The music of the famed Mormon Tabernacle Choir punctuates the sessions. Members across the earth gather in conference sessions to hear doctrinal messages from Church leaders, to demonstrate support of those leaders, and to hear pronouncements of change in Church programs and policies or news of the Church, such as locations for newly constructed temples. Conference messages were first translated into different languages in 1962. Conference sessions were viewed beyond the Intermountain region beginning in 1953, while satellite broadcasts began in 1975 and Internet availability started in 1999.

Wider access to general conference commenced with a radio broadcast in 1923 and a television transmission in 1949. The Tabernacle was actually closed during this time frame the leadership meetings were held in the Assembly Hall, also on Temple Square. During World War II, general conference was confined to Church leaders only as wartime travel restrictions impacted members. George, Logan and Coalville.Ī nationwide 1919 flu epidemic postponed conference from April to June of that year another flu scare forced the cancellation of the October 1957 meetings. Conferences continued in the Tabernacle until 2000, with occasional 19th-century exceptions when gatherings were held in other Utah cities: Provo, St. The first general conference meeting there was conducted in 1867. The industrious settlers built an adobe tabernacle as a meeting place and then began construction of the world-famed Tabernacle that sits on Temple Square today. Meeting facilities were limited in the newly settled Salt Lake Valley the first conference was convened in a bowery. The meetings resumed along the trail in Iowa and Nebraska and then began in Salt Lake City in 1848. The western exodus of the Church, which began in February 1846, meant no general conference. The first conference meeting outside the United States was also held in Great Britain that year. Then in 1840, conferences began the semiannual schedule. One 1833 meeting was held on the Big Blue River ferry boat in Missouri, for example, and the geographically scattered members continued to meet in various locations until most settled in Nauvoo, Illinois. Only 27 members were present.Ĭonferences continued as early members moved from New York to Ohio, Missouri and Illinois. Founder Joseph Smith called the original conference of the newly organized Church on 9 June 1830, shortly after the 6 April 1830 organization of the faith.

General conference