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The LDS Church is congratulating Republican Donald Trump on his stunning victory — a candidate the Utah-based faith earlier condemned — and urging all Americans to pray for the "president-elect, for his new administration and for elected leaders across the nation and the world."
In a news release Wednesday, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said that imploring the heavens to help public officeholders is a "long tradition" for Mormons.
"The men and women who lead our nations and communities need our prayers," the release said, "as they govern in these difficult and turbulent times."
Striking a nonpartisan tone, the LDS Church also praised Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, who came up just short in her bid to become the nation's first female commander in chief, and "all those who engaged in the election process at a national or local level."
"May our local and national leaders reflect the best in wisdom and judgment as they fulfill the great trust afforded to them by the American people," said the statement from the faith's governing First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
The LDS Church maintains a neutral stance in partisan matters, saying it "does not endorse, promote or oppose political parties, candidates or platforms" and noting that Mormons "may have differences of opinion" in such cases.
The church did, however, issue a statement last year decrying Trump's call for a ban on Muslims entering the United States. At the time, a spokesman said the responses reflected the faith's position on "the national conversation about protecting the rights of people to be here and worship as they choose."
The LDS Church, the statement said, "is not neutral in relation to religious freedom."
In addition, the Deseret News, a Salt Lake City newspaper owned by Utah's predominant religion, published an editorial last month encouraging Trump to bow out of the presidential race after an "Access Hollywood" videotape captured Trump bragging about groping women.
On Wednesday, a News editorial complimented Trump on his win "against tough odds" while noting it "will never condone the behavior and comments we condemned."
Polls show Trump was not particularly popular among Mormons, who overwhelmingly lean conservative. But the GOP candidate did prevail in LDS-dominated Utah, collecting nearly half the vote in a tightly contested three-way chase with Clinton and independent hopeful Evan McMullin, a Provo-born Mormon.