When times feel more chaotic, the yearning for General Conference that many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints feel is definitely warranted. As Elder Holland so beautiful shared in October of 2019:
…those blessed with sight will recognize that, in spite of everything else this conference tradition may offer us, it will mean little or nothing unless we find Jesus at the center of it all. To grasp the vision we are seeking, the healing that He promises, the significance we somehow know is here, we must cut through the commotion—joyful as it is—and fix our attention on Him. The prayer of every speaker, the hope of all who sing, the reverence of every guest—all are dedicated to inviting the Spirit of Him whose Church this is—the living Christ, the Lamb of God, the Prince of Peace.
President Nelson Update
According to reports in the Salt Lake Tribune, Quentin L. Cook said to a Kentucky congregation that President Nelson “just can’t see anymore” and said that it was “all right for you guys to tell the Saints I can’t see.” Elder Cook later stated: “That’s the only thing he can’t do.” Then, of course, we got word of President Nelson’s passing just a few days later.
Passing the Mantle
With the passing of President Nelson, the First Presidency is dissolved and President Oaks and Eyring return back to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Since Elder Oaks is the longest tenured member of the 12, after prayer to the Lord for His confirming voice, President Oaks will be set apart as the next President of The Church. However, it doesn’t appear this will happen during General Conference, as an article on the Church Newsroom states:
A successor is not expected to be formally chosen by the Church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles until after President Nelson’s funeral.
How Is a New Prophet or Apostle Called in the Church? Read here.
We also won’t know which apostles will form the First Presidency. Along with the passing of President Nelson, there is also a vacancy in the Quorum of the 12 Apostles that will need to be filled. Whether this will happen during General Conference or after, we don’t know. Since this is a prediction post, I will say that a few people I know love the thought of Carl B. Cook being ordained an apostle. My “inside information-less” prediction is that it will be Edward Dube. Lots of people offered their own guesses, and if you would like to read those, just hit “Read 153 Replies” under the picture of Elder Dube.
A new member of the Twelve Apostles will be sustained soon. If you had to guess who it would be, what would your prediction be?
I would say Edward Dube, who is currently serving as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy. pic.twitter.com/GZnq7bZFve
— The Book of Mormon (@BookMormon2day) September 30, 2025
The Voice of the People
When asked for predictions for this upcoming general conference, here are some of the responses we received from fellow members of the church:
- Fast and testimony discontinued. How would you feel about this? Some Sundays I would be fine with it gone, there are other fast and testimony meetings that are amazing and would hate to miss out on them.
- Matthew from Arkansas state: “Little Rock gets a temple announcement. Rumor is a recent purchase of land by the church in Little Rock and area stake presidents will be having a meeting 1 week prior to stake conference.” We’ll have to see!
- One hour church. This is a favorite every 6 months, and we know there are pilot programs in Utah that are holding meetings for one hour. I don’t like the idea at all.
- Trevor W. thinks Poland will get its first temple. That would be amazing!
- We had a few people mentioning a call back to Missouri. But I don’t know if I could handle the mosquitoes! Joe’s take is this: “Everyone counts off, 1-4. All the 3’s move to Jackson County. :) Plan where you sit before the meeting starts!”
- Grandpa Lew says: “I’m guessing 18 temples to bring the total to 400 dedicated, being renovated, under construction or announced: 1 in Utah, 3-5 in other US States, 12-14 elsewhere.”
- He followed that up with a prediction of a small temple for New England, somewhere north of Boston, Massachusetts. And anther temple in rural Utah.
- Codifying the Family: A Proclamation to the World. I would personally LOVE this.
- Brent shares an oldy but a goodie: “The church purchases Southern Virginia University and renames it BYU Virginia. I’m going with this rumor until it happens.”
- Steven R. had a great list: “Prepare for the lord’s return, read your scriptures, go to the temple, repent daily, be peacemakers, 1 hour church, temple in Eagle mountain announced along with 10 others, focus on Christ in all you do. I wouldn’t say anything new.”
- Andrew states: “Temple announcements bringing it up to a even 400. Lot’s of emphasis and reaffirming teachings of family proclamation, possibly even officially canonizing it. Critics will hate it. We can also expect talks relating to hill of Cumorah. Others relating to Charlie Kirk incident.”
- Don has the wildest prediction of all: “I predict that I will fall asleep during the Sunday Afternoon session despite my fervent attempts to stay awake.”
- Sister missionaries expected service time elevated to 24 months and can start service at age 18.
Comment below any of your predictions and we’ll be glad to add them to our article.
More Temple Predictions
The LDS Church Growth blog does a great job each conference of releasing their predictions for potential announced temple sites. Here is there top 20 list.
