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Franklin Graham, eldest son of famed evangelist Billy Graham, doesn't share some of his fellow Christians' skepticism of the Mormon faith.
"I voted for Mitt Romney," Graham told reporters Tuesday after a lively prayer rally with an estimated 1,400 eager participants on the steps of Utah's Capitol. "If he had been elected, this would be a different country."
The political scene in America "has dropped to a new low ... egged on by the media, looking for ratings," the gray-haired preacher lamented. "Gays and lesbians have their candidates, those who are for open borders have their candidates, those who want higher taxes have their candidates. As Christians, we have a right to have our candidates running as well."
That was the main message Graham is bringing on his Decision America 2016 tour, stopping at all 50 state capitols to urge Christians to pray, vote and get involved in supporting candidates who promote "biblical values."
Half sermon, half motivational speech, Graham led the crowd in several prayers for themselves and the nation. He read Bible passages and then told his listeners to hold hands and confess aloud their own sins and those of their forefathers, some of whom were "alcoholics and slave-holders."
A low hum washed over the flag-waving throng as Utahns mumbled their individual prayers, punctuated by cries of "Amen," "Hallelujah" and "Praise the Lord."
"Our country is in trouble spiritually, racially, economically and politically," the leader said. "I have no hope in the Democratic Party. I have no hope in the Republican Party. My hope is in almighty God."
It's time to put God back in politics, said Graham, who has no plans to endorse a 2016 presidential candidate, and "the most important thing we can do is pray ... and vote."
Graham rattled off what he said were the nation's "sins," including abortion, same-sex marriage, pride, materialism, racism, lack of care for the poor, and using sex and violence "for entertainment."
In 2001, he was invited to pray at George W. Bush's inauguration and ended in the name of "the Lord Jesus Christ." For that, he said Tuesday, the president was sued.
Such threats make Christians "timid," Graham said. "And we cannot afford to be timid." At several points, he quoted his well-known father, who is 97, living in North Carolina, and mentally alert.
In 1976, Billy Graham urged Christians to "study the issues and vote." The renowned pastor predicted that "unless America turns back to God ... we will fail as a nation."
Today, his son said, that seems to becoming true.
In his father's day, the enemy was communism; today it's secularism, Graham said, but they are "both godless."
It is time for Christians to run for office and not just for president, he said.
They could seek positions as mayors or on city councils or school boards.
"Become a political activist for God," the evangelist pleaded. "Honor God at home ... and in public."
The rally ended with the crowd singing "God Bless America" as Graham walked off the platform and entered the Decision America bus.
Addressing reporters a few minutes later, the Christian leader answered a question about Muslims.
Graham's nonprofit organization, Samaritan's Purse, is helping victims of last week's attacks in Brussels as well as refugees seeking safety on several Greek islands.
In this country, though, "we need to have laws to protect ourselves," he said. "We have some bad people coming into the United States and we don't even know who they are."
For attendees such as Ron Baron, who attends Mountain View Christian Assembly of God church in Sandy, Tuesday's gathering was "overdue."
"We need these injections of energy," Baron said. "His best message was to go back and be bold."
Baron, a Jew who converted to Christianity just a few years ago, also appreciated the Graham's encouragement to get involved in local politics.
The middle-aged believer, wearing a black leather jacket, said he's always had a vision of himself as a mayor.
Now, Baron said, he might just do it.
Twitter: @religiongal