FILE - In this April 2, 2016, file photo, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs during the opening session of the two-day Mormon church conference in Salt Lake City. The well-known Mormon Tabernacle Choir was renamed Friday, Oct. 5, 2018, to strip out the word Mormon in a move showing the faith's new president is serious about ending shorthand names for the religion that have been used for generations by church members and previously promoted by the church. The gospel singing group will now be called "The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square," The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said in a statement. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
SALT LAKE CITY — Tens of thousands of people will be in downtown Salt Lake this weekend to attend the 188th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held at the Conference Center located at 60 N Temple.
General Conference is a twice-yearly gathering for members of the church and those interested in learning more about the faith where church leaders will speak on multiple spiritual topics.
Each of the five sessions is broadcast throughout the world in approximately 80 languages to over 100 countries and you’ll be able to see it broadcast live right here on staging.kslnewsradio.com as well as on the air at 102.7 FM and 1160 AM.
The first three sessions will begin Saturday at 10 am and 2 pm with the General Women’s Session to take place at 6 PM on Saturday evening for the very first time, and the last two sessions will be at 10 AM and 2 PM on Sunday.
Church leaders have introduced a few new security measures for this weekends meetings, they have stressed that there is no security threat, perceived or otherwise for the meetings.
“We’re just trying to get consistent with what’s happening around the country, as far as how to secure our buildings,” said David Miles, Events and Support Services Director.
Some of the changes include ensuring that any water bottles that are brought in must be clear and cannot be metal.
Any attendees bringing bags or umbrellas inside the Conference Center must be small. Large bags won’t be permitted.
And going forward there won’t be any personal items such as large purses, backpacks, shopping bags, suitcases and food items that will be stored on Church property. A policy that will keep the flow of people coming in and out of the 21,000 seat Conference Center a smooth operation according to Miles,
“We don’t have the time and the ability to keep people moving quickly, if we’re having to look through large items, and then trying to store them,” he said.
A full list of the new changes can be found here.
Be sure and stick with us throughout the weekend where we’ll have plenty of special programming to keep you company.
On Saturday we’ll have reports from your morning companions Brian Martin and Amanda Dickson, where Brian with afternoon news producer Kira Hoffelmeyer where they’ll dive into how today’s technology is helping us find yesterday’s missing heroes, followed by a special report from Amanda Dickson, who will take a look at little-known therapies for common mental health problems.
You can hear both of those programs at Noon and 1:00 PM respectively.
On Sunday be sure and join Doug Wright where he’ll talk about the story behind the unlikely friendship between Jane Manning James and Emma Hale Smith at 8:30 AM before Sunday’s morning session and again right after the session where he’ll be hosting a discussion about the first volume of the newly published history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titled, Saints: The Story of The Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days.
Click here to see all of our special programmings for Conference Weekend.