Here are some caption and style pointers for our upcoming conference coverage.
The upcoming conference will be the 196th Annual General Conference [#GeneralConference] of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [#ChurchofJesusChrist]. The annual conference is in April (the anniversary of the founding of the Church); the semiannual conference is in October.
Most of the changes to general church callings and releases occur in April: new General Authority Seventies called and sustained, General Authority Seventies turning age 70 in that year given emeritus status, organization general presidencies released and sustained.
Area Seventies who were called or to be released between then and Aug. 1 have typically been announced the Thursday before general conference in a press release summarizing the leadership meetings.
In April 2024, most of the changes were effective Aug. 1 while a few specific changes were effective immediately.
Referring to Church leaders
The First Presidency [#FirstPresidency]
From Church Newsroom: "Jesus Christ leads His Church through a prophet, who acts as the President of the Church, and two Apostles who are called to be the prophet’s counselors. This group is known as the First Presidency, and it is the highest governing body of the Church."
- President Dallin H. Oaks, president of the Church, second reference: President Oaks [#PresOaks]
- President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor President Eyring [#PresEyring]
- President D. Todd Christofferson, second counselor President Christofferson [#PresChristofferson]
On first reference, it is always President and their name (President Dallin H. Oaks, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). On subsequent references, it is President and their surname, President Oaks. Hashtags are Pres and their surname. [#PresOaks, #PresEyring, #PresChristofferson]
President Russell M. Nelson passed away Oct. 27, 2025, prior to the October 2025 General Conference. That conference was held under the direction of the Quorum of the Twelve with President Oaks as quorum president. President Oaks was ordained President of the Church on Oct. 14, 2025. The April 2026 General Conference will be the first general conference where he will preside as president of the Church and prophet. Pres. Oaks will be formally sustained in a solemn assembly during the Saturday Morning Session.
The Quorum of the Twelve
From Church Newsroom: "The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is the second-highest presiding body in the government of the Church. Its members travel the world as special witnesses of the name of Christ and serve under the direction of the First Presidency."
- President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Second reference: President Uchtdorf [#PresUchtdorf]. Pres. Uchtdorf was set apart by Pres. Oaks as the acting president of the quorum in January 2026. President Eyring is technically the president of the quorum, but because he is serving in the First Presidency, President Uchtdorf, as the next in seniority in the quorum, serves as the acting president.
- Elder David A. Bednar; Elder Bednar [#ElderBednar]
- Elder Quentin L. Cook; Elder Cook [#ElderCook]
- Elder Neil L. Andersen; Elder Andersen [#ElderAndersen]
- Elder Ronald A. Rasband; Elder Rasband [#ElderRasband]
- Elder Gary E. Stevenson; Elder Stevenson [#ElderStevenson]
- Elder Dale G. Renlund; Elder Renlund [#ElderRenlund]
- Elder Gerrit W. Gong; Elder Gong [#ElderGong]
- Elder Ulisses Soares; Elder Soares [#ElderSoares]
- Elder Patrick Kearon; Elder Kearon [#ElderKearon]
- Elder Gérald Caussé; Elder Caussé [#ElderCaussé] Elder Caussé was called and ordained by President Oaks on Nov. 6, 2025. The e's in Elder Caussé name are e-acute characters. Instructions on how to access the character can be found here. In Brightspot, use the keyboard icon in the toolbar (after the table grid and before the Track Changes slider). If time or technical limitations prevent it, use the lowercase e, but this should be the very, very rare exception and not the rule.
- Elder Clark G. Gilbert; Elder Gilbert. [#ElderGilbert] Elder Gilbert was called by President Oaks following the death of President Jeffrey R. Holland. He was ordained Feb. 12, 2026 by President Oaks. He served until April 1, 2026 as commissioner of the Church Educational System, the governing body of seminaries, institutes and Church-owned higher education institutions and organizations including Brigham Young University. On March 11, 2026 the First Presidency announced Elder James Rasband, a General Authority Seventy, had been appointed commisioner of CES effective April 1, 2026.
