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SALT LAKE CITY -- Trying to acquire a ticket to general conference can be like trying to get a ticket to the Super Bowl.
Tens of thousands of members of the LDS Church will flock to downtown Salt Lake City this weekend to attend the 181st Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and tickets for all five sessions have long since been distributed.
If you weren't able to snare one of those, however, it doesn't necessarily mean you're out of luck. Indeed, there are several ways you can obtain a seat in the Conference Center for one of the five sessions — or at least participate in proceedings somewhere downtown.
Stand-by line
The first suggestion to consider is the stand-by line that forms at the north gate on Temple Square. There are always seats that go unfilled due to lost tickets, illness, travel disruptions or other circumstances that prevent ticket-holders from attending. When this happens, individuals are drawn from the stand-by line, in order, as space permits.
It is difficult to predict which sessions of general conference will admit more guests from the stand-by line.
–Scott Trotter, LDS church spokesman
Unfortunately, the number of stand-by seats available is unpredictable and can vary from session to session, according to Scott Trotter, spokesman for the LDS church.
“It is difficult to predict which sessions of general conference will admit more guests from the stand-by line," Trotter said. "While there have been exceptions, inclement weather generally allows for more stand-by guests to attend.”
Hopeful conference-goers may be in luck in regards to questionable weather, which is certainly par for the general conference course.
As the saying goes, "When the Mormons meet, the heavens weep!" The cover of the May 2011 conference edition of the Ensign magazine is adorned by a beautiful photo of Temple Square covered in snow from a storm that blew in for the Sunday sessions this past April.
If the sky looks daunting, grab an umbrella and chance the stand-by line (also, get the weekend's weather forecast here).
Unused tickets
If the weather holds up or the stand-by line appears too daunting, there are other methods for acquiring tickets. Often, members of a party are unable to make it, leaving those who remain with additional tickets. Standing on one of the corners of the Conference Center property looking for tickets can prove worthwhile. Individuals frequently keep extra tickets in a coat pocket or purse to pass out.
Some ticket-hunters will bring signs either handwritten or typed, requesting tickets. While this approach certainly works for acquiring tickets, it also paints the bearer of the sign as desperate. The informal method is frequently best. Simply using your fingers to display the number of tickets you need conveys the message crystal clear. If you are daring enough, you might even consider politely asking larger groups if they have an extra ticket.
If you have a conflict arise and cannot use your tickets, consider giving them away or look for opportunities to trade them for other sessions. Such exchanges may cautiously be handled online through Craigslist or KSL. Do not sell the tickets or charge other fees; this violates Church policy and the spirit of the event.
If exchange is not an option, find someone who will be going downtown and ask them to distribute the tickets. It is likely someone can be found with a few well-placed phone calls.
Temple Square venues
If all else fails, the conference proceedings are broadcast to several locations on Temple Square where no tickets are required. Overflow seating will be in the Tabernacle, the North Visitors' Center, and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building for all sessions. The Conference Center Theater will broadcast the Priesthood session and Sunday sessions. Overflow seating for Spanish speakers will be provided for all five sessions in the Assembly Hall.
Joseph Irvine has landed seats for conference many times, often without tickets in advance. A contractor for ClearPlay, he also writes charter school admissions lottery software, made available through www.edulottery.com.
