Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout New Zealand, Australia and other nations are preparing to participate in this year’s Anzac Day services.
In many cases Latter-day Saints will join with others at memorial services organized by local councils and community groups in honouring those who have represented their nation in defense of freedom.
The Auckland New Zealand Mt Roskill Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will host a memorial service for Latter-day Saints and others from the community on Anzac Day at the Church’s Pah Road meetinghouse.
Stake President, Anthony Wilson, hopes the event will grow into a very positive community event over the coming years.
“We are grateful for those who have, with great courage, stood up for peace and freedom, for our way of life, and our nation,” he said. “We want to remember them and honour them, as well as thank those who are currently serving our country.”
“One of the freedoms we hold dear to our hearts is religious freedom ― the freedom to believe, worship, practice and share our religion as our consciences lead us to do so. We cannot take this and other freedoms for granted, and those who have fought for these freedoms are owed our deepest gratitude.”
He added, “Our children and youth also need opportunities to look back with understanding and respect, so they can more ably face their own challenges in life with courage and a sense of loyalty to our nation and one another.”
The Anzac Day service at the Latter-day Saints’ Pah Road, Epsom meetinghouse will begin at 6:30am. Remarks will be offered by Jay Seymour, a returned serviceman, and President Anthony Wilson. Children from nine local Latter-day Saint congregations will lay wreaths in remembrance of fallen men and women of the military.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
The Church’s Mormon.org website states: “Our faith in God motivates us to be conscientious citizens of our country, state and town. If we keep the big picture in mind, we remember that we're all sons and daughters of God—literal brothers and sisters. By doing our best to be good citizens, we are making the world around us a more beautiful, peaceful and fair place for our own families and our fellow human beings.”
Latter-day Saint apostle, Elder Quentin L. Cook, referred to the distinction between world peace and personal peace in an address in April 2013. “I have been impressed with the doctrinal difference between universal or world peace and personal peace,” he said. “We earnestly hope and pray for universal peace, but it is as individuals and families that we achieve the kind of peace that is the promised reward of righteousness. This peace is a promised gift of the Savior’s mission and atoning sacrifice.”
Watch a video titled “Let not your heart be troubled: A message of peace for Latter-day Saints."