Citing the importance of children to both families and nations, Elder Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Quorum of the Twelve spoke Wednesday on the third and final day of the fifth World Congress of Families in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

"On all sides, the family is under attack," he said. "Many wonder if the institution is no longer needed. Our response is certain. If there is any hope for the future of nations, that hope resides in the family. Our children are our wealth; our children are our strength; our children are indeed our future."

Also speaking at the conference were Elder Nelson's wife, Wendy Watson Nelson, a professor of marriage and family therapy for 25 years before her April 2006 marriage; and Sheri Dew, president and CEO of Deseret Book Company and former counselor in the LDS Church's Relief Society general presidency.

Founded in 1997, the World Congress of Families is an international network of pro-family organizations, scholars, leaders and people of goodwill from more than 60 countries that seek to strengthen the natural family as the fundamental social unit and the "seedbed" of civil society.

Elder Nelson cited "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" as "a document that supports the development of happy children who are morally strong." He read extensive excerpts from "The Family" and encouraged conference attendees to procure a complimentary copy of the document at the WCF or download the text in any of 81 translations from the Internet.

"This Congress can also help with persuasive statements and continuing efforts to defend marriage and promote the interests of children in traditional families," Elder Nelson said. "While competing voices battle for approval, the message from this conference must be clear. … Our message is certain! Children are the hope for the future of our nations!"

Saying "We all know that every nation is ultimately at the mercy of its families," Dew added: "If families are riddled with problems, society eventually collapses under the weight of problems too vast for any government to meet. If families are strong, society is strong."

She called for move to principles of virtue. "A virtuous life is an easier, more fulfilling life. And it is one of the most powerful keys to strengthening families and therefore to strengthening our world."

Sister Nelson emphasized just how important spiritually strong families are to the fate of nations.

"After decades of my work," she said, "as a nurse, a psychologist and a marriage and family therapy professor, researcher and clinician, I believe that if we want to face an uncertain future with certainty, we need families that are spiritually strong."

e-mail: jaskar@desnews.com