- Angeles or Olongapo, Philippines
- Bo, Sierra Leone
- Port Harcourt, Nigeria
- Rigby, Idaho
- Lomé, Togo
- Southeast Salt Lake City, Utah (i.e., Cottonwood Heights, Holladay, or Sandy)
- Evanston, Wyoming
- San Pablo City, Philippines
- Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
- Ibadan, Nigeria
- Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Lilongwe, Malawi
- Santa Maria, Brazil
- Augusta, Maine
- Kimbanseke, Kinshasa, DR Congo
- Tema, Ghana
- Yopougon, Côte d’Ivoire
- San Luis Valley, Colorado
- Longview, Texas
- Lahore, Pakistan
Are there any other locations that you would add as top candidates to receive a new temple?
Make General Conference Your Top Priority
I would encourage you to make watching every session of General Conference your top priority. Watch all 5 sessions, which are scheduled to be a total of 9.5 hours. Elder Neil L. Anderson shared the following on social media a few years back, but the advice is just as relevant now:
With general conference approaching, I would like to share three suggestions to enhance your experience:
1. Be prayerful.
2. Don’t be casual about your attendance.
3. Record your impressions.— Neil L. Andersen (@AndersenNeilL) March 27, 2022
How to Watch General Conference
If you would like to watch or listen to General Conference or invite someone to participate, you can click on this link > How to Watch or Listen to General Conference, copy the url/website address, and send it to a friend through email or text.
Was just in Missouri this week and there is already a great deal of anti-Church rhetoric by the Baptists and other faith traditions. I don’t think the Church will touch that area again until they immediately before the 2nd coming. I think it’s Elder Dube, Bishop Clausse or Elder Mark Palmer of the 70.
A praise and worship service allowed before all the sacrament meetings being held in the building.
“Make a joyful noise all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come before his presence with singing…….Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise.” Psalm 100
As a convert, I know exactly how powerful and life changing praise and worship can be. It helps to enter into his presence and get the mind focused on Him!
Reference to white Christian Nationalism not being part of the gospel emphasis on the world wide church.
@Ben A Will anyone ever pray for a West Virginia temple? , We are the only state without a temple. All the ones around us are more than 4 hours away.
@Alyce Sockwell,
Would love a Temple in Bellingham WA, using a walker makes it hard traveling as I’m a young in heart at 84 years. Thanks letting me know if that’s possible & you have time. 💕🙏💐🦋🥰
To have a Temple in Christchurch, would be an admirable thing.
Yet: let us await for the NZ Wellington Temple to arise! Exciting times lie ahead….all said in both sincere and excited tones.
@Olli Santavuori, what is Christian Right?
Yeah, I wouldn’t want 1 hour church either.
1 hour of church on the Sabbath? I think not! Much was lost when meetings were combined.
Yeah, I’m not a fan of shortening church. Would be great for the saints in Idaho if they got another temple there.
I agree.
Yeah, that would be sad for me as well.
We need it! It’s hard to learn these new ones.
That would be amazing!
The message of peace will definitely ring through the halls of the Conference Center.
There will be plenty of that!
That would be amazing!
I can see that!
Well deserved rest for the prophet!
Rest in peace, President Nelson.
Extra emphasis on preparing for receiving personal revelation and acting on it.
Past announcements have placed temples on the North Island of New Zealand.
We need an announcement of a temple on the South Island. In Christchurch. Perhaps on the grounds of the assistant to the NZSM mission president.
I would be interested in hearing council from prophets I might have missed .
Something against the Christian right, or anyway peace in these matters. This is the gospel, not the gospel of the Christian Right.
A Temple in Valencia, Spain is really needed too!
Got a great new rumor for you – that new hymn music practice times will increase. Got it from a reliable source today ;-)
I hope Church is not shortened to one hour. I love Sunday School, and I’m disappointed that we currently only get to have the “Come Follow Me” lesson in Sunday School every other week.
I do not like the idea of one hour church. There will be no time for fellowshipping with one another, and we run the very real risk of becoming as impersonal with one another as a megachurch.
I’m predicting a temple in Salmon Idaho. Those folks have to travel to Eastern Idaho or Montana. I don’t live in Salmon. I’ve just traveled through. I know it’s not a huge population center, but how about a smaller temple.
I definitely don’t want 1 hour church. That’s almost not worth getting dressed up for! Also, it’s just my husband and 1 now, with no family close by. Sundays get long for me as it is. I can only read scriptures and write for so long. I like the social aspect of church as well as the spiritual. I just want to be around people. What would I say to my Greek Orthodox neighbors who go to church for at least 3 hours?
Amen! As am I.
I’m very interested to receive counsel from prophets I might not have heard.