A. No. I don't watch television very much (laughter). No. I don't think we are losing the war. I think we are winning the war. I am an optimist. I think the future looks good. We have a lot of problems to deal with, very serious problems. The American family is in trouble. I think no one could doubt that. We have many troublesome things — gangs, drugs and everything else of that kind — but, in spite of all that, there are so many good people in this land, so many people who want to do the right thing that I'm totally optimistic about the future. I don't think we are going down to ruin and trouble. I think we're making a little headway and we ought to be grateful for the opportunity and work a little harder.

Q. We hear a lot of talk from the presidential candidates, including the two front-runners, to used faith-based organizations to do work that has traditionally been done by the government. Do you think this is going to let the government off the hook?

A. I don't think anybody is going to let the government off the hook the way things are going. I don't think the government is going to change much in that regard, but I want to say this: We are doing what we can to take care of our own, and that lightens the load of government, and we think that is a benefit to all of the people of the nation.

Q. What is your position on prayer or meditation or moments of silence in public schools?

A. I believe in them and will be glad to get through here so I can have a moment of meditation (laughter). Well, all of us ought to pause once in a while and think of things. We are prone to talk too much and do too little. I think it is a wonderful thing to just indulge once in a while in moments of introspection and see what we are doing with our lives and what contribution we are making and where we could do a little better than we are now doing. I feel we would all benefit from that.

Q. Do you think it is appropriate to have this as part of the daily instruction in public school?

A. In the public schools? I don't know whether I want to comment on that. I think we may have taken a terrible step backwards some years ago, and I don't know whether we'll recover from it. You politicians know better than I do what the mood is to change the law, but regardless of that we teach our people in their own private lives and in our own individual ways to pray, to get on their knees and talk with God and listen for his still small voice and listen for his inspiration and direction in their lives. We bear testimony of the fact that yields great good. I don't hesitate to say that for a moment.

Q. If you'll forgive the levity, someone here really wants to know whether God has forgotten about BYU football? (laughter)