LDS October 2026 General Conference: Leaders Warn Against Gambling, Emphasize Temple Blessings

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held its 196th Semiannual General Conference on October 3 and 4, 2026, at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, with sessions broadcast globally in more than 70 languages.

Presided over by President Dallin H. Oaks, the conference followed the four-session format adopted the previous year, with morning and afternoon sessions each day.

In the Saturday morning session, President D. Todd Christofferson addressed the rise of gambling, calling it morally wrong and warning that it fosters greed while consuming time and resources that could be used more productively. His remarks came as sports betting has expanded rapidly across the United States in recent years.

Elder Gerrit W. Gong spoke on the spiritual significance of temples, noting that 21 temples were scheduled for dedication and one for rededication in 2026. The church has accelerated its temple-building program in recent years, with dozens of new facilities under construction worldwide.

Elder Ulisses Soares taught that fasting is an act of worship that deepens discipleship, while Elder Gerald Caussé emphasized the duty of all church members to bear personal witness of Jesus Christ.

In the Saturday afternoon session, Elder Dale G. Renlund spoke on trusting God's promises even when facing challenges that seem impossible to solve. Elder Patrick Kearon addressed members who feel overwhelmed, describing the Savior's role in providing spiritual support to those in despair.

Music for the sessions was provided by The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, with guest choir members from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Chile, Germany, and South Korea, among other countries.

The conference is one of two held each year by the church, which reports a global membership of more than 17 million people.