The Salt Lake Tribune is reporting that former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt (now head of Health & Human Services) spent considerable time mulling how Mormon doctrine could better be applied to public life.

Also turns out that many of those “private” conversations were tape-recorded, to do away with the hassle of taking notes. Leavitt has now asked that those notes be removed from the public archives.

From the Trib:

Over several mornings in late 1996, the group delved into the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants, exploring the lessons from Mormon scripture and how they apply to modern government.

Leavitt told The Tribune he has not held comparable gatherings in his current role as HHS secretary, or previously as administrator at the Environmental Protection Agency.

In the transcripts, Leavitt said he felt an obligation, looking ahead to an easy 1996 re-election win, to use the ‘blessing’ of his popularity to convey a message strong on values.

‘I mean, I think that the opportunity I have in January the 6th is to get up and to say something in a form that’s big enough and appropriate enough for me to lay down a marker. I think that’s going to be done in a little way and a big way, really, with this values campaign. I think that’s going to be a big marker, because it’s using all the tools of communication and it’s going to draw on this trust that’s been created by whatever combination of circumstances and personality and just blessing.'”