When Alan Keyes visited Utah on May 7 and 8, in conjunction with the Utah Republican Convention, he chided Utah for its "silence" and "procrastination" at a time when "America needs something that I believe that Utah is in an especial position to provide."

"I'm not entirely sure anymore"--Dr. Keyes continued--"where else we can get [what Utah can give], because you don't get leaders with heart and faith and conviction except they are chosen by people with heart and faith and conviction; people with the courage to take a stand, people with the courage to cast their vote for right."

Dr. Keyes then said:

"I have to say one of the reasons that I always feel like I'm coming home in Utah is that I find so many people with that heart here, with the faith here, with the belief here--and then I look at the councils of our country, and you know what I'm asking myself? In these great debates we're having, the great debates over abortion and same-sex marriage and the conscience of the country in war, where is Utah?"

"I don't mean to say a disparaging word about anybody--because I don't speak ill of fellow Republicans--but I'll ask you, where is Utah?"

Added Dr. Keyes:

"Where is your heart?! Where is your voice?! Where is your conscience?! America needs you now!! America cannot survive on your silence, on your procrastination, on your thought to take care of yourselves today and let the country pay for your silence tomorrow!!"

"God has put you here for a reason!", Dr. Keyes said, "And I believe that that reason is now. He has preserved your heart for a reason! And I believe that reason is here. He has kept your faith for a reason! And I think the moment has come."

These remarks were delivered at a reception for gubernatorial candidate Parley Hellewell on May 7 in Orem, Utah.

The speech also dealt with the terrorism of taking innocent human life.

Comparing the war on abortion to the war on terror, Dr. Keyes said, "It turns out that the evil that we fight is but the shadow of the evil that we do."

In addition, the speech dealt with the importance of the traditional family--especially for the benefit of children.

Dr. Keyes further stressed the need to find leaders with integrity:

"I think that what one really needs right now in America is just to find one person who has the conviction and the principle and the wisdom to be able to stand there, and when the moment is right and needed for it, to say one single word that a free people must remember how to say. What is that word? NO!!"

He said:

"When they tell us we cannot pray, say no! When they tell us we cannot honor God, say no! When they tell us that we must cast away our understanding of sin and be dictated to by judges masquerading now as our high priests, say no!"

"And if we have forgotten how to do that, then we're not going to be free anymore, it's very simple. But if we remember and we can put in place leaders with a background, the experience, the courage, the faith, the heart, the proven conviction to do it no matter what, then I think we will stand, and our liberty will stand, and our freedom will stand, and our hope will stand, and our children will stand--stand in freedom--because they still have the right as citizens to go down on their knees in prayer. That's what we need."

For a transcript of the entire speech, click here.

For a photo gallery, click here.