Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, disarmed a crowd of about 350 mostly military types Thursday in Salt Lake City by leading with a joke about Mormons and a quip about running for public office.

The serious side of Hatch's speech at the National Prayer Breakfast in Utah continued with his testimony about how God exists.

"I can tell you from experience that it works to believe in God," said Hatch, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He talked about how virtue will be rewarded in heaven, how some who pray hard will have a "mystical" experi- ence that proves to them that God exists and how the physiology of humans and the balance of nature did not happen by chance.

His words about God were coupled with a reminder that this country is involved in a conflict that could rage on for years and that Americans should support their military.

"Do we as people have faith to see this through?" Hatch asked. Quoting Revolutionary War patriot Thomas Payne, he added, "These are the times that try men's souls."

Hatch and Maj. Gen. Peter Cooke, commander of the 96th Regional Readiness Command, asked everyone to pray for soldiers who are in "harm's way."

The official National Prayer at the breakfast was offered by Army Chaplain Alvin "Sonny" Moore. He expressed thanks for living in a nation that reaches out to the world.

The concept of a prayer breakfast began in 1943 among members of the Senate and House of Representatives. In 1953 President Eisenhower started presidential prayer breakfasts with members of Senate and House prayer groups. In 1970 the annual event became known as the "National Prayer Breakfast," and each year it takes place in the White House and around the country.

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E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com