Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the Pacific joined with others from around the world recently to participate in the faith's semi-annual general conference.
Approximately 180 Latter-day Saints gathered in the capital of the Solomon Islands, Honiara, this past weekend [13-14 October] to watch proceedings of the conference via lds.org, the Church's official website. The conference originated in Salt Lake City in the United States, on 6-7 October.
Solomon Islands-based missionary couple Elder Kenneth Mitchell and Sister Cheryle Mitchell downloaded two sessions of general conference from lds.org. They then showed the sessions to members and friends on a 32" television.
- Solomon Islands Mormons View General Conference on 14 October 2012.
- Solomon Islands Mormons Watch General Conference
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
"Members of the Church in the Solomon Islands have not had the blessing of seeing or hearing the general conference sessions for about 10 years," said Sister Mitchell.
"When missionaries served here in the 1990's, VHS tapes were provided and played for the members months after the conferences."
Due to challenges faced by the nation for some years, missionaries did not serve in the Solomon Islands for a number of years," she said. "Over that period, conference sessions were not available to our members."
The April and October 2012 general conferences have been the first time since 2000 that Solomon Islands Latter-day Saints have been able to participate in the worldwide gatherings.
According to Sister Mitchell, "The members here were so grateful for this blessing."
General conference is a semi-annual gathering of Latter-day Saints and others where sermons are delivered by President Thomas S. Monson, whom Church members look to as a prophet of God.
Other messages are shared by other Church leaders, and music is provided by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and other choirs.
Sermons and music convey messages aimed at strengthening faith in Jesus Christ, and helping children, youth, adults, married couples and families.
Read, listen to or watch the October general conference at lds.org.
Conference resources for news media can be found here.