"These are human beings," Valentine said. "I do not see anything in his comment that says do not respect the rule of law."

Valentine said the laws being proposed are on a continuum, between reactionary and fundamental ideas "that we should be doing anyway," and lawmakers need to carefully consider their actions.

"That's where Elder Jensen's comments really come to play," he said. "Because we need to be compassionate but also remember the rule of the law."

For example, Valentine said the state should strengthen undocumented immigrants' driving privilege cards but not repeal them altogether.

Valentine's remarks came after members of the Utahns for the American Dream Coalition went to the Capitol to distribute information they hope will convince lawmakers to vote against HB241, which is pending a Senate hearing after the House approved it this week.

"These are kids who have gone to our high schools for three years," Valentine said. "In the end I may vote for (HB241). I recognize taxpayers are subsidizing it and these are people who cannot be legally employed."

David Ure, a former representative who sponsored the tuition law, was at the Capitol for the Utahns for the American Dream news conference.

"I think the church is trying very hard not to hurt the feelings of those who are championing this anti-immigrant cause," Ure said. Because Congress will eventually have to act on immigration, "it is very short-sighted to repeal this bill."

However, Rep. Glenn Donnelson, R-North Ogden, sponsor of HB241, said, "We can still be compassionate and enforce the law. ... I don't know if we're compassionate if we ignore the law and keep digging a hole for them."

Sen. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, is Senate sponsor of HB241, where the bill is awaiting a hearing.

"I don't think there's any lack of compassion," Dayton said. "I don't think anyone is rushing to judgment. This is a bill that's been discussed for five years."

Joe Reyna, who served on the Mexico Advisory Council of former Mexico President Vicente Fox, pointed to another aspect of Jensen's statement: that lawmakers' actions could have national and international implications.

Outsiders, he said, see Utahns and Mormons as synonymous. So, he said, a slate of laws seen as anti-immigrant or anti-Latino abroad could hurt efforts to develop international trade and bring in tourists.

"They don't differentiate," Reyna said. "Anytime the Legislature passes something that is kind of radical ... there is an image issue."

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com