- President Jeffrey R. Holland, previously the president of the quorum, passed away on Dec. 27, 2025. This will be the first general conference without President Holland. Second reference President Holland. [#PresHolland]
Other Priesthood Leadership
Presidency of the Seventy [#Presidency70]
Seven General Authority Seventies who direct the work of General Authority Seventies and Area Seventies. There is seniority in the presidency based on when their service began in the presidency. Currently Elder Carl B. Cook is the senior member of the presidency. All presidency members are referred to as Elder.
In order of seniority in the presidency, the members of the Presidency of the Seventy are:
- Elder Carl B. Cook, senior president (started as a member of the Presidency on March 31, 2018); second reference Elder Cook [#ElderCook]
- Elder S. Mark Palmer (Aug. 1, 2021); Elder Palmer [#ElderPalmer]
- Elder Marcus B. Nash (Jan. 16, 2024); Elder Nash [#ElderNash]
- Elder Michael B. Ringwood (Aug. 1, 2024); Elder Ringwood [#ElderRingwood]
- Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela (Aug. 1, 2024); Elder Valenzuela [#ElderValenzuela]
- Elder Edward Dube (Aug. 1, 2024); Elder Dube [#ElderDube]
- Elder Kevin R. Duncan (Apr. 5, 2025); Elder Duncan [#Elder Duncan]
General Authority Seventies
Men called as full-time “especial witnesses.” They are given assignments at Church headquarters and in area presidencies throughout the world. All General Authority Seventies are referred to as Elder. In some uses, they may be referred to simply as “of the Seventy.” There is no seniority among the Seventy and in the past, General Authority Seventies have been given emeritus status in the calendar year when they turn 70. #ElderSurname]
Area Seventies
Formerly called Area Authority Seventies. These are men who are part-time Church leaders with assignments in their home geographic area. They are organized into quorums of up to 70 members. The quorums are based on the geographic areas of the Church. Currently, the third through the twelfth quorums are composed of Area Seventies. They typically serve for at least three years, usually more like five to six years. All Area Seventies are referred to as Elder. In some uses, they may be referred to as “of the Seventy.”
Presiding Bishopric
A council of three men who work under the direction of the First Presidency in managing and directing the affairs of the Church including humanitarian aid, welfare programs, tithing and fast offerings, physical facilities and membership records. The current presiding bishopric is:
- Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, presiding bishop; second reference Bishop Waddell [#BishopWaddell] Bishop Waddell was previously the first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric. He was named Presiding Bishop by the First Presidency on Nov. 14, 2025 following the call of Elder Caussé to the Quorum of the Twelve.
- Bishop L. Todd Budge, first counselor; Bishop Budge [#BishopBudge]
- Bishop Sean Douglas, second counselor; Bishop Douglas [#BishopDouglas]
Organization Presidencies
Organizations (no longer referred to as auxiliaries) are directed by a general president, always referred to as President. Counselors in the presidency are referred to as either Brother or Sister.
Primary [#Primary]
From the Church Newsroom: The Primary is the organization for children ages 18 months to 11 years. It teaches them the gospel of Jesus Christ and helps them build faith.
General presidency sustained April 2, 2022, began service Aug. 1, 2022
- President Susan H. Porter, general president; second reference President Porter [#PresPorter]
- Sister Amy A. Wright, first counselor; Sister Wright [#SisterWright]
- Sister Tracy Y. Browning, second counselor; Sister Browning [#SisterBrowning]
Relief Society [#ReliefSociety]
From Newsroom: The Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized by Joseph Smith, the Church’s first President, in 1842. He called it “a select Society separate from all the evils of the world, choice, virtuous, and holy”
General presidency sustained April 2, 2022, began service Aug. 1, 2022
- President Camille N. Johnson, general president; second reference President Johnson [#PresJohnson]
- Sister J. Anette Dennis, first counselor; Sister Dennis [#SisterDennis]
- Sister Kristin M. Yee, second counselor; Sister Yee [#SisterYee]
Sunday School [#SundaySchool]
From Newsroom: The Sunday School general presidency is responsible for religious instruction in the Church. The presidency consists of a president and two counselors who travel frequently to minister to Church members around the world, helping them improve religious teaching in the home and in Church meetings.
