Half-Staffed Flags

I was very disappointed today as I drove around town and noticed that the flags were being flown at half-staff most likely all over the state of Utah in remembrance of a non-government official or military person. The Governor ordered that all flags could be flow at half-staff in remembrance of Gordon B. Hinckley the former President of the LDS church. While I understand that this is a terrible loss for the members of the LDS faith I do not think that it is appropriate to lower the flag.

Section 7m of the Flag Code now reads (in part), emphasis ours on added text:
By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law. In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States, or the death of a member of the Armed Forces from any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving on active duty, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff, and the same authority is provided to the Mayor of the District of Columbia with respect to present or former officials of the District of Columbia and members of the Armed Forces from the District of Columbia.

I feel that this is form of remembrance for Mr. Hinckley is unnecessary and a over the top. I doubt that other people around the U.S. will find themselves looking at a flag flown half-staffed do to this loss. . I understand that the state of Utah is 63% LDS but that should not sway the officials in our state to make such a decision. What other decisions are they making based on the ideology of their faith or persons involved in a particular faith? Since our government is supposed to have a separation of Church and State, where does this lead us to?