General Conference: Saturday evening session will be open to all

SALT LAKE CITY – The October General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will feature a Saturday evening session and it will feel different from years prior. 

A change in guidance

The First Presidency of the Church announced there would not be a Saturday evening session for General Conference this weekend back in June.

The leaders then issued additional guidance in July with clarification there would be.

“Through revelation, they had determined that world events and a need for people to gather together to be taught the word of God…they determined there was wisdom in still having that Saturday evening session,” said Scott Esplin, Dean of Religious Instruction at Brigham Young University.

Esplin says the Church leadership also realized today’s Conference audience is no longer limited to those living in Utah.

“I think there is a recognition that this is a worldwide gathering,” Esplin said.

General Conference is a gathering for everyone

That is why the Saturday evening session will be open to all.

“The Saturday night session now will not be audience-specific for anyone. It won’t be only a Priesthood meeting or only a women’s meeting…it will be open to everyone,” said Esplin.

The professor says these changes will make this October General Conference another part of the Church’s evolution into a more tech-friendly and global organization.

While Church members will hear from leaders inside the Conference Center, this weekend’s sessions will not allow in-person attendance.

Stay tuned to KSL Newsradio

KSL Newsradio will carry all sessions of General Conference live at 102.7 FM, 1160 AM, and the KSL Newsradio app.