Bailey said she feared someone might look at pictures or videotape of protestors holding the signs and leap to the wrong conclusion that demonstrators were protesting against the church leaders.

Still, criticism posted on the Internet grew cruel, she said.

"That wears you down," she said. "There is nothing more important to me than the church."

A number of Utah LDS, including many church leaders, have struggled for decades to budge the entrenched Republican bent that has become part of the state's Mormon culture but isn't as prevalent in the church elsewhere in the United States or evident in other countries, where the majority of church members live.

Bailey has relied daily on Davis, the club's adviser.

"I've been quite impressed with Diane because there is this perception that there is a political gospel, that the church has a political viewpoint and all the members share that viewpoint," Davis said. "In reality, there is not a political gospel, not a political viewpoint. Members are free to say and work as they wish as far as political causes. "(Diane) is showing students at BYU and a larger audience that, yes, of course you can be an active member of the church and take a number of positions," Davis said, "including those that are in opposition to the (Bush) administration. This is a great lesson for people to see that that is the case."

"You can still abide by the (church's) Article of Faith that talks about sustaining the leaders of your country without forgoing your right to criticize. It doesn't mean you can't disagree with them or work actively to get them out of office. Who was leading the charge against Bill Clinton in 1998? Our own Chris Cannon. If you took that Article of Faith too literally, that couldn't have happened."

Her activist mother taught her to go through channels before resorting to civil disobedience. "Most of the time," Bailey said, "if you ask the administration for permission, or get a permit from the government, people are happy to let you express your opinion."

Thursday's demonstration by the College Democrats won't criticize Cheney at all, Bailey said. Instead, club members will offer suggestions for future U.S. policies while encouraging graduates to make a difference in the world politically.

If that isn't very radical, Bailey isn't worried. She's been in "real" protests in California, but she recognizes she's more moderate than many Democrats.

"For a liberal," College Democrats managing secretary Carl Brinton said, "she's really conservative."

"Yeah, if I went to UCLA, I'd be a Republican," Bailey said.