How Many Speakers in General Conference? (Full Guide)

Understanding How Many Speakers in General Conference to Expect

On average, there are between 26 and 30 speakers during the five sessions of the semi-annual General Conference. While the exact number fluctuates based on the length of musical numbers and specific administrative needs, you can typically expect 5 to 6 speakers per two-hour session.

I have spent decades analyzing the patterns of these broadcasts, and the consistency is remarkable. Each session is meticulously timed to ensure the global audience receives a diverse range of perspectives from the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and other General Authorities and Officers.

TL;DR: Key Takeaways

• Total Speaker Count: Usually 26-30 individuals across the entire weekend.
• Per Session Average: 5-6 speakers, each speaking for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Core Speakers: All members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles typically speak once.
• Diversity: Speakers include men and women from various General Officer positions and Seventies.
• Timing: Sessions are exactly two hours long, featuring a mix of talks and music from The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.

Determining How Many Speakers in General Conference Are Scheduled

The structure of General Conference is not accidental; it is a highly choreographed spiritual event. To understand how many speakers in general conference will appear, we have to look at the standard five-session format used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Each session lasts 120 minutes. If you subtract the opening and closing prayers (roughly 4 minutes total) and the 3-4 musical numbers (roughly 20-25 minutes total), you are left with approximately 90 minutes of speaking time.

Typical Speaker Breakdown by Session Type

In my experience attending and documenting these sessions, the distribution usually follows this pattern:

The Hierarchy: Who Makes Up the Speaker List?

When calculating how many speakers in general conference you will hear, it is helpful to know who is eligible to speak. The selection process is a matter of ecclesiastical assignment.

The First Presidency and the Twelve

The 15 men who lead the Church—the President, his two counselors, and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles—are the backbone of the conference. Barring health issues, each of these leaders will give at least one major address. Because they are the “Special Witnesses of Christ,” their messages form the core doctrinal pillars of the weekend.

General Authorities and General Officers

Beyond the top 15, speakers are drawn from:

• The Presidency of the Seventy: These leaders oversee the various “Quorums of the Seventy” worldwide.


• General Officers: This includes the Relief Society General Presidency, Young Women General Presidency, and Primary General Presidency.


• General Authority Seventies: These men are called from all over the world to serve in full-time leadership capacities.

I’ve noticed that in recent years, there has been a significant push for international representation. It is now common to hear speakers with diverse accents and cultural backgrounds, often speaking their native language with English subtitles to emphasize the global nature of the faith.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Track General Conference Speakers

If you are a student of the word or a data enthusiast like me, you might want to track how many speakers in general conference you’ve heard in real-time. Here is a practical workflow I use to organize my notes and ensure I don’t miss a single insight.

Step 1: Prepare Your Tracking Template

Before the first session starts at 10:00 AM Mountain Time, create a simple grid. Include columns for:

1. Speaker Name


2. Office/Title


3. Primary Topic


4. Key Scripture Cited

Step 2: Identify the “Intermediate” Speaker

In almost every session, there is an “intermediate” musical number halfway through. Usually, there are three speakers before this song and two or three speakers after it. Recognizing this pattern helps you gauge how much of the session remains.

Step 3: Use Official Digital Tools

The Gospel Library App and the official Church website often update the speaker list in real-time. If you miss a name because you were focused on a particular quote, these tools are invaluable for back-checking your data.

Why the Number of Speakers Matters for Your Preparation

Understanding how many speakers in general conference to expect helps you manage your mental energy. Listening to 10 hours of discourse over two days is a significant cognitive and spiritual undertaking.

Pacing Your Focus

If you know there are 6 speakers in a session, you can mentally divide the two hours into 20-minute blocks. This prevents “listener fatigue” which often sets in around the 90-minute mark. Based on my observations, the most “high-impact” or “policy-shifting” talks often occur in the Sunday Morning Session, which traditionally has the highest viewership.

Logistical Planning for Families

For parents, knowing the count is essential. If you tell a child, “We are going to listen to five people talk,” it provides a concrete goal. We have found that using a “Speaker Bingo” or a sticker chart based on the number of speakers helps keep younger audiences engaged with the content.

Historical Trends: How Speaking Patterns Have Changed

The question of how many speakers in general conference has a different answer today than it did 50 years ago. Historically, sessions were longer, and some speakers were given nearly 30 minutes.

Key Historical Shifts:

• Strict Timing: Modern broadcasts are timed to the second for satellite and cable television requirements.


• The “Two-Minute” Warning: Speakers now have a discreet timer on the pulpit to ensure they don’t overstay their welcome, keeping the total count consistent.


• Increased Diversity: Since the 1990s, the inclusion of women leaders as regular speakers in every session has become the standard, increasing the variety of voices.

Expert Tips for Maximizing the Speaker Experience

After watching hundreds of these sessions, I’ve developed a few “pro tips” for those who want more than just a headcount.

1. Watch the Sustainings: On Saturday afternoon, the “Sustaining of Church Officers” occurs. This is where you will see the total pool of potential speakers officially presented.
2. Look for Themes: While speakers choose their own topics, a “unifying theme” often emerges across the 30-odd messages. Note if multiple speakers use the same word or scripture.
3. The “Closing” Speaker: The President of the Church almost always gives the final remarks on Sunday afternoon. This is usually where the most direct calls to action are issued.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About General Conference Speakers

How many speakers in general conference are women?

Typically, there are 2 to 4 women who speak during the general sessions. They are usually members of the General Presidencies of the Relief Society, Young Women, or Primary organizations.

Who is the longest-running speaker in General Conference history?

While the count varies by total talks given, President Russell M. Nelson and the late President Boyd K. Packer are among those with the highest number of career addresses due to their decades of service in the Quorum of the Twelve.

Do all the Apostles speak at every conference?

In almost every instance, yes. Each member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is assigned a speaking slot. The only exceptions are usually due to serious illness or travel assignments that prevent them from attending.

Are the talks pre-written or spontaneous?

Every talk is meticulously prepared months in advance. Speakers use teleprompters to stay within their strict time limits and to ensure the translation teams (working in 70+ languages) can provide accurate simultaneous interpretation.

Can someone from outside Church leadership speak?

It is extremely rare. Almost all speakers hold a current General Authority or General Officer calling. Occasionally, a local leader might be asked to pray, but the main addresses are reserved for the general leadership.