This week members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are once again gearing up their goodies, questions and family activities for general conference weekend. This article will feature details of the conference and unique things to look forward to this year.
The conference, which happens semi-annually in April and October, will be on Saturday and Sunday, April 6-7 this year.
There are five sessions:
- Saturday morning session, 10 a.m.
- Saturday afternoon session, 2 p.m.
- Saturday evening session, 6 p.m.
- Sunday morning session, 10 a.m.
- Sunday afternoon session, 2 p.m.
The worldwide conference will be broadcast live on the church’s website, the General Conference Youtube channel, the gospel library app, ksl and byutv.
Finally, here are a few things to look forward to unique to this conference:
1. Sustaining of new positions in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Elder Patrick Kearon is the newest member of the Quorum since the passing of Elder M. Russell Ballard. Elder Ballard also left an open position for Acting President of the Quorum. President Jeffrey R. Holland, as third-most senior apostle, has been ordained Acting President.
2. President Holland’s talk.
The 82-year-old President Holland who is now Acting President will be attending general conference for the first time since October 2022. For the past two conferences, Elder Holland has been forced to stay home or in the hospital because of health conditions. As Jeffrey R. Holland is a common favorite speaker, members will be looking forward to his return.
3. More Tabernacle Choir global participants.
An initiative to invite global participants to sing with the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square for general conference began in April 2023 as a pilot project. The program was so successful that it was continued for October that year and now April 2024. So far, the choir has announced 12 global participants from Argentina, Chile, South Korea, Austria, France, Guatemala, Ghana, Sweden, Denmark and England.
4. More temples!
Arguably the most important part of any conference is the prophet’s talk. One aspect that members always look forward to and speculate about is the temples announced. Last October in his talk “Think Celestial!,” President Russell M. Nelson announced 20 temples. Could there be even more this year? I guess we’ll just have to see.
– by Abbie Call
Abbie Call – Cannonville/Kirksville, Missouri
Abbie Call is a journalist and editor at The Byway. She graduated in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in editing and publishing from Brigham Young University. Her favorite topics to write about include anything local, Utah’s megadrought, and mental health and meaning in life. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hanging out with family, quilting and hiking with the dog she’s getting soon — fingers crossed.
Find Abbie on Threads @abbieb.call or contact her at [email protected].