Show f t Senator Garn speaks at forum r T t 1 rr k f 1 c ct t a SS j K i r d dr r ri i gj d f Staci Washington Horizon Associate Editor Last Friday United States Senator Jake Garn spoke to a capacity crowd at the Institute Institute Institute In In- on how his religion has affected his political life As a Mormon public figure in Washington DC D.C. Garn said You do live in a fish bowl and people do expect expect expect ex ex- ex- ex a lot more o out t of a Mor Mor- mon This is why he is careful he is aware that people do watch For instance instance instance in in- stance people often ask him if it is ok for a Mormon to drink Diet Coke I think when you are in public office and in public life you must be careful of what you do because you reflect the church Senator Garn Gam said I look at atthe atthe atthe the standards of our could solve a lot lotof lotof lotof of problems if everyone lived up to the standards of the church Jake Garn is a fifth generation generation generation genera genera- tion Mormon All eight of his pioneering great- great grandparents came to Utah prior to the installation of the railroad in 1869 His great-grandfather great Daniel Garn was Brigham Youngs Young's bodyguard and the first warden warden warden war war- den of the Utah state prison Garn Gam recalled that he didn't have the opportunity to fulfill an mission call to Norway at 19 because of the outbreak of the Korean War Although he was eligible for a special exemption he was in the navy ROTC and was told that if he didn't serve in the navy he might be drafted into the army and be sent into the trenches of Korea In some ways Garn Garns s said id he feels that he has al always always always al- al ways been a missionary Garn believes that serious challenges face young people today and that these problems are not the same kind his generation faced Garn attended public school in Utah He recalls that while he was in high school the most outrageous trouble anyone had ever heard of was when one kid sneaked behind behind behind be be- hind a building and smoked a tobacco cigarette He acknowledged the many pressures and problems that face college students as well He said it is important to live the Mormon religion with a attitude He Heis Heis Heis is aware that college life can be full of many problems and pressures for young people as they work hard to make something for themselves Garn encouraged hard work and study but reminded students students students stu stu- stu- stu dents to keep their priorities straight t in life Religion plays a very important important important im im- im- im while indirect part partin in his political life But he said that he doesn't push it iton iton iton on people He believes that a Christian Christian Christian Chris Chris- tian attitude of love and kindness toward one another as human numan beings is an important important important tant standard to live up to as Mormons We Mormons are admired for our standards and the way we live Garn Gam said Garn reminded listeners of his April 12 1985 mission on the United States space shuttle Discovery Because of his experience as a payload specialist and naval pilot Garn was selected to participate participate participate par par- in Discovery Flight 5 SID MD ID As he looked back through space he said he couldn't help but think We Weare Weare Weare are all Gods God's children no matter where we live or what color our skin is In closing he reminded the audience of the importance importance importance tance of eternal life in the church He shared about the two most important things that remind him of this his wife's death and his daughters daughter's near death Garn donated one of his kidneys to save his daughters daughter's life Family and eternal life are more important to him than being a senator or having money Garn was born in Richfield Richfield Richfield Rich Rich- field Utah in 1932 He attended attended attended at at- tended Utah public schools and received his Bachelors Bachelor's of Science in business and finance at the University of Utah He later served four years as a Salt Lake City commissioner commissioner commissioner com com- missioner prior to three years as Mayor of Salt Lake City a term lasting from 74 1972 Elected and reelected United States Senator since 1974 Senator Garn is presently serving his third term in office |