Bush, Mormon church leader Monson meet

SALT LAKE CITY, May 29 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush visited Thomas S. Monson, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Thursday before leaving Utah.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Bush and Monson discussed foreign and domestic policy, Middle East peace negotiations, the economy and energy issues. They also discussed Bush's father, whom Monson knows.

"So they had a good visit," Perino told reporters while traveling to Kansas for fundraising event for GOP congressional candidate Nick Jordan

The courtesy call was Bush's first meeting with Monson and his two counselors since Monson was installed after the death of LDS President Gordon B. Hinckley, the Salt Lake City Tribune reported.

Bush was in the Beehive state attending fundraisers for presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain of Arizona and the Republican party.