General presidency sustained April 6, 2024, began service Aug. 1, 2024
- President Paul V. Johnson, general president; President Johnson [#PresPJohnson] (to draw a distinction from Relief Society general president Camille N. Johnson)
- Brother Chad H Webb, first counselor; Brother Webb (No period after H. It is an initial and not an abbreviation) [#BrotherWebb]
- Brother Gabriel W. Reid, second counselor; Brother Reid [#BrotherReid]
Young Women
From Newsroom: The Young Women organization helps young women learn and live the gospel of Jesus Christ and increase their faith in Him. Young women serve others, build unity, and help accomplish God’s work.
General presidency sustained April 1, 2023, began service Aug. 1, 2023
- President Emily Belle Freeman, general president; second reference President Freeman [#PresidentFreeman]
- Sister Tamara W. Runia, first counselor; Sister Runia [#SisterRunia]
- Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus, second counselor; Sister Spannaus [#SisterSpannaus]
Young Men
From Newsroom: The Young Men General Presidency works with the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Presiding Bishopric, and leaders of the Young Women organization to teach, serve, and watch over the young men of the Church and those who lead them.
General presidency sustained April 5, 2025, began service Aug. 1, 2025
- President Timothy L. Farnes, general president; second reference President Farnes [#PresidentFarnes]
- Brother David J. Wunderli, first counselor; Brother Wunderli [#BrotherWunderli]
- Brother Sean R. Dixon, second counselor; Brother Dixon [#BrotherDixon]
Lower third examples
| President Dallin H. Oaks President of the Church |
| President Henry B. Eyring First counselor, First Presidency |
| President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Acting president, Quorum of the Twelve |
| Elder Patrick Kearon Quorum of the Twelve |
| President Camille N. Johnson Relief Society General President |
| Brother Chad H Webb Second counselor, Sunday School General Presidency |
Common Church terms
area The Church has divided the world into 24 geographic areas. The United States is covered by six areas with the other parts of the world covered with 18 areas. All of the areas are presided over by a General Authority Seventy who is assisted by counselors who are General Authority Seventies or Area Seventies except for the Eurasian Area that has a presidency of three Area Seventies who cover Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
Assembly Hall
auxiliary term formerly used to refer to the Relief Society, Young Women, Young Men, Sunday School and Primary. They are now referred to as organizations.
bishop title used for all members of the Presiding Bishopric.
Example caption: Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, presiding bishop of the Church and Bishop L. Todd Budge, first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric visit with a young man before the Saturday afternoon session of general conference on April 4.
board obsolete term for members called to assist general presidencies of organizations. Now referred to as general advisory councils.
brother Use the title Brother for the counselors in the Young Men and Sunday School general presidencies.
Church Administration Building Granite building at 47 East South Temple with offices for General Authorities including the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints note the hyphen and capitalize “The” before Church). The name of the Church should be spelled out on first reference in stories. Do not use LDS Church. On second reference use the Church or the Church of Jesus Christ (note the lowercase “t” in these instances). When referring to church members, use members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Latter-day Saints. Do not use the term Mormon. Use lowercase the church when referring to local church buildings and leaders. The Church’s humanitarian outreach. The church on 1460 North in Provo. If you could easily write the sentence using the full name of the Church, capitalize Church. [#ChurchofJesusChrist]
Church Office Building twenty-eight floor administrative support building for the Church at 50 East North Temple.
conference capitalize, as in 196th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On subsequent references it’s conference or general conference (lowercase). [#GeneralConference]
Conference Center (uppercase)
conferencegoer, conferencegoers (one word)
Example caption: Latter-day Saint conferencegoers listen to the Saturday afternoon session while sitting on the grass at Temple Square in Salt Lake City on April 4.
elder The title Elder is used for members of the Quorum of the Twelve (except for the quorum president or acting president), Presidency of the Seventy, General Authority Seventies and Area Seventies. The title is also used for male full-time and church service missionaries.
Example caption: From left, Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve and President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency, attend the Saturday morning session of general conference on April 4.
