SALT LAKE CITY — Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are urging men and boys to attend the upcoming general conference priesthood session at the Conference Center or at their local satellite broadcast locations instead of staying home to watch it on TV or the Internet, now that those options are available.

In a letter to general and local ecclesiastical authorities of the church, the Presiding Bishopric, a general leadership council that has specific responsibility for temporal affairs as well as the youth of the church, said "priesthood holders are encouraged to attend the general priesthood meeting at their local chapel, where distances permit."

While acknowledging the recently announced availability of the priesthood session via live broadcasts on BYUtv, LDS.org and the Mormon Channel, the Presiding Bishopric observed that "the Saturday evening broadcast at meetinghouses represents an important tradition and is an especially uplifting experience for young men who hold the Aaronic Priesthood."

Local leaders were instructed to make sure this counsel is announced in priesthood meetings around the church this coming Sunday.

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