Fortunately for me, the Deseret Morning News is more precise in its reporting than NPR. The protestors are actually members of the infamous Westboro Baptist Church, and are only four in number. According to their own words, they are not present at the funeral to protest, but to preach.
I'm relieved to know genuine Evangelicals did not protest at the funeral, and that Westboro didn't try to raise a ruckus. There is a time and a place for everything, but a funeral is certainly not the time or place for this. On that note, I repeat the first paragraph written by His Excellency, Reverend John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City, in the Intermountain Catholic:
On behalf of the Catholic people of Utah, I express condolences to the family, First Presidency, and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the death of their beloved President Gordon B. Hinckley. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you at the loss of such a kind and faith-filled gentleman.
