Mormon General Conference FAQ

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You can feel it in the air in Salt Lake City and around the world as Latter-day Saints prepare for a valued, semi-annual gathering of 14 million members and friends: The 181st Semi-Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be held on October 1-2, 2011. General Conference, originating in the 21,000-seat Conference Center in Salt Lake, is carried by satellite, TV, and Internet streaming to millions of people around the world. In addition, thousands of individuals and families from San Paolo to Seattle, Mozambique to Miami, travel far to hear the words of the prophets.

Conference weekend is a special consecrated time of year when Latter-day Saints gather, along with those of other faiths, to hear, as Mormons believe, the voice and messages of the Lord Jesus Christ through ecclesiastical leaders (male and female) under the direction of the First Presidency—a prophet and two counselors—President Thomas S. Monson, Dieter F. Uchtdorf and Henry B. Eyring.

The purpose of Annual and Semi-Annual Conferences, from a Latter-day Saint perspective, includes sustaining and hearing the will of the Lord from apostles, prophets, seers, and revelators; receiving choice, timely and personal instruction, revelation, inspiration, and renewal; and sharing with the world the message of the restoration of the Savior's original Church in our day and His continued ministry. Mormon General Conference also includes sharing pertinent Church business and announcements such as the building of new temples and related Church events.

General Conferences are held in addition to Latter-day Saints' weekly worship services. They include four two-hour blocks of meetings over a two-day period, Saturday and Sunday, as well as a special pre-Conference Women's Meeting (Relief Society) reaching a global audience of approximately 4 million women, and a priesthood session that takes place on the Saturday evening of each General Conference weekend for ordained men. This year's General Relief Society Meeting (Women's Meeting) was held on Saturday, September 24. Audio and video archives are available in over 70 languages, for any who who missed it.

General Conference, as viewed by Latter-day Saints, is a singular and glorious opportunity for all of the world to sit at the gospel table together and learn at the feet of modern apostles and a living prophet. Everyone is invited to participate—to listen, worship, learn, and go forth to build the Lord's kingdom on earth.

The following FAQ was developed by a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to facilitate your participation in this semi-annual, glorious event that spans the globe. All are invited.

How can I prepare for General Conference?

In the September 2011 First Presidency message , President Uchtdorf shared ways we can prepare ourselves for General Conference.

Also, be sure to add the session times to your calendar:

Saturday, Oct. 1 at 10 am MST Saturday, Oct. 1 at 2 pm MST Priesthood—Saturday, Oct. 1 at 6 pm, MST Sunday, Oct. 2 at 10 am MST Sunday, Oct. 2 at 2 pm MST You can find out where it the conference available in advance (see availability question below).

In addition, review the blessings of General Conference , and review the highlights from last conference.

How can I access General Conference?

General Conference is available through several different media channels worldwide. Here are the best ways to find General Conference in your area:

Stake Center : Contact your bishop to find out if your Stake Center will broadcast the sessions of conference. For a complete listing of chapels around the world, visit our maps page .

Television : Coverage is available through BYUtv , BYUtv International , KSL and other TV stations worldwide. Check your local listings for availability.

Radio : Audio is available through KSL Radio, BYU Radio ( online or SiriusXM) and other radio stations throughout the world. Check your local listings.

Internet : A live broadcast is available through LDS.org ( video or audio ) facebook.com/LDS , BYUtv and BYUtv International , as well as through the Mormon Channel ( app , online and Roku channel).

Conference Center: To attend, see ticket information .

How can I help my children enjoy General Conference?

You can find activities for children, such as matching games and coloring prints, here . Also, read how to prepare your children for General Conference.

When will conference materials be available?

Conference materials are available shortly after the session is over, sometimes within minutes. The General Conference website has the complete listing of formats, channels and availability.

What languages are available?

General Conference is available as a live broadcast in several languages. For past General Conferences, select the language you want it translated into on the top right hand side of the transcripts page as indicated below. Live audio and video streaming is also available in multiple languages.

Can I put Conference on my mobile device?

Once audio and videos files are available, you can download them and transfer to your device. You can also access General Conference audio and video files directly from the Mormon Channel on iTunes as well as the channel website and mobile app .

Can I download just the music from General Conference?

General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ includes a blend of beautiful music provided by the 360-member, illustrious Mormon Tabernacle Choir, invited soloists, and congregational hymns. Yes, you may access this music separately. When you select the conference you want (see an example here ) click on "Show Music" at the top of the page and all the songs will be displayed. You will then be able to download the songs as mp3 files or as video files.

Is General Conference on Twitter or Facebook?

Yes. General Conference will be broadcast live through the Church's Facebook page . You can also receive highlights of General Conference through the Church's General Conference Twitter page. Many Twitter users use the hashtags #lds and #mormon to flag tweets about the Church, and #ldsconf when following General Conference.

How can I share General Conference with others?

Many people are sharing their favorite quotes and stories from General Conference through social networks and blogs. Here are some practical and quick ways you can share conference with others:

Share the General Conference event on Facebook. Post your feelings about conference on your Facebook wall. "Like" the Church's official Facebook page "Like" your favorite conference talks and use the share links on LDS.org General Conference has something for you :

A new video produced by the Church of Jesus Christ highlights Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's April 2011 conference address, "An Ensign to the Nations," in which he promised members and friends of all faiths alike that each has something to gain from conference. The entire article can be found in the "Prophets and Apostles Speak Today" section of LDS.org.

Other Resources for General Conference

The Modern Ministry

About General Conference

Highlights from Last Conference

Mormon Tabernacle Choir: 9/11: Rising Above with Tom Brokaw

General Relief Society Presidency: Sister Julie B. Beck , Sister Silvia H. Allred, Sister Barbara Thompson

Free Book of Mormon