Have you ever taken time to notice the beautiful floral designs that sit behind the pulpit during general conference? These magnificent arrangements have to balance more than a few requirements. They have to be beautiful, but not so extravagant as to pull attention away from the speakers. They have to look good with any number of dresses and ties that the speakers might wear. They have to survive the entire weekend looking just as vibrant on Sunday afternoon as they did on Saturday morning. Despite these challenges, the florists behind these bouquets always seem to pull off an incredible display.
But do these flowers really make a difference for those watching conference? Absolutely! The color, flower variety, and size can all contribute to the feelings of those watching, and they can even be a source of inspiration for some. Ashlee Humphries says, “I just want to say thank you to the florists who put the planter of what I call ‘sunrise’ roses behind the pulpit this weekend…. These unique roses have shown up at times in my life when I’ve needed a little hug from heaven. Seeing those at general conference during every talk was so sweet for me, I felt so seen and loved. It was the most impactful general conference I’ve ever had, and it all started with those roses.”
Year after year these flowers excite and bring the spirit to those watching conference. Take a look at the gallery below to see unique floral arrangements from the last dozen conferences.
Floral Designs from General Conference
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In April of 2018 the arrangements featured tin buckets full of cream roses, and a background of short greenery with yellow carnations.
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In April of 2018 the arrangements featured tin buckets full of cream roses, and a background of short greenery with yellow carnations.
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In October 2018, the front features a connecting series of gold pots containing bamboo, anthurium, and wide, shiny green leaves. Behind the pulpit are a collection of different textures of greenery and smaller pink flowers.
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In October 2018, the front features a connecting series of gold pots containing bamboo, anthurium, and wide, shiny green leaves. Behind the pulpit are a collection of different textures of greenery and smaller pink flowers.
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The April 2019 conference uses green hydrangeas for the backdrop, and a stunning front centerpiece with bells of Ireland and a bunch of red flowers to create a burst of color.
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The April 2019 conference uses green hydrangeas for the backdrop, and a stunning front centerpiece with bells of Ireland and a bunch of red flowers to create a burst of color.
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In October 2019, the background is filled with large green and purple shrubs, while the front features spiky pink protea flowers.
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In October 2019, the background is filled with large green and purple shrubs, while the front features spiky pink protea flowers.
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In April 2020, the pandemic led to a video recording of conference. The theater features wooden stump-like containers filled with moss and other green flowers.
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In April 2020, the pandemic led to a video recording of conference. The theater features wooden stump-like containers filled with moss and other green flowers.
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In October 2020, the conference theater featured low purple floral designs in the back, and modest sized red designs in the front.
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In April 2021, the conference theater featured large standing displays with a variety of warm colored flowers and even baby oranges hidden among the green.
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In October 2021, the floral designs featured large round displays of red and pink roses, surrounded by various types of fanning greenery.
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In April 2022, the floral design took an a distinctly jungle related appearance. The foliage featured large shiny purple leaves and overlapping stands of smaller green leaves.
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In April 2022, the floral design took an a distinctly jungle related appearance. The foliage featured large shiny purple leaves and overlapping stands of smaller green leaves.
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In October 2022, the floral designs utilized warm pastel colors mixed with curly green-gray vines.
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In October 2022, the floral designs utilized warm pastel colors mixed with curly green-gray vines.
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In April 2023, yellow was the dominant color for all of the spring flowers, which included tulips, calla lilies, and daffodils.
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In April 2023, yellow was the dominant color for all of the spring flowers, which included tulips, calla lilies, and daffodils.
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In October 2023, the floral designs displayed large, shiny leaves covering the background, with tidy aluminum pots of pink and red roses neatly bunches together.
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In October 2023, the floral designs displayed large, shiny leaves covering the background, with tidy aluminum pots of pink and red roses neatly bunches together.
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In April of 2018 the arrangements featured tin buckets full of cream roses, and a background of short greenery with yellow carnations.
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Their contribution to conference is always appreciated, but that’s not all the Church florists do. Andrew Barnett, lead floral designer at Church headquarters, talks about the various responsibilities that the floral team fulfills in this behind-the-scenes video. Their efforts are seen in every beautiful display they create, for conference or otherwise.
Ellie Smith was an intern for LDS Living and is from Boise, Idaho, (that's BOY-see, not boy-ZEE) and graduated from BYU with a BA in English and a minor in editing. She is always down for an adventure and has traveled to England, Iceland, Italy, France, and Spain. As an aspiring chef, Ellie loves trying new recipes and visiting unique local eateries. At the end of the day she likes to settle down with a good book and a box of Ferrero Rocher.
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