LDS Church announces General Conference dates and time schedule

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the dates for their annual General Conference, the conference will be held over two days on April 5 and April 6.

Thousands of Latter-day Saints will pack the Conference Center for the five two-hour-long sessions of the conference. Three sessions will be held on Saturday. The day will comprise a morning, afternoon and evening session. Sunday will have two sessions, a morning and afternoon session.

Below is a breakdown of when you will be able to listen or watch General Conference.

Saturday, April 5 (all times MDT)
Morning session: 10 a.m. to noon*
Afternoon session: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Evening session: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 6 (all times MDT)
Morning session: 10 a.m. to noon
Afternoon session: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m

“Speakers will include the worldwide leader of the Church, President Russell M. Nelson, and his counselors in the First Presidency, the governing body of the Church. Talks are also given by the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, General Authority Seventies, and other General Officers,” the Church says on its website.

Most times, members will not know who is speaking until it is announced during the session.

The church gathers twice a year for these conferences, once typically in April and once typically in October. The April conference is typically called the “annual’ conference and the conference in October is referred to as “semiannual.”

According to the church, four of the five sessions are known as general sessions and are open to everyone. One session during each conference is typically reserved for priesthood holders and the women of the church.

The sessions will also be streamed on the General Conference YouTube channel and Gospel Library app.

Sessions of general conference can also be attended in person, and members of all faith backgrounds are invited to watch, listen, and participate, the church said.

According to the LDS Church, General conferences have been held since 1830, when the church said it was restored on the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith. The first conferences were reportedly held so that believers could gather together, share inspiring messages, and sustain — or show mutual support for — their church leaders.