Mormon church president will be laid to rest Saturday

The Mormon church's famous Temple Square is prepared to accommodate tens of thousands of mourners Saturday when the faith's beloved president Gordon B. Hinckley is laid to rest.

Hinckley died Sunday at the age of 97, the oldest leader of the 13 million member church.

The funeral at 11 a.m. (1800 GMT) Saturday will be held in the church's 21,000 seat downtown conference center, which was built during Hinckley's tenure to accommodate the growing church. Overflow seating will be available in the Salt Lake Tabernacle and at least two other buildings on the campus.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, a Mormon, is taking time off the campaign trail to attend the funeral. Politicians from Utah, Idaho, California, Arizona, Nevada and Oregon were expected to attend, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, also a Mormon.

The funeral is expected to last just over an hour and include remembrances from Hinckley's children and other church leaders. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir will sing.

On Friday, faithful Latter-day Saints came by the thousands _ some standing in line for nearly three hours _ to walk by Hinckley's open casket to pay their respects during two days of public mourning.

Many in attendance called the occasion bittersweet, saying they were sad for themselves, but comforted in their belief that the church president had been reunited with his wife Marjorie, who died in 2004.

A sealing ceremony performed inside Mormon temples binds families together for time and all eternity, said Jana Riess, a Mormon convert and the Cincinnati-based co-editor of "Mormonism for Dummies."

"I don't want to be too cliche, but this idea that Mormons hold fast to their eternal families makes an enormous difference in how they feel about death."

Mormons also differ from other Christians in their belief that heaven will not be a place of rest, but one where the work of the church and individuals will continue _ something Hinckley often mentioned in his speeches to members.

"We have things to do. Mormonism is a religion of activity and of mission," said Riess. "Part of that mission will be taking place in the afterlife. We believe people will still have the opportunity to make spiritual choices."

Hinckley will be buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery, alongside his wife.

Hinckley's successor is expected to be named next week.