Senate majority leader Harry Reid addressed a crowd of more than 4,000 at BYU's Marriott Center on Tuesday. He talked about his faith and his conversion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he didn't leave out politics.

"My faith and political beliefs are deeply intertwined. I am a Democrat because I am a Mormon, not in spite of it," said Reid, D-Nev.

Paul Thomas, a retired Brigham Young University English professor and Democrat who listened to the speech, said Republicans don't represent the values of Latter-day Saints.

"They aren't caring. They don't love the poor," Thomas said.

Reid defended himself against critics who claim he can't be a Mormon and a Democrat.

"I just think people in the church have to understand there are issues that are more important than abortion and gay rights."

Reid said he has made a career of being a pro-life Democrat. He called anti-abortion activists who bomb abortion clinics "about as anti-American as you can be."

He said some leaders who had very conservative views have led members of the LDS Church in the wrong direction.

"I think in past years we've had some very prominent members of the church, [like] Ezra Taft Benson, [who] were really right-wing people politically, and members of the church are obedient and followers in the true sense of the word, and I think that they have taken members of the church down a path that is the wrong path."

He said the political leanings of many Mormons could change.

"Democrats have not always been in the minority, and I believe we won't be for long," said Reid, referring to the LDS community. Reid said that change could be the fault of the current administration.

"The best missionary we have for that is George Bush," Reid said. Reid, who strongly opposes the war in Iraq, received applause from the BYU audience when he called the war a mistake.

"I say the invasion of Iraq was the worst foreign policy blunder in our country's history."

He received more applause when he said, "Some say this war of choice was our only reasonable alternative."

Reid spoke about joining the church while a student at Utah State University, eloping because of fear or rejection by his wife's parents, and his life as a public servant. He encouraged students to seek ways to serve even outside of church service.

"With the many blessings you enjoy, including the benefits of this unique, world-famous university, you must also accept the responsibility to go a little further than the others," Reid said.

Reid told students that in this country they have been given opportunities. He grew up in a home with no inside plumbing and no hot water, but made it anyway.

"I learned in America it doesn't matter the education of your parents, what their religion is or isn't, we had none; their social status, we had none; the color of their skin, their economic status, we had none. I am an example of this. If I made it, anyone can."

The turnout at the speech wasn't as high as it would have been for LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley, but BYU spokesman Michael Smart said 4,000 was a good turnout for a forum address. Less than half of the audience gave Reid a standing ovation after he spoke.

Some Republican students who attended the speech enjoyed hearing his point of view. Anna Minalga is a freshman from Ohio. She was surprised to learn that Reid was pro-life.

"He seemed like he really knew what he stood for," Minalga said.

• Brittani Lusk can be reached at 344-2549 or at blusk@heraldextra.com.