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LDS Leader Speaks at Vatican Colloquium on Marriage

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Pope Francis greets President Henry B. Eyring at the Vatican colloquium on marriage in Rome

  A top leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was among the speakersat a colloquium on marriage at the Vatican on Tuesday.

The leader of the Roman Catholic Church told the gathering of religious leaders from around the world that “children have the right to grow up with a father and a mother.”  His message was echoed by a long list of speakers, including President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency of the LDS church.

Eyring called for a “renaissance” of marriage and family life.

“Such a renaissance," he says, "will require people to try for the ideal and to keep trying, even when the happy result is slow to come and when loud voices mock the effort.”

Father James Martin is the editor of theCatholic magazine America. He says the Vatican holds meetings like this all the time, but the participation of Mormon leaders is noteworthy.

Martin tells KUER, “I think that of all the groups, maybe the Mormons have been the least active in dealing with the Vatican.”

Pastor Rick Warren and Russell Moore of the Southern Baptist Convention were among the other American religious leaders invited to speak at the colloquium.

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