BY THANDISIZWE MGUDLWAย
CAPE TOWN; Southย Africa —AROUND a billion people across the globe will this weekend watch and listen to the 196th General Conference organised by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
From Saturday, October 3 to Sunday, October 4, 2026, hundreds of people will tune in either on Television, Radio or Social Media to one of the most followed religious programs on Earth.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded in 1830 by The Prophet Joseph Smith, after the 1820 Great Vision he had where he was visited by God and Jesus Christ while praying.
According to Joseph Smith, he was then informed by Jesus Christ of the Great Work he was destined to do, including the Restoration of the original Church of Christ.
According to the Church, “The gospel of Jesus Christ teaches that He lives and that God loves, hears, and speaks to His children. His personalized guidance and inspiration may be experienced through the counsel of living prophets, apostles, and leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
Furthermore, “All are welcome to hear the word of God during the annual and semiannual broadcasts of general conference as leaders share messages of love, hope, and joy,” says the Great Church.
In addition, โGeneral conference provides an opportunity to receive personal revelation as Church leaders give counsel and direction from the Lord,โ states the First Presidency (letter to congregation leaders, September 3, 2026). โWe encourage all to listen to, study, ponder, and apply the counsel given.โ
Also revealed, is that the messages will be published in the Gospel Library app, on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, and in Church magazines for further viewing and study.
General conference takes place two times a year (April and October) as a global gathering where members from around the world pause to learn from Church leaders about the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The conference is streamed and broadcast live in over 80 languages, allowing people anywhere to access it in gatherings large and small and in homes and family settings. Regular Sunday services in Church meetinghouses are not held on the weekends when general conference takes place.
The next global broadcast, which originates from the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, is on Saturday, October 3, and Sunday, October 4.
It will consist of four unique 2-hour sessions over the two days:
Saturday, October 3 – Morning session: 10 a.m. to noon*, Afternoon session: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, October 4 – Morning session: 10 a.m. to noon,ย Afternoon session: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
PHOTO: The Author