The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will recognise Auckland Mayor Len Brown’s service to families this Wednesday (23 May 2012) at the Church’s Redoubt Road, Manukau meetinghouse.
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Pacific Area President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Elder James J. Hamula will present a Family Values Award to Mayor Brown in recognition of his support of Auckland families.
Elder Kevin W. Pearson, First Counselor in the Pacific Area Presidency, and Area Seventy Elder Michael Roberts will accompany Elder Hamula.
The Church recognises leaders in communities around the world for their service to families and advocacy for traditional marriage and family values such as fidelity, love, unity, civility, education, community involvement and citizenship.
Other recipients of the Church’s Family Values Award include Hon Peter Dunne, Member of Parliament; former Wellington Mayor Mark Blumsky; Sharron Cole, former Deputy Chief Commissioner of the New Zealand Families Commission; former Hamilton Deputy Mayor John Gallagher; Archbishop Alex J. Brunett (Seattle, Washington); Scottish Parliament’s Andrew Welsh; and former Lord Mayor of Suva, Fiji, Ratu Peni Volavola.
Showing his reflective, personal side, Mayor Len Brown posted on his Facebook page last Sunday: “Happy Mothers Day to all mums. A day of reflection for me and my sisters. Mum, Ngaire passed away when she was only 47, a wonderful mum, Taumaranui girl and a daughter of the depression. Left her with great simple values for life. We were very lucky to have her as our mum.”
In The family: A Proclamation to the World, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints affirms that: “The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honour marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.”
Mormon Newsroom adds that: “The concept of a united family that lives and progresses forever is at the core of Latter-day Saint doctrine. Within families led by a father and a mother, children develop virtues such as love, trust, loyalty, cooperation and service.”