"Spend more time in the temple and be more faithful to God's covenants" was the invitation given to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide in the April 2024 General Conference of the Church, held in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City. Russell M. Nelson, President of the Church, stated that “nothing will help you more to hold fast to the iron rod than worshipping in the temple as regularly as your circumstances permit.”
General conferences of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints take place every six months. Global leaders of the Church address members and friends around the globe. The five sessions of the conference held 6-7 April 2024 were broadcast live in 70 languages. An additional 30 languages are included in the recordings available a few days later.
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| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
God’s plan is designed to bring everyone home, said Elder Patrick Kearon, from England. Elder Kearon is the newest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. God’s plan is designed to bring each of His children home, not to keep them out., he stated.
Sister J. Anette Dennis, a leader in the women's organization, spoke about making covenants with God. She reminded members that we have the privilege and blessing of being invited into a covenant relationship with God, in which our own lives can become a symbol of that covenant. She continued by saying covenants create the kind of relationship that allows God to mold and change us over time and lift us to become more like Jesus Christ.
Elder Massimo De Feo, General Authority Seventy and President of the Europe Central Area, used a New Testament story of a blind man to teach three principles for keeping a clear spiritual vision. The first one is to focus on Jesus Christ and staying true to what we know to be true. The second one is to “leave the natural man behind, repent, and begin a new life in Christ.”. The third principle is to hear the voice of the Lord and allowing Him to guide us.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught the steps to finding a higher joy through Jesus Christ — with joy as the very purpose of God’s plan for His children. Said the German-born apostle, "if you feel there could be more of this kind of joy in your life, embark on the journey of following Jesus Christ and His Way."
Elder Jack N. Gerard, second counselor in the Europe Central Area Presidency chose the topic of integrity. “Exercising integrity in our choices is an outward expression of an inner commitment to follow the Saviour Jesus Christ," he said.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles reminded all, “that God hears every prayer we offer and responds to each of them according to the path He has outlined for our perfection.” Elder Holland then affirmed that, “it is for reasons known only to God, why prayers are sometimes answered differently than we hope - but I promise they are heard, and they are answered according to His unfailing love and cosmic timetable."
Sister Susan H. Porter, a leader in the children’s program of the church invited all to pray to know God, to grow personally, and to show God’s love to others.
During the conference, Church members sustained changes within the leadership. A new Sunday School General Presidency was called. Eight General Authority Seventies were released and granted emeritus status. Eleven new Area Seventies were called from around the world, three of them will start serving in the Europe Central Area of the Church, from August 1, 2024.
Seventies in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serve as “special witnesses” and assist the Twelve Apostles in “in building up the church and regulating all the affairs”.
During the closing session of the 2024 April general conference, President Russell M. Nelson announced plans to build 15 additional temples:
- Uturoa, French Polynesia
- Chihuahua, Mexico
- Florianópolis, Brazil
- Rosario, Argentina
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Brisbane Australia South Area
- Victoria, British Columbia
- Yuma, Arizona
- Houston Texas South Area
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- West Jordan, Utah
- Lehi, Utah
- Maracaibo, Venezuela