General Conference Updates
Article Highlights
- President Monson announced three new temples in North America.
- President Monson suggested that members consider making a contribution to the General Missionary Fund if they are able.
- President Eyring invited members to participate in a day of service later in the year.
- 10 new General Authorities were called, along with 41 new Area Seventies.
- This conference marked the 75th anniversary of the Church Welfare program.
Related Links
- Read a News and Events summary of general conference proceedings.
- Read more information on the day of service announced by President Eyring.
- Church announces three new temples. Read more in Newsroom.
- Read the 2010 Statistical Report from Saturday afternoon session.
- Read bios on the new General Authorities of the Church.
- Watch conference live on Facebook or embed the code into a blog or website.
- View a photo gallery about general conference.
- Read about and view the work that goes into putting on general conference.
- Hear what President Monson and members from around the world say about the importance of conference.
- Read, watch, or listen to general conference again as archives become available.
- Read a history of general conference.
[Editor’s Note: This article will be updated throughout each session of conference, so check back often.]
Find information and announcements from the 181st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Church News and Events (news.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
UPDATE APRIL 1, 4:05 p.m.
Find the dates and times for the 181st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, along with broadcast and ticket information in this article. Also learn when conference materials will be available in each language.
-----
UPDATE APRIL 2, 10:12 a.m.
President Monson announces three new temples in Canada, Colorado, and Idaho.
During his remarks at the first session of general conference, President Thomas S Monson announced three new temples in Fort Collins, Colorado; Meridian, Idaho; and Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Read more about the temples announced by President Monson.
Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
Fort Collins, located in northern Colorado, USA, will be the site of the second LDS temple in Colorado. (The first, in Denver, was completed in 1986.) The first congregation of the Church in Colorado was organized nearly 90 years earlier, in January 1897. As of October 2010, some 140,000 members of the Church lived in the state.
Meridian, Idaho, USA
Meridian is the third-largest city in Idaho and is located about 11 miles west of Boise. The Church has been present in Idaho since 1855; today, there are some 410,000 members in the state. The temple in Meridian will be the fifth in Idaho. There are also temples in Boise, Idaho Falls, Rexburg, and Twin Falls.
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It is located in southeast Manitoba. The temple will serve members in the Winnipeg area who currently travel nearly 400 miles (600 kilometers) to the nearest temple in Regina, Saskatchewan.
This will be the ninth temple in Canada. In addition to the Regina temple, there are temples in Cardston, Calgary, and Edmonton, Alberta; Toronto, Ontario; Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Montreal, Quebec. In May 2010, Church officials dedicated the Vancouver British Columbia Temple and broke ground for the Calgary Temple.
-----
UPDATE APRIL 2, 10:44 a.m.
President Monson invited members to contribute to the General Missionary Fund. In the opening session of the 181st Annual General Conference, President Thomas S. Monson suggested that those who are able “might consider making a contribution to the General Missionary Fund of the Church.”
“Missionary work,” he said, “is the lifeblood of the kingdom.”
He also thanked members for their “faithfulness in paying ... tithes and offerings” and their “generosity in contributing to other funds of the Church.”
Some 52,000 missionaries currently serve in 340 missions throughout the world.
-----
UPDATE APRIL 2, 12:15 p.m.
During the first session of general conference, President Henry B. Eyring announced that to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Church welfare program, members worldwide will be invited to participate in a “day of service.” More information about the day of service will be published on Church News and Events as it become available.
President Eyring offered three suggestions for members and leaders as they “seek revelation” to “design the projects”:
First, prepare spiritually. The goal of the project should be to bless others both spiritually and temporally.
Second, choose as recipients people whose needs will touch the hearts of those who will give the service.
Third, strengthen the bonds of families, quorums, auxiliary organizations, and people in the communities by including those groups in providing the service.
-----
UPDATE APRIL 2, 2:19 p.m.
Ten new General Authorities were called to serve in the First and Second Quorums of the Seventy. An additional 41 Area Seventies were called to serve in areas around the world. Read more about the new leaders called to serve, including brief biographical information on the seven members of the First Quorum of the Seventy and three members of the Second Quorum of the Seventy.
Also find the 2011 Statistical Report of the Church.
-----
UPDATE APRIL 3, 11:39 a.m.
Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, opened the Sunday morning session of general conference by reminding Latter-day Saints of the 75th anniversary of the Church welfare program, begun in April 1936 as the Church Security Plan.
Speaking of the welfare program, Bishop H. David Burton, Presiding Bishop of the Church, dedicated his talk during this session to the sanctifying work of welfare. “The prophetic welfare plan is not merely an interesting footnote in the history of the Church,” he said. “The principles upon which it is based defines who we are as a people. It is the essence of who we are as individual disciples of our Savior and exemplar, Jesus the Christ.”
Bishop Burton urged Latter-day Saints to engage themselves daily in the work of welfare: “This sacred work is not only to benefit and bless those who suffer or are in need,” he explained. “It is in the benevolent practice of sacrifice and giving of ourselves to others that we learn the celestial principles of sacrifice and consecration.“
Following Bishop Burton's talk, Sister Silvia H. Allred also addressed the topic of welfare, defining it as the true essence of discipleship.
Emphasizing the need for men and women in the Church to work together in bringing relief to those in need, she said, “When love becomes the guiding principle in our care for others, our service to them becomes the gospel in action. It is the gospel in its finest moment. It is pure religion.”
President Monson began his address to conclude the session by testifying that the welfare program of the Church was inspired by Almighty God.
-----
UPDATE APRIL 3, 3:54 p.m.
FInd an overview of the 181st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and find links to other relevant articles, images, and video on News and Events.
