Mormonism in Pictures: Reflections of General Conference Fall 2015

Large crowds converged on Temple Square for the 185th Semiannual General Conference in Salt Lake City, the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Thousands of people from all over the world, young and old, attended morning and afternoon sessions of conference in the Conference Center to hear inspiration from their leaders on Saturday and Sunday, October 3–4, 2015. Millions more watched and listened to the broadcasts around the globe on television and radio and in Church buildings and in their homes via satellite and online.

Two military chaplains attend general conference.

A mother visits Temple Square with her son during general conference. General conference gives members a chance to meet friends and family.

The Conference Center has 21,000 seats, but not everyone who wants to attend a session in person has a complimentary ticket to go.

A woman bows her head as she listens to a prayer during one of the sesssions of general conference which could be heard via speakers on the grounds of Temple Square.

Conference goers visit with Sister Missionaries on Temple Square during general conference weekend. Young women from all over the world serve 18-month missions as Temple Square guides. Sisters are available to assist and communicate with visitors in 30 different languages.

Three newly named apostles and their wives are greeted by fellow members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. This conference was considered historic as Elder Ronald A. Rasband, Elder Gary E. Stevenson and Elder Dale G. Renlund were named to fill the vacancies.

Latter-day Saints looked forward to the Saturday afternoon announcement with much anticipation as the new apostles joined the other general authorities and general officers of the Church on the stand. 

Elder Rasband and Elder Renlund share a warm embrace at the afternoon session.

The new apostles meet reporters in the lobby of the Church Office Building following the Saturday afternoon session in a live media event.

After the media event, the three new apostles were joined by their families to share in the excitement of the day.

Elder Rasband is joined by his family following the live media event.

Elder Stevenson hugs a granddaughter at the Church Office Building. Some family members of the apostles learned about their new assignments at the same time they were announced in general conference.

Elder Renlund with his family after the media event.

Priesthood meeting is an opportunity for fathers and sons to attend together. A father and son pause for the camera in the lobby of the Conference Center for the priesthood session, Saturday evening. Men and boys 12 years old and above attend the priesthood session.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and organists provide much of the music for general conference, but some sessions feature special choirs made up of members from Utah.

In the Saturday afternoon session, children from congregations around the state of Utah sang in the Conference Center.

The general women’s session is held the previous weekend, which officially begins the general conference.

Government and religious leaders from around the world are invited to attend general conference.

Before and after conference sessions, general authorities and their spouses have a few minutes to greet members of the audience. Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife visit with conference attendees on Saturday.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles poses for a picture with a young man prior to the start of a general conference session.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Patricia, wave to the crowd after the Saturday morning session.

The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stand to greet President Thomas S. Monson after a session of general conference. President Monson attended all sessions.

To watch, listen to and read the October conference talks, visit LDS.org.