LDS Newsroom: “What is General Conference?”
April 3, 2009 by DH
Filed under LDS Beliefs
2 October 2008 Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide gather twice yearly for what they call “general conference.” This is in addition to their weekly worship services each Sunday.
Latter-day Saints come from many corners of the earth to attend in person in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Nearly 30,000 attend each of the five meetings. Overflow facilities on nearby Temple Square accommodate the remainder of those who cannot fit in the 21,000-seat facility. Many millions of Mormons who are not able to attend in Salt Lake City participate via satellite broadcast in over 6,000 church buildings in 85 countries or by watching on television or the Internet at home.
General conferences are conducted each April and October and comprise five two-hour meetings held over two days. The April meetings are called annual conferences and those in October, semiannual.
Church leaders speak on a variety of topics from the gospel of Jesus Christ. They address Latter-day Saints as well as government, faith and community representatives and other conference guests. Speakers include the worldwide leader of the Church, President Thomas S. Monson, members of the First Presidency, the governing body of the Church, the Quorum of Twelve Apostles and other leaders. They encourage individuals and families to live by the principles and doctrines of the Church.
Music for the conference is provided by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and organists, other Church choirs and the congregation. The music emphasizes gospel themes.
Church leaders have conducted general conferences since 1830, when the Church was organized by Joseph Smith. According to historian Glen M. Leonard, “about 30 baptized members attended the first conference along with others who were interested in the Church.”
Today, the conferences are simultaneously interpreted into 94 languages ranging from Albanian to Yapese to serve a large and growing international membership. American Sign Language interpretation and closed captioning are also available.
