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One Sunday morning in 1997, I met Muhammad Ali at the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. I was there as a tourist on a family vacation from Maine, and we had just heard the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir perform. We had decided to skip the full service and were on our way out when I looked up and saw Muhammad Ali enter the building, accompanied by two imposing bodyguards and — looking small and pale — Utah Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch.

Word rippled through the building and applause broke out and built as the unlikely quartet passed very slowly beneath our balcony and proceeded to front pew seats. I decided to go back to my seat and stay.

When the service concluded, a line quickly formed near Ali. Church officials let it happen. I jumped in. When I reached Ali, I thanked him for refusing to be drafted into the Vietnam War. I extended my hand but rather than shake it, Ali slipped a piece of paper into it and winked.

When I got back to the room, I looked at it. "Contradictions in the Bible," read the heading. Below were two long columns of scriptural citations with which Ali, or someone he represented, found fault. Ali's machine-printed signature was at the bottom. He must have handed out hundreds, presumably without anyone's permission or knowledge. Sen. Hatch stood behind him, beaming.

I later found out that Muhammad Ali and Hatch had become friends when Hatch helped one of Ali's friends land a federal position. The two men had stayed in touch, and on this summer morning Hatch had invited the Champ to church. Loyal friend, Ali accepted.

But not without slipping in a Sunday punch.

Phillip Hoose is the author of twelve books, including "Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice," which won a 2009 National Book Award.