Church Leaders Deliver Messages Of Hope; Emphasize Global Reach

SALT LAKE CITY — From messages of hope to talks about Easter and Jesus Christ, leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints emphasized the global reach of the Church during a historic morning session for the 191st annual General Conference.

During the Sunday afternoon session, President Russell M. Nelson announced plans to build 20 new temples. Locations ranged from Oslo, Norway to Cape Town, South Africa, and from Singapore to Cali, Colombia. The announcements included at least one temple on every populated continent of the globe. 

The unprecedented announcement included another temple in northern Utah in the city of Smithfield. It will be the 26th temple in the Beehive State and second in Cache Valley – around eight miles north of the Logan Utah Temple.

Also of note in the Western United States: temples will be built in Helena, Montana; Casper, Wyoming; Grand Junction, Colorado; Farmington, New Mexico; Burley, Idaho; Eugene, Oregon; Elko, Nevada and Yorba Linda, California.

It was the most temple locations ever announced at one time.

The Church of Jesus Christ now has 251 temples either announced, under construction or operating.

General Conference began Easter Sunday with a very international morning session, featuring speakers and choirs from all over the world.

“We have heard from Church leaders who come from every populated continent on Earth,” said President Russell M. Nelson. “Truly, the blessings of the gospel are for every race, language and people. The Church of Jesus Christ is a global church. Jesus Christ is our leader.”

President Nelson said that each of God’s children deserves to hear the healing message of Jesus Christ.

The morning session included speakers and choirs from 13 different countries. The songs, talks and prayers centered on Easter.

“I bring with me love from the resilient members in the Philippines and say, on their behalf, ‘Mabuhay!'” said Elder Taniela B. Wakolo, a General Authority Seventy.

“The glorious message of Easter morning is central to all Christianity,” said Elder S. Mark Palmer, a General Authority Seventy.

“I testify to you that Christ will come again a second time as He did the first time,” said Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong of the Quorum of the Seventy.

Pre-recorded music featured choirs from Mexico, South Korea and an international women and children’s choir, with members singing in their native languages.

It was an international session for an expanding global audience.

The reach of the weekend’s conference was larger than ever, with more than 70 countries having TV and radio stations carrying the broadcasts. It was especially exciting for the international audience to hear of those temples, as many countries received word about their first temple – like Norway, Belgium, Austria, Mozambique and Singapore.