OGDEN -- About 1,000 Top of Utah residents will listen to General Conference this weekend with added intensity.
As the Ogden temple closes Saturday for an estimated two years of remodeling, the volunteer workers likely will be seeking inspiration at the 181st annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for how they will spend the average of 10 hours a week they have devoted to serving fellow members who participate in temple ordinances.
Many thousands more regular Ogden temple visitors also will contemplate how they'll face an added travel-time sacrifice for those experiences.
"It's a change of season in your life," said Stephen Ray, of West Haven, who has been an Ogden temple volunteer worker. "They don't close temples very often. A mass exodus ... is a lot different than you would see in most situations."
"There's a lot of people that have put papers in to go on missions," Ray said. "There are several that are migrating to the Family History Center to be consultants there. Some are going on short trips for a little bit."
About a fourth of Ray's temple group, he said, is from Box Elder County and likely will begin work at that temple in about 15 months when it opens.
"It's important to stay out and involved," said Mary Ellen Jones, of Uintah Highlands, who has volunteered at the Ogden temple.
Jones, in her late 70s, said she'll add a volunteer effort for the Weber County Library Pleasant Valley Branch to her weekly activities. She already volunteers weekly at a hospital.
Ray and Jones are among millions of church members expected to participate Saturday and Sunday in five sessions of General Conference. Most will participate via television, radio, satellite and Internet broadcasts.
More than 100,000 church members, friends and invited guests are expected to attend in Salt Lake City at the Conference Center where the event originates.
Tickets are required to enter the Conference Center, where those attending will be required to pass through a security check. Cameras, recording devices, weapons, food, backpacks, packages and large bags will not be allowed, states a news release from the church.
Overflow seating will be available in the Tabernacle, the North Visitors' Center on Temple Square and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building for all sessions.
Overflow seating also will be available in the Conference Center Theater for priesthood and Sunday sessions only.
Overflow seating for Spanish speakers will be provided in the Assembly Hall for all five sessions. Tickets are not required for admission to overflow facilities, states the news release.
Those attending Conference are encouraged to carpool or use public transportation to relieve downtown traffic congestion, the release states.
Limited public parking is available at Regent Street Parking, 119 S. Regent St. (50 East), and on Sunday only at the Energy Solutions Arena Lot, between 200 West and 300 West.
Disability parking is located at the West Temple Overflow just north of North Temple, the entrance to which is accessible when traveling south on West Temple.
Conference attendees should avoid parking in front of homes in downtown residential areas, the release states. Cars parked on neighborhood streets may be ticketed or towed at the owner's expense.
A detailed broadcast schedule of General Conference may be found at www.bonneville.info. Information regarding audio and video streams via the Internet may be found at www.lds.org/broadcast/.
General Conference, with the exception of the priesthood session at 6 p.m. Saturday, will be broadcast live on BYU Television. For additional information on availability in your area, rebroadcasts and live Internet streaming, visit www.byutv.org.
General Conference
The live event is held in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City. Tickets are required for admission to sessions in the Conference Center. To obtain tickets, contact your local priesthood leader.
FrontRunner service runs every 60 minutes Saturday, departing Ogden at 16 minutes after the hour. TRAX trains depart Salt Lake Central Station for Temple Square every 10 minutes. Northbound FrontRunner trains depart Salt Lake Central at 57 minutes after the hour. No FrontRunner service is scheduled on Sunday.
For general conference sessions, the Conference Center doors will open 90 minutes before the session start time. The length of each session is 2 hours.
General conference is broadcast via satellite to church meetinghouses throughout the world and is available through television, radio, the Internet and other media. Visit www.bonneville.info for broadcast information, or check local listings.
General sessions are held on Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time. A priesthood session is held on Saturday at 6 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time.
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