Romney, addressing the Frontiers of Freedom annual Ronald Reagan Gala in Washington Wednesday night, began by discussing that day’s Supreme Court ruling upholding the congressional ban on a controversial abortion procedure.

He then discussed the Virginia Tech slayings and segued into a broader discussion of evil that included lengthy remarks on what Romney sees as the threat presented by Iran.

Since entering the race, Romney has sought to allay conservatives’ concerns that he has “flip-flopped” on social issues like gun control, abortion and gay rights.

During his speech, Romney, a Mormon, twice quoted the Bible, vilified liberals who he said would cut defense spending to pay for more social programs and affirmed his belief that marriage and adoption should be reserved only for heterosexual couples.

“It’s time to say to the world … that in America, every child deserves a mother and a father,” Romney said.

Romney got some help from Frontiers of Freedom founder and former Sen. Malcolm Wallop (R-Wyo.), who in his opening remarks described Romney as “Reaganesque.”

“Make no mistake, Gov. Romney has faced some of the most extreme elements of the left,” Wallop said before presenting the former governor with the group’s Reagan Award.

Romney, mindful of the importance of such praise, closed with words most familiar to the crowd saying that the American spirit is “why we can be confident that, in the words of one great American, this nation will always remain a ‘shining city on a hill.’”