Liahona September 2021 “General Conference: A Worldwide Church Meeting”
Each April and October, the Church holds a series of meetings called general conference. Leaders teach and testify about Jesus Christ and His gospel. General conference is held in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, and is broadcast throughout the world in over 80 languages. All members and any other interested people are invited to listen to the talks.
The First Church Conferences
The Church was officially organized during a meeting on April 6, 1830 (see Doctrine and Covenants 20). The first general conference was held on June 9, 1830. Since then, general conferences have been held under the direction of the President of the Church wherever members could gather. In the 1840s, leaders began holding conference twice a year.
Conference Today
The First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and other Church leaders speak during general conference. The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and other Church choirs provide music. Each conference has five sessions: three on Saturday and two on Sunday.
In the months before conference, Church leaders pray about what to teach. The Lord inspires them to know what they should say. They teach gospel truths and invite us to keep God’s commandments. They also testify of Jesus Christ and encourage us to follow Him.
The Prophets Teach Us the Words of Jesus
Friend October 2023 “I Can Follow Jesus Christ”
Preparing for Conference
Friend September 2023 “The Dinner Guest” Johne’s foster family prepared for conference by learning about a different apostle each night. They taped a picture of the apostle on an empty chair and he was their dinner guest. Then the learned facts and stories about the apostle. Johne loved learning about the Apostles! He couldn’t wait to hear from them at conference.
For the Strength of Youth September 2024 “How to Make Conference Mean More to You”
Learning from Conference
Before general conference, we can pray to hear what the Lord wants us to learn. As we listen to the talks, the Spirit will teach us what we need to know. After conference, the talks appear on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, in the Gospel Library app, and in the Liahona. We can prayerfully study the talks to learn more about Jesus Christ and His gospel.
What Children Love About Conference and What They Learned
Friend November 2022 “Conference Show and Tell” Children tell what they love about conference and show some things they did during conference such as art work, building sugar cube temples, etc. One boy said, “We play a game during conference. We add a sticker to a piece of paper every time we hear the name of Christ. Our papers end up full of stickers!”
Friend May 2022 “Conference Show and Tell” Children tell what they liked about conference and what they learned
Friend November 2021 “Conference Show and Tell” Children tell what they liked about conference.
Friend May 2020 “Show and Tell: Conference Edition” Families from all over the world watch conference. Children tell what they liked about conference and what they learned. November 2020
Friend May 2021 “Conference Show and Tell” Children tell what they liked about conference. Also has pictures and activities children did during conference.
Friend November 2019 “Friends By Mail” During general conference, we used the “Pitch Your Tent” cutouts (March 2018) to create a 3D model and added quotes from President Nelson’s talk! Ava and Maryanne P., ages 8 and 6, Washington, USA
Friend April 2019 “For Parents of Little Ones” Helping children get the most out of conference.
Friend May 2019 “Show and Tell: Conference” Children share what they did during conference like building a block temple or playing a fun game during conference. One family filled 15 bowls with snacks and put a picture of one of the Apostles or members of the First Presidency on each one. When one of the Brethren speaks, they eat what is in that cup! Children also shared what they liked about conference and what they learned.
Friend November 2018 “Show and Tell: Conference” Children share what they liked about conference and what they learned.
Friend May 2018 “Show and Tell: Conference” Children share what they like about conference, what they did during conference, how they listened to conference, etc.
Friend May 2018 “Conference News” At Conference new temples are announced (fill in the blank activity to find out which temples were announced at this conference), solemn assemblies occur where we raise our hand to sustain a new prophet (pictures of a family at home participating), callings and releases of new leaders occur, and we are taught by our leaders.(Also guess how many languages this conference was translated into.
Friend May 2019 “Family Night Fun” Look through the general conference section at the beginning of any Friend magazine that arrives after conference, and make a family goal to do something our leaders invited us to do.
Watching Conference Around the World
Friend May 2024 “Watching Conference Around the World”
Conference is special to me because I spend time with my family. We listen to the speakers and do crafts. Lucy A., age 10, Al-Ahmadi, Kuwait
I liked Elder De Feo’s talk. He said we can see Jesus with our spiritual eyes if we keep our faith. Then we will feel peace and have His Spirit with us. Thomas M., age 7, Catalonia, Spain
My family prays to Heavenly Father to help us prepare for conference and be taught by the Spirit. We dress in our Sunday best. We watch conference together and sing along to all the songs. Harriet O., age 9, Lagos State, Nigeria
Solemn Assembly
Friend May 2018 “Show and Tell” “Sustaining a prophet in general conference is such an opportunity and privilege. No matter where you are, it is still a privilege.” Christina K., age 10, New South Wales, Australia
Ensign March 2018 “Get Ready for Conference” (Also see Elder Uchdorf’s article “The Word of God to His Children” on how to prepare to receive personal answers and revelation during general conference.
Ensign March 2018 “5 Steps for Making Conference Stay with You”
After conference, choose one quote, lesson, principle, or whole talk that inspired you.
Share it with your family and write it down somewhere you will see it every day.
Make a goal for how you will apply that principle to your life each day.
Support each other. Being accountable to others is great motivation!
When the next general conference approaches, sit down with your family and share what you’ve learned and the blessings you’ve received from applying this principle
Friend October 2016 “For Parents of Little Ones” Ideas on how to help children learn to love conference.
Friend November 2017 “Show and Tell-Conference Edition” Children share why they love Conference.
Following the Words of the Prophets after Conference
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “Helaman 13–16: Glad Tidings of Great Joy” Show a picture of the living prophet speaking in general conference. Tell the children that God tells the prophet what to say to us, just as He told Samuel what to say to the Nephites. Talk together about things the prophet has said that have been inspiring to you or the children.
Read aloud Helaman 16:1 and 5, and ask the children to stand up when they hear something the people did when they believed Samuel’s words. Then read verses 2 and 6, and ask the children to sit down when they hear something the people did when they did not believe. How can we show that we believe the words of the living prophet?
Ensign September 2020 “Family Study Fun: Go Forth”
Read Helaman 16:1–3 together. Those who believed Samuel “went forth” to do what he taught. Talk about how we should follow our Church leaders today.
- Invite each family member to find a quote from general conference. (Perhaps browse “Inspirational Picture Quotes” at ChurchofJesusChrist.org/media-library/images.)
- Take turns standing on a chair or stool, like Samuel on the wall, and reading these quotes to the group.
- After each quote, talk about what your family can do to “go forth” and do what was taught.
Discussion: What could we do to get ready for general conference next month? What would help us listen to and act on the teachings of our Church leaders?
Conference History
2021
Friend November 2021 “Conference News”
2022
Friend April 2022 “Conference News”
2023
Friend May 2023 “Conference News”
Friend November 2023 “Conference News”
Friend November 2024 “Conference News”
