In a related matter, the Sutherland Institute, a conservative public policy think tank and a strong voucher supporter, released an essay penned by director Paul Mero that documents Utah's education history. It points out that the idea of voucherlike school reform is not new in Utah, specifically in the state's early beginnings.

But critics say Mero is bringing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints into the debate when it really shouldn't be involved.

Mero notes Utah's education identity before statehood, among Mormon settlers, was based on trusting parents to know what educational choices was best for their children. But according to the essay, those ideals were dashed after statehood when "legions of outsiders," namely the federal government, came in and told Utahns what was best for them, using them "like guinea pigs for all sorts of new styles of pedagogies."

According to the essay, the voucher program falls under those old education ideals held by early Mormons.

A statement in the essay that has irked anti-voucher leaders reads: "No honest person who has studied the historical record of Utahns prior to statehood could conclude anything other than that they would have embraced what we now call vouchers."

But anti-voucher leaders have called the issue a distraction.

"(The essay) is just one more thing in a line of distractions from what the real issue should be — it's just a chance to not talk about what's really on the ballot, and what's really on the ballot is a flawed proposal," said Lisa Johnson, spokesperson for Utahns for Public Schools.

"It's bringing religion into a political situation where it probably isn't appropriate, and we appreciate the church's comment that they haven't taken a position on vouchers," she said. "We shouldn't take past statements as an endorsement on any current political view — there are many things that just don't apply anymore because we live in a different situation."

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E-mail: terickson@desnews.com