Faced with singing for Trump, a singer quits the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

A member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir has resigned because of the group’s decision to perform at Donald Trump’s inauguration.

The singer, Jan Chamberlin, shared her resignation letter Thursday on Facebook, explaining that she felt “betrayed” and that she “simply cannot continue with the recent turn of events.”

“Since ‘the announcement,’ I have spent several sleepless nights and days in turmoil and agony,” wrote Chamberlin. “I have reflected carefully on both sides of the issue, prayed a lot, talked with family and friends, and searched my soul.”

For the singer, it is a moral issue, she wrote. “I only know I could never ‘throw roses to Hitler.’ And I certainly could never sing for him.”

Chamberlin, who said she has been with the choir for five years, explained that sitting out the inaugural performance was not enough.

“Looking from the outside in, it will appear that Choir is endorsing tyranny and fascism by singing for this man,” said Chamberlin, which she believes would damage the choir’s image and networking.

Chamberlin echoes the sentiments of more than 21,000 people who have signed an online petition disagreeing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s decision to perform at the inauguration. According to the organizer of the campaign, most of the signatures are from members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“I hope that we and many others will work together with greater diligence and awareness to calmly and bravely work together to defend our freedoms and our rights for our families, our friends, and our fellow citizens,” Chamberlin added in her letter. “I hope we can throw off the labels and really listen to each other with respect, love, compassion, and a true desire to bring our energies and souls together in solving the difficult problems that lie in our wake.”

The choir has 360 singers, of which church officials expect about 215 to perform, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

“Participation in the choir, including the performance at the Inauguration, is voluntary,” church spokesman Eric Hawkins reiterated in a statement Thursday.

Chamberlin’s decision earned praise from one of the most powerful Mormons in the country: Nevada Sen. Harry Reid.

The retiring Democrat said Friday in a statement to the Tribune that he admires people like Chamberlin who “reject tyranny and fascism and do what they can to stand up for what is right.”

Reid applauded her for refusing to “be part of the wave of hatred unleashed by Donald Trump.”

“She should not be castigated or repudiated for acting on her sincere beliefs,” Reid said.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has previously performed at the inaugurations of Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson (1965), Richard M. Nixon (1969), Ronald Reagan (1981), George H.W. Bush (1989) and George W. Bush (2001).

The Salt Lake Tribune and The Associated Press contributed.

This story was originally published December 30, 2016 at 2:31 PM with the headline "Faced with singing for Trump, a singer quits the Mormon Tabernacle Choir."