Bob Bernick, Jr., in a recent column made a bold observation of politics in Utah. His concluding paragraph voiced what many think and some say in private but hesitate to express publicly:

"Many, if not most, of the Republican members of the Legislature (and some Democrats, as well) are or have been lay LDS leaders. LDS wards and stakes are natural political constituencies for bishops, counselors and stake presidents who decide to run for office.

"So into the political mix of Utah we see one-party domination and a social sense of not questioning authority figures."

It reminded me of a comment made by an LDS Utah Democratic Party leader, Clinton Black, fifty years ago when he criticized then Apostle and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Taft Benson. A listener said, "Don't you believe brother Benson speaks with divine inspiration?" His reply, "Yes when he speaks for the church, but when he speaks about politics he is just another #%* Republican."

Too many Utahns translate religious authority into political authority. An excellent example of the wisdom of our nations' founders in emphasizing separation of church and state.

--Flo Wineriter