Example caption: Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve and his wife, Sister Susan Bednar, wave to the congregation after the conclusion of the Sunday afternoon session of the 196th Annnual General Conference on Easter Sunday, April 5. Elder Bednar spoke at the Sunday morning session.
devil or the devil but Lucifer or Satan
FamilySearch Library formerly the Family History Library. Located on Temple Square. As of Jan. 10, 2023, all of the more than 5,700 family history centers around the world are now referred to as FamilySearch centers.
First Presidency (uppercase)
First Vision (uppercase)
general authorities Use the title in first reference for church general authorities. Use the title, too, on subsequent references. Also use the full name on first reference, including initials.
Example caption: From left, President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency; President Dallin H. Oaks, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and President D. Todd Christofferson, second counselor in the First Presidency, greet the congregation before the Sunday morning session of general conference on April 5.
Example caption: President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency, speaks during the Saturday afternoon session of general conference on April 4.
Example caption: President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve, speaks during the Saturday afternoon session of the 196th Annual General Conference on April 4.
General Authority Seventy
Example caption: Elder Kyle S. McKay, General Authority Seventy, speaks during the Saturday afternoon session on Saturday, April 4.
general presidency is lowercase.
Example caption: Sister Amy A. Wright, first counselor in the Primary general presidency, speaks during the Sunday afternoon session of general conference on April 5.
Example caption: Brother Sean R. Dixon, second counselor in the Young Men general presidency, speaks during the Saturday afternoon session of general conference on Saturday, April 4.
Holy Week (uppercase). The week from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.
Joseph Smith Memorial Building Church administrative building on South Temple, west of the Church Administrative Building. Originally the Hotel Utah until 1987. The building reopend after additional renovation in 2025.
Mormon Tabernacle Choir obsolete name for The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.
The Orchestra at Temple Square
Organization names are uppercase — Relief Society, Young Women, Young Men, Sunday School and Primary. Formerly referred to as auxiliaries.
president the title president is used for members of the First Presidency as well as the general presidents of the Relief Society, Sunday School, Young Men, Young Women and Primary organizations. This is a recent change in style. Use the title Sister (Relief Society, Young Women, Primary) or Brother (Young Men, Sunday School) for the counselors in general presidencies of organizations.
Example caption: President Camille N. Johnson, general president of the Relief Society, speaks during the Saturday afternoon session. President Johnson directs an organization of millions of women worldwide.
Example caption: Sister Tracy Y. Browning, second counselor in the Primary general presidency, speaks during the Saturday afternoon session of general conference on April 4.
Quorum of the Twelve This has been our style for years. The Church has used the terms Council of the Twelve, Council of the Twelve Apostles, Quorum of the Twelve and now Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Due to an incident years ago when a proofreader didn't correctly mark an error and a page designer used the suggestion for a misspelled term, we continue to not add the word Apostles. It was a dark day. Goodness, it was a dark week. RegretTheError.com named it the typo of the year. It even showed up in Reader's Digest. What you write matters.
Salt Lake Tabernacle
Salt Lake Temple Currently undergoing renovation and structural reinforcement. The project includes adding three below ground levels north of the main temple, moving the bapistry, adding a second baptistry, removing an addition completed in the early 1960s and creating a more sympathic addition to provide additional sealing rooms and much more. The project is estimated to be completed in 2027. In a press release President Russell M. Nelson announced the open house for the temple will be from April 2027 to October 2027. It is anticipated to be the largest temple open house in the history of the Church. See temples and tabernacles below for guidance on temple names.
sister Use the title Sister for wives of general authorities on first and all subsequent references. Also use the title Sister for counselors in the Relief Society, Young Women and Primary general presidencies. Use the title Sister for female full-time and church service missionaries and wives of mission presidents.
Example caption: Sister Kristen Oaks, wife of President Dallin H. Oaks, waves to Latter-day Saints following the Sunday morning session of general conference on April 5.
