"He really does have an understanding how government and politics works," said Faust, a Washington, D.C., attorney and lobbyist who has a church calling to a special LDS Church committee that represents the LDS Church in the nation's capital.

As such, Faust makes contacts on the church's behalf with ambassadors, congressmen and the president's administration.

"We are here to put the best foot forward for the church," Faust said. And President Hinckley has nearly single-handedly set the tone for "the appropriate involvement of the LDS Church" in public affairs matters, Faust said.

"On those rare occasions when the church involves itself in public policy, President Hinckley has so keen an understanding of what that involvement is," Faust said. "Usually, he does not want the church out on point, pushing in a strident way, but working with other churches in a coalition effort."

The newspaper found that comments about President Hinckley always wind back to what one person called his "authenticity."

"He's happy to be what he is. I think he is very comfortable with himself," Cannon said. "He's an extremely authentic person. People today wonder if you're comfortable in your own skin. And he is. He is fully integrated in himself."

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