SALT LAKE CITY — In a first for the Utah-based faith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Wednesday morning that its April general conference "will be distributed throughout the world via technology only." Members will not gather in the Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City.

The move is intended to combat the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus; the church had previously discouraged members from traveling from abroad to attend the conference.

According to the Church News, the announcement marks the first major disruption of general conference proceedings since the October 1957 general conference was canceled during a flu epidemic.

Reaction was swift across traditional and social media. Many church members expressed disappointment but understanding over the church's decision, noting that President Russell M. Nelson had already announced last year the conference would be "different from any previous conference."

This year marks the 200th anniversary of church founder Joseph Smith's First Vision of God and Jesus, according to church teachings.

Outside the Conference Center, most Latter-day Saints seemed to be understanding and supportive of the decision.

"It's serious, and precautions need to be taken, regardless, as the brethren have said," said Margaret Silk, visiting from Indiana. "I support them, and I am happy to do what I need to do."

With technology making the conference available online, on radio and on TV, Silk said she's fine "as long as the message gets out" and the conference is not canceled. Salt Lake City's Clark Gable felt the same way.

"Just so they don't cancel conference, that's the main thing," he said.

Gable, who is 85, said he's not worrying too much about COVID-19.

"My theory is, it's not as long as I live, it's how I live that's important," he said.

Two sister missionaries said they were disappointed not to be able to interact with so many fellow Saints this April.

"Usually, there are thousands and thousands of people here for general conference," said Sister Sydny Short, from Seattle. "Last October we got to talk to so many people, and now there will be no one here."

Meanwhile, downtown Salt Lake City businesses are also preparing for lower-than-normal traffic that usually fills restaurants and shops on conference weekend. Jacklyn Briggs, marketing director for The Gateway shopping center, said the decision "certainly impacts our merchants."

"We do expect a decrease in traffic due to the cancelation," Briggs wrote in an email. "We hope that families will still plan to visit downtown, if not conference weekend, but sometime in the near future."

Dee Brewer, executive director of the Downtown Alliance, echoed that sentiment.

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April general conference will be 'via technology only,' church says

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Wednesday that April's general conference sessions will be held virtually.

"Those (conferencegoers) are just one of many customer bases that make up the success of downtown," Brewer said.

He said the lack of physical attendees will have an impact on retailers and restaurants in the area.

"They are accustomed to having those guests downtown, and shoppers and diners."

Brewer said he hopes locals will continue to patronize downtown businesses.

"It's important to note that the virus is not spreading in our communities," he said. "While there have been three cases identified, they were all transmitted on international trips and there is no evidence to date that that is spreading in our community. So Salt Lake is a safe destination."

The third confirmed case of COVID-19 in Utah was announced Wednesday. The Church of Jesus Christ's decision comes as the NCAA announced its basketball championship tournaments will be played without fans, and as Utah State University announced a cancellation of all campus events for weeks — all examples of how the novel coronavirus is disrupting more and more aspects of life in America and around the world.

Contributing: Mary Richards, KSL NewsRadio

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