Musings on schools, lawmakers, faith

Larry H. Miller, Jazz owner and car dealer, helped out with a large gift, as did EnergySolutions — a hazardous-waste handling firm that is spreading all kinds of money around these days.

The Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce hosted the group, raising around $56,000 itself.

All went well. There was even a little laughter when four legislators had to get off their bus and store their concealed weapons before entering the Chevron refinery, which doesn't allow guns on its property. It was no surprise about three of the gun-toters, but Sen. Howard Stephenson packing?

Stephenson is president of the Utah Taxpayers Association — an anti-tax group.

Whom is he going to plug? A local official who seeks a tax hike?

Lastly, longtime LDS Church leader President James E. Faust passed away; his funeral was this past week.

I had one interesting evening with President Faust, which I'll recall here because in reading all the tributes to the man, it seems illustrative.

The Deseret Morning News for years bought season tickets for the Jazz. The best seats — down low behind the Jazz players bench — were offered to our board of directors, President Faust was then one, and to regular staff members.

At one game, I and another News colleague ended up sitting next to President Faust and his wife. The Jazz were playing lousy, falling behind by something like 20 points. I and my colleague were grousing, criticizing the players and wondering if we should just leave the game early.

President Faust overheard us. He said something like: "Have a little faith. The game isn't over."

Sure enough, the Jazz came back and, in an exciting finish, won a close game in the fourth quarter.

As we got up to leave, President Faust didn't say anything like "I told you so." He just gave us a big grin and a wink from one of his bright eyes.

Lesson taught. Lesson learned.

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Deseret Morning News political editor Bob Bernick Jr. may be reached by e-mail at bbjr@desnews.com.