San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young was presented the "Distinguished Public Service Award" by the Washington, D.C., chapter of the BYU Management Society at the 14th annual Gala Dinner held at the J.W. Mariott Hotel here Saturday, Feb. 28.

Prior to the dinner, ambassadors and diplomats representing 14 countries - Belarus, Cameroon, China, Germany, Honduras, Hungary, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Uganda and Zimbabwe - visited with the LDS athlete and several LDS members of Congress at a reception hosted by the Church's International Affairs Office."This gala dinner gives diplomats the opportunity to become familiar with who we are and what we stand for as Latter-day Saints," said Ann Santini, director of International Affairs for the Church. "When they return to their countries, we have developed a unique friendship and they have a basic understanding of what we believe."

Young, the featured speaker at the dinner, was chosen to receive the BYU Management Society award because of his work with charitable organizations, said Brian Swinton, chairman of the Washington, D.C., BYU Management Society.

"Besides being a stellar athlete, Steve Young is a role model to thousands of youth. We honor him for his strong commitment to and active participation in charitable causes across the globe," said Brother Swinton.

Young founded and chairs the Forever Young Foundation, which is involved in children's charities in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Utah. He also travels throughout the country speaking to numerous LDS youth groups.

Sharing anecdotes from his football career at the dinner, he elicited warmth and laughter while addressing a capacity audience of 1,400 guests.

Elder J. Willard Marriott Jr., an Area Authority Seventy, attended with most of the presidents of the metropolitan area's 13 stakes as well as many members of the Church and BYU Management Society.

U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch from Utah, last year's recipient of the Distinguished Public Service Award, attended the dinner as did LDS Congressmen Ron Packard, Wally Herger, John Doolittle and Buck McKeon of California, along with Congressman Tom Lantos of California, and their spouses.

In his address, Young spoke of many gospel principles that have guided him in his personal and professional life, such as work, honesty, obedience, personal responsibility, hope, character, integrity, and performing good deeds.

"These principles are timeless and they must be practiced to the point of habitual behavior, over and over and over," he said.

Drawing allusions between the game of football and the game of life, the famous LDS athlete said: "Most of the principles that should govern life become instinctive, practiced and respected. These principles need to be taught, they need to be experienced, they need to be part of the rules of schools, and taught in families. I believe the game of life needs to be played with firm principles just like football. When the opposition stretches the principles, life becomes an habitual performance established by practice, repeated many, many times over."

Following the event, Congressman Doolittle said, "I enjoyed the dinner because it spotlights one very accomplished person who then addresses us and motivates us to live higher ideals."

Ambassador Amos Benard Muvengwa Midzi of Zimbabwe, who has attended the BYU Management Society's Gala Dinner for the past four years, said he attends because of the wonderful speeches. Ambassador Valery V. Tsepakalo of Belarus, who just arrived with his wife in the United States last summer, said, "I really have enjoyed attending the events of the LDS Church. We feel very comfortable at your events and feel that we are among friends."