On Sunday, Oct. 1, President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints addressed members in a pre-recorded address.
Just two days before the 193rd Semiannual General Conference, President Nelson posted on social media that he had been injured and would not be attending general conference in person.
In his announcement on social media, President Nelson also shared that he would be watching the sessions virtually and attempt to record his message.
President Nelson began his recorded address with lighthearted references to his age and injury, saying, “While I have delivered more than 100 general conference addresses standing, today I thought I would do so sitting.'
This seated, pre-recorded conference address was the first of its kind for President Nelson.
President Nelson’s talk focused on what he has learned during his many years of life and emphasized the importance of thinking celestially.
At the conclusion of his address in the final session of the conference, President Nelson announced the locations of 20 new temples in 13 different countries, which he said would help members to think celestially.
The new temples will be built in the following locations:
- Savai’i, Samoa
- Kahului, Hawaii
- Fairbanks, Alaska
- Vancouver, Washington
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Roanoke, Virginia
- Cancún, Mexico
- Piura, Peru
- Huancayo, Peru
- Viña del Mar, Chile
- Goiânia, Brazil
- João Pessoa, Brazil
- Cape Coast, Ghana
- Calabar, Nigeria
- Luanda, Angola
- Mbuji-Mayi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Laoag, Philippines
- Osaka, Japan
- Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
According to Church Newsroom, this is the second-highest number of temples ever announced at one time.