Young Mormons wear Sunday best to honor Hinckley

SALT LAKE CITY " Some students at public schools here wore their Sunday best Monday to honor Mormon church President Gordon B. Hinckley.

Boys wore ties and girls wore skirts to remember the only church leader they have ever known. The idea spread by text message after Hinckley died Sunday night at age 97.

"A lot of people loved him," said Morgan Mabey, a student at East High School in Salt Lake City. "I know I did."

Hinckley, president for nearly 13 years, was the oldest leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. About one-third of the 5.7 million U.S. Mormons live in Utah.

About 40 percent of East students also get instruction at the LDS seminary across the street from school, principal Paul Sagers said.

"He is with his wife now," student Jane Etherington said of Hinckley.

Teens were wearing formal clothes at schools around the Salt Lake region.

"It brought tears to my eyes," said Heidi Clark, who drove her daughter to Syracuse High School.