of President Ronald Reagan

Elder Ezra Taft Benson, Quorum of the Twelve, and Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, First Quorum of the Seventy.

1989 — Inauguration of President George H. W. Bush

Church President Ezra Taft Benson and President Thomas S. Monson, second counselor in the First Presidency.

1993 — Inauguration of President Bill Clinton

Elder James E. Faust, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

1997 — Inauguration of President Bill Clinton

Elder Henry B. Eyring, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

2001 — Inauguration of President George W. Bush

Elder J. Willard Marriott, Area Seventy.

2009 — Inauguration of President Barack Obama

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency, and Elder M. Russell Ballard, Quorum of the Twelve.

2013 —Inauguration of President Barack Obama

Elders L. Tom Perry and Quentin L. Cook, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

2017 — Inauguration of President Donald Trump

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Elders D. Todd Christofferson and Gary E. Stevenson, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

2021: Church leaders did not attend the 2021 inauguration of President Joe Biden because participation was limited due to the pandemic.

2025 — Inauguration of President Donald Trump

Elders Gary E. Stevenson and Gerrit W. Gong, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

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