The Salt Lake Tribune allowed managing director of LDS Public Affairs Michael Otterson to publish a reply defending the LDS Church’s practice of meeting with Utah state legislators once each year. There are actually two meetings, one with Republican leaders and one with Democratic leaders.

Otterson summarized the conduct and content of the meetings as follows:

An expression of appreciation to those who work long hours and devote a good slice of their lives to serving our communities.

A reminder that we meet with both parties, and that the church maintains its position of partisan neutrality.

Much more listening on the part of church representatives than speaking. Legislators are much more prone to express a variety of views on issues than are church leaders.

As any legislator who has ever attended these lunches will tell you, the LDS Church’s central message is to encourage legislators to be wise, thoughtful and compassionate as they go about the people’s business. It is not prescriptive. The church takes a position on very few bills anyway, but when it does that position is made public.

That last remark about positions being made public is to counter the idea that the LDS Church makes unacknowledged backroom deals with legislators, the sort of rumor that circulates freely in Utah without need of factual support. I imagine one of the purposes of these meetings is to provide a channel for publicly reported exchanges between LDS leaders and legislators and avoid private, unreported phone calls or meetings. It goes without saying that representatives of the LDS Church have a right to meet with legislators, just like representatives of other faiths and other interest groups. This is America.

The original column to which Otterson is replying ran last week: “End LDS-legislator huddle.”