General conference (Latter Day Saints)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Mormon_Tabernacle_exterior_1937.jpg/250px-Mormon_Tabernacle_exterior_1937.jpg)
In the
Since Smith's death, the churches of the Latter Day Saint movement have continued the tradition of meeting in regular general conferences.
Frequency and locations
The first general conference of the newly formed Church of Christ was held on June 9, 1830, in Fayette, New York, presided over by Joseph Smith.[2] It included a gathering of 27 members of the two-month-old church.[citation needed]
Originally, conferences of the church were held approximately every three months, as suggested by a revelation which outlined the initial organization of the church.
The following are the dates and locations of the general conferences from the establishment of the church until
Date | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|
June 9, 1830[2] | Fayette, New York | First general conference of the Church of Christ. |
September 26–28, 1830[3] | Fayette, New York | Two revelations were received by Smith.[4] |
January 2, 1831[5] | Fayette, New York | A revelation was received by Smith.[6] |
June 3–6, 1831[7] | Kirtland, Ohio | The office of high priest was created. |
October 11, 25–26, 1831[8] | Hiram and Orange, Ohio | The meeting on October 11 was held at Hiram, while the meetings on October 25–26 were held at Orange. Asked for further details on how the Book of Mormon was produced, Smith stated that "it was not intended to tell the world all the particulars of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon [and] that it was not expedient for him to relate these things".[8] A revelation was received by Smith.[9] |
January 25, 1832[10] | Amherst, Ohio | Smith was sustained as the President of the High Priesthood for the first time.
|
April 6, 1833[11] | Independence, Missouri | Smith notes that "[t]his was the first attempt made by the Church to celebrate the anniversary of her birthday, and those who professed not our faith talked about it as a strange thing".[11] |
May 3, 1834[12] | Kirtland, Ohio | A resolution was unanimously adopted "that this Church shall be known hereafter by the name of the Church of the Latter Day Saints".[13] |
May 2, 1835[14] | Kirtland, Ohio | First general conference after the organization of the Quorum of the Twelve and the Seventy. |
December 22, 1836[15] | Kirtland, Ohio | |
September 3, 1837[16] | Kirtland, Ohio | |
April 7, 1838[17] | Far West, Missouri | |
October 5–6, 1838[18] | Far West, Missouri | First conference after the name of the church had been changed to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve .
|
October 6–8, 1839[19] | Commerce, Illinois
|
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April 6–8, 1840[20] | Nauvoo, Illinois | |
October 3–5, 1840[21] | Nauvoo, Illinois | |
April 7–8, 1841[22] | Nauvoo, Illinois | |
October 2–5, 1841[23] | Nauvoo, Illinois | |
April 6–7, 1842[24] | Nauvoo, Illinois | |
August 29, 1842[25] | Nauvoo, Illinois | Special conference to address claims about the church being spread by John C. Bennett. |
April 6–9, 1843[26] | Nauvoo, Illinois | |
October 6–9, 1843[27] | Nauvoo, Illinois | Smith expressed his dissatisfaction with Sidney Rigdon, his counselor in the First Presidency. After hearing defences from Rigdon and others, the church voted to sustain Rigdon as a counselor in the First Presidency. In response, Smith stated, "I have thrown him off my shoulders, and you have again put him on me. You may carry him, but I will not."[27] |
April 6–9, 1844[28] | Nauvoo, Illinois | As part of the conference, Smith preached the King Follett discourse. Final general conference before Smith's death. |
After Smith's death
Following Smith's death and the resulting succession crisis, general conferences have been practiced in different forms by the various denominations in the Latter Day Saint movement.
General Conferences of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/LDS_Conference_Center-up.jpg/250px-LDS_Conference_Center-up.jpg)
In
The conferences have been held in
Various speakers will generally include all members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, along with other selected church leaders. Almost every general authority of the church is present, though outside the First Presidency and Twelve only a few speak. Non–general authority speakers may include male and female officers of church organizations.
During one session the conducting officer presents all the church's general authorities and general officers for a formal
Frequently, significant announcements are made at general conference, which may include building sites for new temples or the institution of new policies or programs.
The
World Conference in Community of Christ
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/CommunityofChrist_Auditoriu.jpg/250px-CommunityofChrist_Auditoriu.jpg)
World Conference is the name given to the triennial meeting of delegates of Community of Christ. They were originally called General Conferences and were held semiannually, or as need arose.
The World Conference is the highest legislative body in the Community of Christ and is empowered to act for the entire church. Delegates to the conference are elected by Mission Center conferences. Motions are often debated vigorously and the results are sometimes controversial. World Conferences are traditionally held at Community of Christ World Headquarters, with the legislative and main worship services held in the Auditorium.
See also
Notes
- ^ a b Doctrine and Covenants 20:61–62.
- ^ History of the Church1:84–86.
- History of the Church1:115–18.
- ^ Doctrine and Covenants 30 and 31 (LDS Church ed.).
- History of the Church1:140.
- ^ Doctrine and Covenants 38 (LDS Church ed.).
- History of the Church1:175–77.
- ^ History of the Church1:219–21.
- ^ Doctrine and Covenants 66 (LDS Church ed.).
- History of the Church1:242–44.
- ^ History of the Church1:336–37.
- History of the Church2:62–63.
- Evening and Morning Star, vol. 2, no. 20, p. 160 (May 1832).
- History of the Church2:219–22.
- History of the Church2:468–69.
- History of the Church2:509–10.
- History of the Church3:14–15.
- History of the Church3:152–55.
- History of the Church4:12–14.
- History of the Church4:105–10.
- History of the Church4:204–07.
- History of the Church4:336–43.
- History of the Church4:423–29.
- History of the Church4:583–86.
- History of the Church5:136–39.
- History of the Church5:327–46.
- ^ History of the Church6:47–52.
- History of the Church6:287–326.
Further reading
- Walch, Tad (April 3, 2007), "An LDS Conference Outside the U.S.?", Deseret Morning News