Clark, who is sponsoring what's been called a first-step health-care reform bill this session, said church leaders were also interested in that subject. The LDS Church "insures a lot of lives in Utah and elsewhere." Deseret Mutual Benefit Association is the church's main health insurance firm, which also provides insurance for Deseret Morning News employees.

Clark's bill was not public when he met with church officials, so they could not endorse a specific bill, he said. But Clark said they supported his bill's two main concepts — trying to slow down rising health-care costs and beginning to address the needs of 300,000 Utahns who have no health insurance.

Finally, Litvack and Clark said the LDS Church leaders were very concerned about the meth drug crisis in Utah and beyond.

"They are concerned about this problem among their own church members" and how the drug's use is ruining lives and breaking up families, Litvack said.

Clark said the leaders, from the perspective of training their own lay congregation leaders, want to become more involved in seeking solutions to addictive drug problems.

Litvack said he's been active in the past on meth legislation but this year is turning it over to Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, and will help from the sidelines.

Litvack expects legislation aimed at helping local county health departments deal with meth-lab houses, where the drug is cooked.

"These cook houses are very expensive to clean up, a real health hazard. There are also the houses where meth is routinely used — not as serious as the cook houses but still a problem," he said.

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E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com; dbulkeley@desnews.com