How to Study General Conference Talks
Twice a year, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gather to hear from living prophets and apostles in general conference. But listening during the broadcast is only the beginning. The real blessing comes from studying the talks in the months that follow, right alongside your Come Follow Me reading. Here is how conference works and a simple way to make the messages part of your everyday study. LDS Sunday School can help you build a study around any conference talk.
What General Conference Is
Twice a year, on the first weekends of April and October, the Church holds general conference, broadcast from the Conference Center in Salt Lake City to members around the world in many languages. Members hear from the President of the Church, the Apostles, and other general leaders.
Beginning in April 2026, conference moved to four two-hour daytime sessions across Saturday and Sunday, two each day, and the Saturday evening session was discontinued. It was the biggest change to the conference schedule since 1977. Some conferences also include a solemn assembly, in which members sustain Church leaders.
Why the Talks Are Worth Studying All Year
It is easy to treat conference as a weekend event and then move on. But the messages are meant to guide members through the whole six months until the next conference. The talks are posted on the Church's website within days and printed in the Liahona, so you can read them, mark them, and return to them again and again.
Prophets and apostles often speak to the exact needs of our day. A message that simply washes over you during the broadcast can speak directly to your situation when you study it slowly, weeks later, with a pen in hand.
A Simple Way to Study Conference Talks
Pick one talk that stood out and read it rather than skim it. Mark the phrases that catch you, and look up the scriptures the speaker cites so you can read them in context. Then ask the three questions: what is the speaker teaching, what does it mean, and what am I being invited to do. Choose one specific action and actually do it.
You can also pair conference with your Come Follow Me study. When a talk connects to the week's reading, study them together. Keep a running list of the invitations you feel from the prophet and apostles, and check your progress against it before the next conference arrives.
Key Principles
- ✓General conference is broadcast worldwide from Salt Lake City in April and October
- ✓As of April 2026 it consists of four two-hour daytime sessions across Saturday and Sunday
- ✓Members hear from the prophet, apostles, and other Church leaders
- ✓The talks are meant to be studied all year, not just heard once
- ✓Pair conference messages with your weekly Come Follow Me study
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Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
When is general conference held?
Twice a year, on the first weekends of April and October, broadcast worldwide from the Conference Center in Salt Lake City.
How many sessions are in general conference?
Beginning in April 2026, four two-hour daytime sessions, two on Saturday and two on Sunday. This replaced the earlier format that also included a Saturday evening session.
Where can I read general conference talks?
They are posted on the Church's website, churchofjesuschrist.org, within days of the broadcast, and printed in the Liahona magazine. You can read, listen to, or watch any talk there.
How can I study conference talks with my family?
Choose one talk, read a portion together, look up its scriptures, and talk about one thing each of you will do. Pairing a talk with your weekly Come Follow Me reading is an easy way to keep conference part of family study all year.