The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened its twice-annual General Conference on the weekend in Salt Lake City as members mourned the death of President Russell M. Nelson on Sept. 27, and processed a deadly church shooting in Grand Blanc, Michigan. A gunman killed four congregants on Sept. 28 before police fatally shot him, and the church building later burned.
Dallin H. Oaks, 93, is expected to assume the presidency after Nelson's funeral on Tuesday. In his Sunday address, Oaks urged members to resist declining marriage and birth rates. Church doctrine determines succession by seniority within leadership ranks.
The conference drew 20,000 attendees to each of five sessions. Church officials revealed nearly 1 million people joined the faith over three years, representing 5 percent of its 17 million global members. About half of Americans raised in the church leave as adults, according to Pew Research Center data.
Dallin H. Oaks, 93, is expected to assume the presidency after Nelson's funeral on Tuesday. In his Sunday address, Oaks urged members to resist declining marriage and birth rates. Church doctrine determines succession by seniority within leadership ranks.
The conference drew 20,000 attendees to each of five sessions. Church officials revealed nearly 1 million people joined the faith over three years, representing 5 percent of its 17 million global members. About half of Americans raised in the church leave as adults, according to Pew Research Center data.
