"I've been very upfront about" taking the pay raise a year late. "I've been very clear about that," the congressman said. "I've not tried to mislead anyone."

It is unclear if one of those charities Matheson donates to is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In a Deseret Morning News interview last week about his life, which will run later as a personality profile, Christensen said that the major influence in his life is his religion. As an active member of the LDS Church, Christensen said he served an LDS mission as a young man and has served as a bishop and as a member of his stake's high council.

"My religion is the center of my life," said Christensen.

Matheson lists himself as one of more than a dozen Latter-day Saints in Congress. But Matheson declined to say if he is an active, tithe-paying member.

"I don't think that the level of my (church) activity has anything to do with politics. I'm a member of the LDS Church. I don't think that is appropriate to discuss in politics, that is a personal issue with people, and that's where we are," said Matheson.

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E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com