The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Thursday that it was moving its fall conference online, citing fears of the coronavirus pandemic.
“While some areas of the world continue to experience the effects of a serious pandemic, other areas do not,” Mormon President Russell Nelson wrote in a letter to members. “As a worldwide organization, we have an obligation to be good citizens and to act with caution as it relates to such a unique setting as General Conference, which traditionally brings thousands of visitors to Salt Lake City from around the globe.”
The decision follows the church’s cancellation of the in-person elements of its conference in April. Until then, the church had never moved the event, which is held twice a year in Salt Lake City and determines the church’s course of action, online. It usually attracts more than 100,000 people.
In announcing the first cancellation, church leaders expressed a desire to be “good global citizens.”
A recent poll by Deseret News, the Mormon-owned news service, found that the majority of Utahans, most of whom are Mormon, do not feel comfortable returning to church services. Utah church services were restricted under a stay-at-home order until early May.
The announcement comes as many other churches have begun the process of reopening. Mormon temples slowly started in-person services again at the beginning of the month.
