Members and guests of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Northern Tasmania gathered in Devonport earlier this month to discuss ways to strengthen faith in God and Jesus Christ, and also how to fortify families.
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Leader of the Devonport Australia Stake of the Church, Lionel Walters, spoke about the importance of families, and of homes being havens of peace and learning.
A Latter-day Saint stake is a group of congregations.
Many speakers quoted from The Family: A Proclamation to the World, a statement outlining the beliefs of the Church regarding marriage and family.
Special emphasis was given during the conference to the counsel given in the proclamation that "faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, work and wholesome recreational activities" are key ingredients in successful and happy families.
The proclamation was first shared with Church members in September 1995 by (then) Church president, Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008).
The Church has a long history of teaching and encouraging family-friendly principles and practices. In 1915 Church leaders established a program that would urge parents to gather their families around them once a week for an evening devoted to family.
This practice, called Family Home Evening, is a time when parents teach children principles of the gospel.