Local leaders from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will hold a two-day stake conference in Auburn this weekend to address key topics, notably marriage and youth.

"The purpose of the stake conference is to provide instruction and inspiration to the members," said Jerry Miles, stake president who will be among the church leaders scheduled to speak.

A priesthood leadership session will open the conference at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Auburn Stake Center, located at 1820 F St. SE. An adult session will follow at 7 p.m. Sunday's two-hour general session will begin at 10 a.m.

The conference will involve six Auburn-area wards (congregations) and one branch, a membership of about 3,000.

The community is welcome to attend.

Miles will address several topics at the conference from a doctoral and practical standpoint, including the importance of strengthening marriages and improving relationships between parents and youth.

"It's my hope that I could discuss with (youth), in a way, that will have some stickiness to it – the need to be more respectful to their parents and to develop better relationships with their parents," Miles said.

Miles will be joined by stake counselors Jay Bulson and Mark Little as speakers at the two-day conference.

According to Ted Leonard, a church leader, the biannual conference is an important event to reach out and connect with followers, especially now with the many challenges the church faces.

"We're defining who we are to others. We're trying to communicate to others of who we are as a church," Leonard said.

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