Mormons scrap conference session once reserved for men only

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A session that used to be reserved for men only at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ twice-annual conference has been scrapped.

Church leaders said Monday that the decision was made because the session is now available online for anyone to watch.

The church changed the Saturday evening session three years ago to alternate each six months between being for only men and only for women. Some women in the faith had argued the male-only session represented gender inequality in the faith.

The church says the October conference will be held without attendees for the fourth time in a row as the effects of the coronavirus pandemic linger.