As the Mormon Tabernacle Choir finished a collection of patriotic hymns on the anniversary of America's Independence, it broke into a simple melody of "God Be With You Till We Meet Again."

Sung weekly by the choir to end its TV broadcast and each Sunday by at least one Christian congregation somewhere in the world, the song has become almost commonplace with its faithful farewell.

But its message wasn't lost on a special visitor sitting in the darkness of the tabernacle's expanse, head lifted toward heaven in appreciation of the choir's resonant hymn.

The words of the third verse rang out loud and clear to him:

"God be with you till we meet again; Keep love's banner floating o'er you; Smite death's threat'ning wave before you. God be with you 'till we meet again."

The words could have been written for Emad Dhia, an Iraqi-American caught up in the reconstruction efforts in his native country.

Though his work there has made him the target of insurgents, Dhia holds strong to his belief that a democratic Iraq will be a better Iraq.

He clings to his Muslim faith and worries more about whether local schoolchildren have books than he does about his own safety.

Dhia adores Iraq, but until recently, it had been a bittersweet love affair.

Forced to flee the country in 1982 following the assassination of his aunt, a talented doctor, Dhia sought refuge in America, where he started a family and embraced democracy.

But leaving his country didn't mean he forgot it.

Dhia remembered his roots and became a strong supporter of the U.S. decision to invade Iraq and force Saddam Hussein from power.

And when America needed someone to head the Iraqi Reconstruction and Development Council last year, his work as the leader of the Iraqi Forum for Democracy made him the natural choice.

But he won't take any credit.

"Hundreds of people are working 24 hours a day, seven days a week to build a free nation," said Dhia, who recently toured Utah as a recipient of a Freedom Festival Award in Provo for his work in Iraq.

"We just want to help the Iraqis, not gain some sort of office."

Standing outside the Salt Lake tabernacle with his wife, Basma Fakri, and his 15-year-old son Al, Dhia minced no words in explaining why America made the right decision to invade Iraq.

"A lot of Iraqis now are so happy with the change," he said. "They have more money. They have food. They have no fear."