A. Well, Mike is a good man. I've grown to know him and think highly of him. I have had an experience with him on "60 Minutes," and I didn't know what I was getting into. Friends warned me against him, but he was kind to us. I've had a good relationship with him, and he consented to this letter and that's a good introduction — I guess that's what's selling the book.

Q. A questioner writes: Why did you write a book which is not about your church? What are you trying to accomplish through this book?

A. To see if it could be done. Well, we wanted to reach out further to other people. I talk of values in this book, virtues. I talk about America. I talk about a lot of these things that I think are very, very important. I felt that the people of this nation — perhaps some of them — might be helped by it. Now it isn't a book of theology, but is a book of virtues and values that are a part of theology. The teachings of the gospel bear fruit in the virtuous lives of the people. By dealing with those lives I hope to accomplish some good in reaching out to people who may not be interested in our theology but would be interested in our position and stance on some of these values that are of everlasting benefit to this nation and people across the world.

Q. Do you find when it comes to core values that, basically, all of the religions get it, more or less, right?

A. Oh, I think they all do good. I believe that. I have many friends of other religions, and I am satisfied that they are very conscientious, good people who are trying to good. I appreciate that. I think the world would be much poorer without religion, speaking generally.

Q. Do you find that the image of the church is changing rapidly, slowly? Do you work at bringing about change in the way the church is viewed by those outside the church?

A. Constantly — trying to build understanding. As I indicated in what I said in my talk, ignorance leads to misunderstanding. When we don't know how other people act, what they believe, we view them with suspicion. When we get to know more about them that suspicion turns to appreciation, and I think that is what we are trying to do, trying to accomplish. Now compared to 100 years ago, 150 years ago, we live in a world that pretty well understands us and I think appreciates us. We are freed from that terrible persecution of the past. We are living in a new day when the sunshine of good will pours in upon the church and assists us in the spread of our work across the world.

Q. And yet at times you hear even from other Christian faiths, your church is not a Christian church.