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‘Mormon Land’: Columnist Jana Riess discusses Oaks’ talk and other General Conference moments

Writer-researcher also touches on slow church growth, single members, temple push, sermons on abortion and racism, along with the low number of female speakers.

(Photo courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) The governing First Presidency, Dallin H. Oaks, left, Russell M. Nelson, center and Henry B. Eyring at General Conference on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021.

General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was, for the third straight time, all-virtual due to the pandemic. That didn’t stop it from being timely and topical.

Those who tuned in heard about Christ and the resurrection (especially on Easter Sunday), the faith’s international footprint, repeated recognitions that most of the 16.6 million members are single, condemnations of cyberbullying and racist attacks, and an extensive exploration of the Constitution and the bounds of partisan politics.

And only two women spoke.

On this week’s podcast, Religion News Service columnist Jana Riess, author of “The Next Mormons: How Millennials Are Changing the LDS Church,” looks back at the highlights, lowlights and memorable moments from conference and what some of them may portend for the church’s future.

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