Example caption: Sister Tamara W. Runia, first counselor in the Young Women general presidency, speaks during the Sunday afternoon session of general conference on April 5.
solemn assembly A formal sustaining of the new First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve by standing individual groups (First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve, General Authority Seventies and Presiding Bishopric, remaining Melchizedek Priesthood, Relief Society, Aaronic Priesthood, Young Women, entire membership). The last solemn assembly to sustain a church president was at the beginning of Pres. Russell M. Nelson's administration at the April 2018 General Conference during the Saturday Morning Session on March 31, 2018. On Sunday April 4, 2020 the Church held another solemn assembly where President Nelson led the congregation in the Hosanna Shout to mark the 200th anniversary of the First Vision.
The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square [#TabChoir] new name for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Mack Wilberg is the music director, Ryan Murphy is the associate music director. Michael O. Leavitt is the choir president. Organists include Richard Elliott, Andrew Unsworth, Brian Mathias, Linda Margetts and Joseph Peeples.
Temples and tabernacles Capitalize temple or tabernacle when using the full name, which usually includes the city and country or U.S. state or Canadian province: Bountiful Utah Temple, London England Temple, American Fork Tabernacle, Calgary Alberta Temple. Some temples in Mexico include the Mexican state in the name: Colonia Juárez Chihuahua Mexico Temple, Hermosillo Sonora Mexico Temple.
Lowercase temple when not using the full name: Saratoga Springs temple, Bountiful temple.
There are exceptions such as Salt Lake Temple (not Salt Lake City Temple or Salt Lake City Utah Temple). The “t” is always uppercase in that usage.
Temple names may change as locations or groundbreakings are announced. Other exceptions to the naming convention include:
- Buenos Aires City Center Argentina Temple (a second temple in Buenos Aires)
- Columbia River Washington Temple (in Richland, Washington)
- Deseret Peak Utah Temple (in Tooele, Utah)
- Feather River California Temple (in Yuba City, California)
- The Gila Valley Arizona Temple (The is part of the name. Located in Central, Arizona)
- Heber Valley Utah Temple (near Heber City, Utah)
- Jordan River Utah Temple (in South Jordan, Utah)
- Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple (a second temple in Lima)
- Lone Mountain Nevada Temple (in Las Vegas, Nevada)
- Mexico City Benemérito Mexico Temple (additional temple in Mexico City at the Mexico City Missionary Training Center site)
- Miraflores Guatemala City Guatemala Temple (additional temple in Guatemala City)
- Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple (in American Fork, Utah)
- Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple (in South Jordan, Utah)
- Provo City Center Temple (no Utah in name)
- Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple (new name for the temple being built on the site of the recently demolished Provo Utah Temple)
- Red Cliffs Utah Temple (in St. George, Utah). Originally referred to as the Washington County Utah Temple.
- Russia Temple (an updated name will probably come once a location is announced)
- São Paulo East Brazil Temple (a second temple in São Paulo, Brazil)?
- Singapore Temple (in Singapore in the Republic of Singapore)
- Star Valley Wyoming Temple (in Afton, Wyoming)
- Teton River Idaho Temple (second temple in Rexburg, Idaho)
- Willamette Valley Oregon Temple (in Springfield, Oregon)
- Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple (in Omaha, Nebraska)
As of March 27, 2026, of the 383 temples announced, under construction or announced, 214 temples have been dedicated: 207 are in use, 5 are closed for renovation, 3 are being rebuilt — that adds up to 215 because the Anchorage Alaska Temple is still in operation, but it will be replaced by a new temple being built at the same site. There are 63 temples under construction: 2 currently holding open houses and with dedication dates set, 5 with open houses and dedications scheduled, 48 under active construction (at least 9 of those are nearing completion), 8 with groundbreaking ceremonies held, but active construction not yet started. The remaining 106 are in various planning stages: 1 groundbreaking scheduled, 39 with sites and renderings released, 16 other locations announced and 50 other temples in the early planning stage.
Temples will probably not be announced at General Conference. President Oaks stated in an interview prior to the Burley Idaho Temple dedication he intends to have a presiding leader announce a new temple individually in the temple district. This pattern was followed when the Portland Maine Temple was announced by area president, Elder Allen D. Haynie, at a Christmas devotional in Portland, Maine on Dec. 14, 2025.