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The coronavirus outbreak continues to impact events and gatherings around the world. That’s now true for the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ upcoming general conference, a semiannual event that takes place in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City and is broadcast around the world.
- The church has canceled two general conferences in the past due to disease outbreaks. How will the coronavirus outbreak affect the upcoming conference scheduled for April?
Here’s the latest
- On Wednesday, the church announced changes to the general conference event due to concerns over the global coronavirus outbreak.
- A letter from the church’s First Presidency said the public will not be admitted to general conference sessions in the Conference Center. Instead, general conference will be participated in through technology only.
- “We are deeply concerned about the global spreading of illness caused by COVID-19,” the letter reads. “We have counseled with worldwide governmental, ecclesiastical, and medical leaders and have prayerfully considered the current circumstances. We want to be good global citizens and do what we can to control this contagious illness. We are most grateful for the many who are working tirelessly to address this health hazard. We pray for them and for all who may be suffering.”
- “We live in a remarkable age. The Lord has blessed us with the technology and capacity to participate in and receive messages from church leaders in all parts of the world. This special conference will commemorate the bicentennial of the First Vision and the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in these latter days.”
History
- The church canceled general conference in October 1957 over an Asian flu epidemic, according to LDS Living.
- General conference was postponed in 1919 due to the Spanish flu epidemic, too.