is not given any special emphasis in their teachings. The term "Apostolic" does not refer to the doctrine of apostolic succession; rather, it denotes an effort to live as near as possible in the Laestadian view to the Apostle's doctrines and practices. Congregations and concentrations As of 2017, significant concentrations of Laestadian adherents and churches which can trace their roots to Laestadianism exist in the following locales: United States The Mat-Su Valley, Alaska Phoenix, Arizona Prescott, Arizona Hemet, California Martinez, California Glenwood Springs, Colorado Bethel, Connecticut Lake Worth, Florida Waukegan and Zion, Illinois Elkton, Maryland Centerville, Massachusetts Fitchburg, Massachusetts Calumet, Hancock, Houghton, and nearby towns in Michigan (the "Copper Country") Brighton, Michigan Howell, Michigan Ironwood, Michigan Iron River, Michigan Eben Junction, Michigan Negaunee and Ishpeming, Michigan Minneapolis, Minnesota (northwestern suburbs) Brainerd, Minnesota Cokato, Minnesota Dayton, Minnesota (northwest Minneapolis exurb) Deer River, Minnesota Duluth and Cloquet, Minnesota Eagle Lake Township, Minnesota Elk River, Minnesota Esko, Minnesota Floodwood, Minnesota Menahga, Minnesota and surrounding area New York Mills, Minnesota Rockford, Minnesota Virginia, Minnesota Kalispell, Montana New Ipswich, New Hampshire New York City (though small but has a community) High Point, North Carolina Dickinson, North Dakota Portland, Oregon Greer, South Carolina Hamlin County, South Dakota Utah County, Utah (primarily south of Provo, Utah) Greenbrier, Tennessee Battle Ground, Washington Davenport, Washington Longview, Washington Seattle, Washington (northwestern suburbs) Colville, Washington Spokane, Washington Marengo, Wisconsin Kenosha, Wisconsin Oulu, Wisconsin Wilmington, North Carolina Canada Lethbridge, Alberta Vanderhoof, British Columbia Vancouver, British Columbia Winnipeg, Manitoba Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Toronto, Ontario Outlook, Saskatchewan Dunblane, Saskatchewan Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Regina, Saskatchewan Beliefs and characteristics American Laestadians practice varied degrees of fundamentalist Christian belief. Most Laestadians avoid alcohol; varying numbers of adherents avoid a number of "worldly" practices, including dancing, card-playing, cinema, television, popular music, and the performing arts (listed in approximate order of avoidance). However, caffeine is widely consumed and tobacco is generally tolerated, but preached against when under 18 as most jurisdictions have laws against minors purchasing tobacco products. Family size tends to be large compared to the American average; most families in non-urban congregations have between 4 and 10 children, while most churches have a few families with 12 or 15 children. Birth control is generally not practiced; it is preached as sin unless after consideration and counsel with medical doctors it is determined to be necessary for the health of the mother. Birth control is not tolerated because