GENEVA -- LDS Church members are only one of several denominations represented at the World Congress of Families, but they're making their influence felt in a wide variety of ways.
While not formally representing the LDS Church, church members involved heavily in the congress include nine presenters from Brigham Young University.Richard Wilkins, BYU professor of law, is one of two general secretariats of the congress. Kathryn Balmforth, an attorney and director of BYU's World Family Policy Center, has been instrumental in a committee formed by the congress to help refine a formal policy statement calling for international legislation to strengthen the traditional family.
The World Congress of Families II declaration is expected to be ratified by delegates at the final congress session Wednesday night and will be used by various pro-family groups worldwide to influence international policymaking, specifically at the United Nations, Balmforth said.
Scores of BYU staff members and journalists for KBYU and BYU Newsnet are also participating in the conference. Jim Bell, director of KBYU-TV, said the station is interviewing conference presenters at length, anticipating production of a PBS documentary special on the conference.
BYU representatives have been joined by a delegation of Latter-day Saints -- mostly women as participants at the conference.
Representatives from two Utah-based political lobbying organizations -- United Families International and Family Focus -- are also attending.
A non-sectarian handbook, labeled "The Family Enrichment Program: A Guide For Strengthening Families Through Weekly Family Night," is being distributed free to delegates here. Based on the format of the LDS Family Home Evening manual, it includes lessons on topics including family togetherness, communication, problem-solving and decision-making, showing appreciation and affection, anger management and non-violent behavior, family work and responsibilities, community service and family traditions.
Produced by the BYU School of Social Work, the manual gives instruction on how to organize and plan a "weekly family night," complete with opening and closing prayers, songs, family calendaring, a lesson and "treats," which it notes "are not necessary for a successful Family Night. Let your culture and life situation be your guide."
LDS Church volunteers are also working behind the scenes to help with translation, hosting and crowd control. Others simply came because they felt "compelled to be here," said Ursula Gamble, an LDS mother from Germany who said she decided she needed to attend after reading a brochure about the conference.
"It's been a wonderful opportunity to talk with others who feel strongly about the family," she said. "I've met so many other Mormons here, and we're excited about the chance to talk about these kinds of important issues."
The "Call to the Families of the World," issued earlier this year by congress organizers for distribution worldwide, has been translated into 45 languages by volunteers at BYU. It calls on international policymakers to recognize the importance of the traditional family and to make the family a priority in legislation.
Alice Turley, special assistant to the congress and a member of the LDS Church from Salt Lake City, is coordinating distribution of the petition at the congress and said her booth near the convention hall is "always busy. We're so pleased with the number of people who are interested in taking it home. We're hoping for more than 1 million signatures."
Alan Osmond, also of the LDS Church, is directing entertainment for the congress, including a fireworks show over Lake Geneva as the closing ceremony for the event. "We've had several entertainers from a variety of regions," many of them LDS, "who have come on their own time and without any payment for their performances because they believe in this cause."
Because so many participants are LDS, some here have wondered if the church is over-represented.
"If it's a little Mormon heavy, I praise them. The purpose here is international. If we're overstacked with LDS people, maybe others will realize that and send their people out next time," Osmond said.
"Anyone is welcome to join us, and the message is clear."
Editor's note: Transcripts of speeches given at the congress are available at the following Web sites: (www.worldcongress.org).