SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – Mormon leaders are set to deliver guidance to their worldwide membership in a series of speeches this weekend during the religion’s semiannual conference in Salt Lake City.
Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints aren’t expected to mention presidential candidates by name, but they may reiterate their push for more public civility and compassion amid a campaign marked by explosive rhetoric and bickering.
The first session kicks off Saturday morning at a 21,000-seat conference center near the church’s headquarters. More than 100,000 Mormons will attend the five sessions over two days, with millions more watching live broadcasts from their homes.
In addition to coming during the 2016 presidential campaign, the spring conference will be held during a time when there is extra exposure on the religion’s missionary program.
Four Mormon missionaries were injured in this month’s Brussels bombing – highlighting the inherent danger of sending young men and women into a diverse range of geopolitical situations around the globe. All four are expected to survive – and two of them returned this week to their home state of Utah to receive more treatment.