The Latest: Dalai Lama encourages Utah crowd to build peace

SALT LAKE CITY – The Latest on the Dalai Lama speaking at the University of Utah: (all times local):

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3:35 p.m.

The Dalai Lama says actions, not prayer alone, will help create a more compassionate world free of violence.

The Tibetan spiritual leader spoke Tuesday at the University of Utah, encouraging the audience of thousands to start with themselves and their own families to spread “a sense of wonder in humanity.”

The self-effacing Nobel Peace Prize laureate wore an honorary medal on a thick chain and a white visor cap from the university during the talk punctuated by his hearty chuckles.

State officials like Gov. Gary Herbert and leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are also meeting with the 80-year-old Dalai Lama in spite of a letter from a Weber State University professor who helped broker Utah’s relations with China warning it could damage the state’s relationship with Beijing.

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11 a.m.

The Dalai Lama is set to speak about compassion and universal responsibility at the University of Utah on Tuesday.

His speech comes after stops in Washington, D.C. and California. The Tibetan spiritual leader arrived in Utah on Monday, and was greeted by an admiring crowd of a few hundred people who waited in nearly 100-degree heat outside his Salt Lake City hotel.

He’s also expected to meet with Mormon church leaders and high-ranking politicians like Gov. Gary Herbert.

That’s in spite of a warning letter from a Weber State University professor who helped broker Utah’s relations with China.

Professor Taowen Le said it could jeopardize that relationship, but Utah leaders said the China connection doesn’t mean giving up core values like the freedom of speech.