Behind the Scenes of General Conference: Conference Center Staging

When we picture general conference, we probably imagine the podium and Church leaders’ seats in front of the organ pipes. But the Conference Center stage doesn’t look that way year-round.

The Conference Center holds many events that require a different setup, and it takes hours to prepare the stage (officially called the “rostrum”) for general conference. A team of 10 people spend around three weeks getting the stage, lobbies, and other Conference Center facilities ready for visitors to enjoy general conference.

Here are some interesting facts:

• 18 large modules create the main staging floors, with each one weighing 1.5–4 tons.

• Those heavy structures are moved by pillows of compressed air that push against the ground, making the structures relatively easy to move.

• About 500 smaller pieces, like rails and panels, are also added.

• 80-foot-tall (24 m) doors open to allow the largest structures to move into place.

• The staging team also prepares facilities for security, missionaries, and hosting—with over 600 tasks total.

Joel Wright, staging supervisor for the team, has helped with 50 general conferences. He refers to his team as “unsung heroes” who put in amazing effort. He says, “There isn’t a lot of glory in setting up a chair or a table or putting the facility together.” But without them, he said, the conference wouldn’t be the same.

Staging lead Brandon Urry notes that it takes “many different people from different skill sets and different backgrounds” to accomplish their work—“to broadcast the love of the Lord and the words He has to share with everybody.”

Brandon says they need everyone with those different skills to “come together for one cause.” Since that cause is centered in Jesus Christ, this staging team feels His presence and sees His miracles.

Robert Simpson, also a staging lead, says: “I … feel like the Spirit of the Lord enters into our meetings and is there to help us … complete [the work]. … Sometimes we wonder how we’re going to get through it all. But we pray and ask for our Heavenly Father’s help.”

And as Joel adds: “By enduring, by persevering, by continuing to work hard, [the staging] is all in place, ready to go the morning of general conference.”