| LDS Church concludes 181st Semiannual General Conference | |
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Reported by: Noah Bond ABC 4 News | |
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Leaders for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced six new temples, encouraged member to use the Church's full name and stated it has no affiliation with any polygamist group. The 181st General Conference came to a close October 2 after five meetings in the 21,333 seat Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City. Latter-day Saints leaving the Conference Center say they are comforted and have a renewed sense of hope in the future. President Thomas S. Monson announced the burned Provo Tabernacle will be rebuilt as a second temple in Provo. "I was shocked. We drive by the Tabernacle on a regular basis had no idea what they were going to do with it. When we found out it is going to be a temple, it just seemed to make sense," said Dave Salcido from Elk Ridge, Utah. Another temple was also announced for Star Valley, Wyoming. "In addition we're moving forward on our plans to build a temple in Paris, France," said President Monson. "We're happy for the announcement and we're happy to be able to work in the temple a little closer to where we live," said Michel Cadin who lives near Paris. Temples were also announced for Barranquilla, Colombia; Durban, South Africa and Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Jessie Kportufe lives in Ghana, which is more than 1,200 miles northwest from the Congo. She said she won't likely use the two newly announced temples in Africa. "There's a temple in Ghana. We have a missionary training center as well so the church is growing a lot," said Kportufe. Exact locations of the temples in Paris, Africa, Columbia and Wyoming will be announced at a later date. President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles also made a headline when he talked to the youth of the Church about the future. "You can look forward to doing things right--getting married, having a family, seeing your children and grandchildren, maybe even great-grandchildren," said President Packer. "I believe that he's a prophet that he's an apostle of God and he receives revelation so if he says the end of the world is not near, I have faith in him," said Kportufe. Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles set the record straight about the Church's relationship with other groups who practice polygamy. Polls reveal much of America is still confused about the Latter-day Saint Church. "Let me state clearly that no polygamist group, including those calling themselves Fundamentalist Mormons or other derivatives of our name, have any affiliation whatsoever with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," said Elder Ballard. According to the Latter-day Saint Church's 2010 worldwide statistics, there are 14,131,467 members and 52,483 missionaries. There are also 135 operating temples, with another 31 temples announced or under construction, according to Church spokesman, Scott Trotter. | |
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ABC4.com Originally broadcast October 2, 2011 | |
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