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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- On Utah's Capitol Hill, the Legislature begins its work the same way each day: A call for lawmakers to gather on the House or Senate floor, followed by a prayer and the pledge.
Most say the prayers are a welcome, although a small minority say they're sometimes uncomfortable with the tradition because the nature of the prayers favor the state's dominant faith. Most members of the 104-member Utah Legislature are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"I'd be lying if I didn't say that sometimes being of a minority faith, sometimes I feel excluded," said Rep. David Litvack, D-Salt Lake City, who is Jewish. "It's religious in nature because you can't run away from the nature of prayer."
Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, believes prayer sets the tone of a legislative meeting. He said he has witnessed prayers by Muslims, Native Americans, members of the Jewish faith, Hindus and various Christian traditions.
"We don't give too much direction as to what is said," Valentine said. "Some people, in the form of a prayer, have called us to repentance and chided us."
In the Senate, a secretary is assigned to find people to offer the prayer. The House invited each member of its body to pray or invite someone to pray in their place.
Utah's Supreme Court said the practice was constitutional in 1983 and not in violation of the First Amendment which forbids a national religion and calls for a separation of church and state. Justices said the prayers were part of a secular tradition carried out since the nation was formed.
"This unique history leads us to accept the interpretation of the First Amendment draftsman who saw no real threat to the Establishment Clause arising from the practice of prayer similar to that now challenged," the court said.
House Minority Leader Brad King, D-Price, said most of the prayers carry a common theme of service and "remembering the voiceless."
"To me, that's a positive thing as we try to understand about feelings and the beliefs of all constituents," King said.
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Information from: Deseret Morning News
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
