The statement explains that the church does not "attempt to direct or dictate to a government leader" and that while LDS leaders may communicate the church's view to any politician, LDS or not, the church "recognizes that these officials still must make their own choices based on their best judgment and with consideration of the constituencies they were elected to represent."

LDS politicians "make their own decisions and may not necessarily be in agreement with one another or even with the publicly stated church position," the statement says.

The full statement can be found by clicking on the Web site's "newsroom" tab, then look under the "public issues" tab and click on "political neutrality."

Previously, when asked about matters of politics, church officials would answer with a short statement affirming the faith's political neutrality, urging members to vote for the candidate of their choice, adding that LDS buildings and membership lists are off limits to politicians and that candidates are not to imply the church's endorsement.

Now that Romney is a likely candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, the church has taken what many see as a more "offensive" stance, rather than simply waiting to defend itself when others attempt to define its beliefs, its history, or its influence in the lives of its members who happen to be politicians.

Leaders also point to the fact that Romney is only one among many politicians who draw attention to the church in some way.

While it won't generate the kind of continuing publicity the Romney campaign has drawn, another Latter-day Saint with national political clout, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, will speak Tuesday at a Brigham Young University forum assembly in the Marriott Center on the topic, "Faith, Family and Public Service." The speech will be broadcast live locally on KBYU-TV, Channel 11, and rebroadcast Oct. 14 at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on BYU-TV.

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E-mail: carrie@desnews.com