Brigham Young University will host more than 16,000 women from around the world Thursday and Friday, April 26-27, during the annual BYU Women’s Conference. This year’s theme, “And They Were Armed with Righteousness and with the Power of God in Great Glory,” comes from 1 Nephi 14:14.
The conference, co-sponsored by the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will feature speakers covering a variety of topics along with activities such as service projects, an instant choir, book signings and an evening concert.
Tickets are $52 for the full conference or $32 for a single day. Women and men ages 16 and older may register for the conference online at womensconference.byu.edu or by calling 801-422-8925. In-person registration is also available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Harman Continuing Education Building lobby at BYU and on the day of the conference at the Marriott Center beginning at 7:30 a.m.
BYU faculty, staff and students with a BYU ID are eligible for a reduced registration price of $17 for the full conference or $10 for either Thursday or Friday. A BYU ID number will be required to complete the registration. Faculty and staff can register by phone, at the Harman Continuing Education Building or online at ce.byu.edu/cw/womensconference/registration_e.cfm.
The conference is for women and men age 16 and older. Logistical and safety constraints on campus do not allow the conference to accommodate nursing infants and young children in any conference session.
Thursday’s featured speakers will include Ruth Todd, senior manager for LDS Church Public Affairs, and Matthew O. Richardson of the General Sunday School presidency and his wife, Lisa Richardson. Friday’s speakers will include Sandra Rogers, BYU International Vice President and chair of the BYU Women’s Conference committee, and Elder Neil L. Andersen, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and his wife Kathy Andersen.
Each day will begin with a morning general session from 9 to 10:15 a.m., followed by three breakout sessions at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. and an afternoon general session at 3:45 p.m. Those wishing to participate in the popular “instant choir” for the Thursday morning general session will need to be at the Marriott Center at 6:30 a.m.
As in previous years, the concurrent sessions will include special sections conducted in Spanish. ASL interpreters will also be available during all Marriott Center sessions.
Participants can choose from session topics such as home, family, marriage, service, gospel (scripture/doctrine) as well as missionary work and education — all discussed from a gospel perspective and directed toward women.
This years’ service portion of the conference is themed “Sweet is the Work.” Thursday beginning at 8 a.m., there will be “Take and Make” service projects in the Marriott Center. Participants can take kits from the Marriott Center and make crocheted-edge burp cloths, crocheted mittens, crocheted scarves, infant fleece blankets and pocket hearts while they listen to the sessions. Completed items can then be returned to the Wilkinson Student Center Garden Court.
The service activities will also include an “Evening of Service” Thursday in the Richards Building and Smith Fieldhouse from 5 to 8 p.m. There will be various service projects that will benefit local communities and people throughout the world.
Thursday night’s Shadow Mountain Artists Concert, which will begin at 8 p.m. in the Marriott Center, will feature popular Latter-day Saint performers Hilary Weeks, Jenny Oaks Baker, Dallyn Vail Bayles, Alex Boyé, Mercy River and Michael McLean.
Those interested in on-campus housing for the event must be full-conference participants. There are different housing options available on the Women’s Conference website, ce.byu.edu/cw/womensconference/on_campus_housing.cfm.
For off-campus housing, the website also has some listings at ce.byu.edu/cw/womensconference/off_campus_housing.cfm.
Parking is available in the lots north and northeast of the Marriott Center. Overflow parking is also available in the southeast lot of LaVell Edwards Stadium. There will be courtesy vans available for seniors and those with disabilities.
Selected sessions of the conference will be rebroadcast on BYUtv at a later date. The broadcast schedule will be available on the Women’s Conference website or at byutv.org.
For more information about BYU Women’s Conference, visit womensconference.byu.edu or call 801-422-7692.
Writer: Melissa Connor
