News Release

Church Hosts Hamilton Justices of the Peace at Special Devotional Meeting

50 Justices of the Peace from Hamilton, New Zealand and surrounding areas joined together for a special devotional meeting at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Higgins Road meetinghouse on Sunday 21 June. 

 

The occasion was the Annual Church Service of The Waikato Justices of the Peace Association.

Hamilton mayor, Julie Hardaker, and Members of Parliament, Tim Macindoe and David Bennett also attended the meeting.

Themes of the evening included compassion, service and values.

After reciting passages of scripture from the New Testament on serving those in need (Matthew 25:34-40), Elyse Amai, a young Latter-day Saint woman said, “When I think of service I often grumble a bit because I think of big acts of manual labour. But really, service can just be simple things like smiling at a person, helping someone with their groceries, or opening the door for an elderly person.  Service can be a huge part of your life if you allow it to be.”

Marilyn Williams, another Latter-day Saint who attended the meeting, expanded on the theme of service by discussing the parable of the Good Samaritan. “We are the Good Samaritans of today,” she said. 

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if when we heard the word ‘Kiwi’ or ‘New Zealander’ we automatically thought of the word ‘good’ in front of them. She likened the Justices of the Peace to Good Samaritans who devote their time and talents to helping people.

Thomas Sutcliffe, a barrister by profession who serves as a lay leader of the Glenview Hamilton Stake of the Church, concluded the service by talking about the importance of religious values in today’s world. 

He said, “The freedoms we hold today need people of faith to preserve them. We need to be vigilant and active in defending them. People who practice their religious beliefs make our communities and countries better places to live.” 

Following the meeting the Justices of the Peace assembled in the hall for dinner where Mayor Hardaker expressed appreciation for the service that the Justices of the Peace give to the people of Hamilton.

“People give service because they want to make a difference, be involved and help people,” Mayor Hardaker said.  “I’ve noticed over the last two or three years how valuable that has been and how much that has grown in Hamilton.” 

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