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LDS Church Convenes General Conference October 2025 Amid Leadership Transition and Security Fears SALT LAKE CITY—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) concluded its bi-annual General Conference this weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah, an event charged with unprecedented significance following the recent passing of its prophet-president, Russell M. Nelson, and days after a fatal attack at one of its congregations in the United States. The general-conference-october-2025 served both as a tribute to the late leader and a formal affirmation of the incoming administration, setting a tone of continuity, peacemaking, and unwavering global expansion for the faith’s 17. 4 million members worldwide. The conference, which spans five two-hour sessions across Saturday and Sunday, usually offers spiritual instruction and policy guidance. However, the 195th Semiannual gathering was dominated by two overriding themes: the official transition of leadership and a unified call for peace and forgiveness in response to external violence. The leadership succession was formalised during the traditional sustaining session, known as a Solemn Assembly, where members worldwide sustained President Dallin H. Oaks, 93, as the new President and Prophet of the Church. President Oaks, a former Utah Supreme Court Justice and long-serving member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, is seen as a figure who blends judicial rigour with conservative theological convictions. Security was noticeably heightened at the Church’s Conference Center headquarters.
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Law enforcement presence was heavy, and attendees were subjected to thorough screening protocols, a direct response to the recent tragedy in Michigan where a fatal shooting occurred at one of the faith’s meetinghouses. Several speakers addressed the incident directly, encouraging members to respond to hatred and division with Christian forbearance. Elder Gary E. Stevenson, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, dedicated his address to the topic of becoming “peacemakers. ” "In a world increasingly marred by antagonism and swift judgment, the call to be a peacemaker is not a passive invitation, but a requirement of discipleship," Elder Stevenson stated. "We must not allow the actions of the few, driven by malice or misunderstanding, to extinguish the flame of goodwill within our hearts. Peacemaking begins, always, in the home, in the heart, and in our response to injustice. " Analysts suggest that the timing of the leadership change, coupled with the security crisis, reinforced the institution’s core emphasis on unity and resilience. "The immediate focus on forgiveness in the wake of such a tragedy is a deliberate move to cement the Church's identity as a global, resilient, and non-retaliatory body," noted Dr. Eleanor Vance, a professor of religious studies at Northwestern University.
"President Oaks’s inaugural addresses focused heavily on adherence to foundational doctrine and the sanctity of covenants, which acts as an anchor for the membership during a period of transition and external turbulence. " The formal setting of the Solemn Assembly, which takes place only when a new Church President is chosen, required global congregants to stand and formally voice their support for the new administration in a structured sequence, starting with the Church’s highest-ranking leaders and moving down through the priesthood holders and relief society members. This procedural act underlined the deeply hierarchical and structured nature of the Church’s governance, which allows for a seamless transition regardless of external circumstances. Beyond the spiritual addresses, the conference maintained its standard administrative function, showcasing the Church’s persistent push for global reach. In the highly anticipated Sunday afternoon session, President Oaks announced the locations for 15 new temples to be constructed across four continents. These sites included major metropolitan areas such as Rome, Italy; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; and a second location in London, England, intended to ease pressure on the existing London Temple. The announcement continues the building program initiated by the late President Nelson, affirming a strategy focused on bringing sacred worship sites closer to the international membership base. The rapid and continuous construction of temples is often viewed as the primary engine driving the Church’s administrative and financial resource deployment. The global footprint expansion underscores the Church's long-term commitment to its international membership, particularly in Asia and Africa, where growth rates remain robust. The Church also presented its annual audit, confirming compliance with internal policies and accounting practices for the Church’s global operations, a standard feature of the October conference.
President Oaks, in his concluding remarks, paid tribute to his predecessor, President Nelson, describing him as a “man of vision and action” whose legacy of leadership had prepared the Church for this moment. He then outlined his administration's focus, stating that the Church must focus on strengthening member commitment to its core tenets. "We live in a world that shifts its values daily, but the truths of the Gospel are eternal and unchanging," President Oaks declared. "Our path forward is one of deepening conversion, keeping the sacred covenants we make with God, and striving for reconciliation—both divine and human. This is the bedrock upon which the future strength of the Church will be built. " The general-conference-october-2025 effectively served as a poignant farewell and a decisive commencement. By reinforcing its doctrinal foundations and calling for a peaceful, resilient response to world events, the Church has signalled that its course remains steady under the new leadership, prioritising spiritual commitment and global institutional growth despite contemporary challenges. Church leaders will now begin the process of translating the weekend’s counsel into actionable policy and guidance for local congregations across the globe.
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