Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gather around the world to listen to messages from the Church’s leaders. Individuals gather in the Conference Center, Temple Square, and can listen anywhere through streaming. 

Though the option to listen to these messages from home is available, thousands choose to listen in person or on the temple ground outside of the conference center. Some will even wait in line, hoping for extra seats to be open. 

What drives these Latter Day Saints to want to attend in person with long lines versus listening at home?

The Chavezes - 

The Chavezes planned on attending the conference without tickets.

“I work every Sunday, but I told [Deborah], it could be a good idea to start attending conference. It doesn't hurt if we don't have tickets. Let's go and see if walking around, if we can get into the conference center, we can just try to be there,” Daniel Chavez said. “And a magic thing, we got tickets from her seminary teacher two days before the conference. So I think everything works perfectly to attend the conference, and be inside the conference center. So it was blessed for us, for me, and that strengthened my testimony that the Lord, wants me to be here.”

Daniel Chavez attended Sunday’s conference with his daughter, Deborah Chavez, who wonders what to do after graduating from high school. Daniel said the conference helps personal discipleship, and he belives discipleship simply following Christ. He also added that how we act as disciples can shift. 

“Sometimes we just need to be followers of Christ, and sometimes we need to help lead,” Daniel Chavez said. “And in my case, I'm trying to be Christ’s disciple and follow Him, and I'm leading my family. So I think it's important to follow Christ's teachings and at the same time, lead my family and be an anchor for them.”

Daniel added that in addition to strengthening his testimony and discipleship, he wanted to attend with his daughter to help her do the same. Deborah Chavez said that conference has been a help to her in her teen years and has helped her find peace. 

“I feel a lot of warmth just being with family and being able to participate in a thing where I can feel so strengthened,” said Deborah Chavez. “I think days like this, where it feels like there's so much evil, there's so much sin, it's good to rely on on Christ and the things that he can do for us. Peace isn't the absence of evil, it's the presence of of Christ, whenever we need him.”

Daniel Chavez said conference helps him become the best version of himself and he is grateful for the ability to attend. 

“My heart is so full. A long time ago, we couldn't do this. I think this is my second or third time coming to the conference, and that's helped me a lot,” said Daniel Chavez. “So I, even just walking around, I feel a different feeling, a better feeling. I can feel the spirit. Every single thing is for a reason, happens for a reason, and I don't think it's a coincidence that we are here.”

The Gassants 

Edward Gassant and his wife, Susana Gassant, also live in Utah, and decided to listen to the conference’s messages from outside rather than from the comfort of their own home. They decided to do this for their children’s spiritual growth. 

“Our kids are still young, so as much as we want to sit at home and listen, it's better for them over here,” Edward Gassant said. “You can feel the spirit here on temple grounds. It helps them early on to build their testimony while they're around the same people.”

While Edward said he feels the conference teaches him many new things, Susanna said she feels the conference is a time of important reminders. They agreed that listening to the conference enables them to better navigate new life experiences.

“I think, with the first session and with the year the world has had, it was just a good reminder, just to always stick with Jesus Christ,” Susana Gassant. “Anything good, bad, happy, sad, Jesus Christ is always the answer. Jesus Christ has always been the center of every message. The testimonies have always strengthened, even helped us follow Him and come closer to Him and build our relationship with Him.”