March 31, 2025, 2:34pm MDT
When Latter-day Saints’ Church of Jesus Christ talks at general conferences, hundreds of interpreters focus on translating messages into multiple languages for millions of listeners around the world.
“For general conferences, we have a total of 143 language teams worldwide and 57 teams in Salt Lake City,” said Carmen Barrios McPeak, the church’s global interpretation manager.
“One thing I know is that this is the Lord’s work, because in the end, regardless of our imperfections, he corrects what we think we cannot fix.”
Behind the scenes videos from the church offer viewers a glimpse into the preparation, faith and effort offered by a foreign language interpreter every six months in general conference. A similar behind-the-scenes video focuses on staging crews and guest services.
The 195th Annual General Conference will be Saturday and Sunday, April 5th and 6th, with five general sessions taking place from the Salt Lake City Conference Center.
The interpretation of the foreign language began in 1961 under the tabernacle in the temple square. Initially, according to Churchofjesuschrist.org, the General Assembly was interpreted in four languages: Dutch, German, Samoan and Spanish.
Over 800 native speakers and returned missionaries interpreted part of the April 2024 general conference in over 100 languages. Salt Lake City interpreters usually work with 4-6 teams in sound-dumped booths, listening to the English version via a headset and translate messages in real time by syncing with the monitor. This requires managing two simultaneous conversations simultaneously in different languages, according to Churchofjesuschrist.org.
“We can’t do this without technology, coordinators and missionaries,” said Alex Merecio, one of the interpreters on the Spanish team, in the video.
The video features ideas from other interpreters who know the main purpose of their work, “take your soul to Christ” and convey the love of your Heavenly Father through a gospel message delivered in his native tongue.
“The fact that interpretation occurs simultaneously in all parts of the world humbles me,” Korean interpreter Eunlan Yi said in the video. “All of the countless interpreters deliver one message at the same moment, like a beautiful symphony.”
The video ends with the words of doctrine and covenant 90:11:
“It means that on that day, all men will hear the perfection of the gospel with their tongues, and be cast over them in their own language, through those appointed to this power, by the administration of comfort, for the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
