Jehovah's Witnesses to hold conferences in Utah

OGDEN — Jehovah's Witnesses are perhaps best-known for their zealous door-to-door proselyting efforts with their Watchtower and Awake magazines. However, more of their trademarks include usually constructing their local Kingdom Hall church buildings in a just few days and their annual district conventions held each summer.

All three of these characteristics are highlighted this month in northern Utah by the strong membership of Witnesses here.

First, the City Creek Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses built a Kingdom Hall at 2577 Hempstead St., West Valley City — all 4,400 square feet — in less than five days.

Second, Witnesses have been out in force in local Utah communities this month, dropping off fliers and going door-to-door talking to people, announcing their upcoming district conventions.

Third, "How Can You Draw Close to God?" will be the theme of this year's district conventions for the Jehovah's Witnesses.

This year's three-day English-speaking event in northern Utah will be Friday, July 2, through Sunday, July 4, at the Dee Events Center, Weber State University.

In addition, the Spanish-speaking district convention continues this weekend at the Dee Events Center, 4400 Harrison Blvd., Ogden, through Sunday, June 27.

Richard Wolf, an elder with Jehovah's Witnesses in Davis County, said the conventions are free, open to the public and will not include any collections.

He said the convention theme is based on James 4:7-8, Acts 17:27 and other scriptures.

"We are living in critical times," Wolf said. "Really, the only answer is to draw closer to God."

Jeff Tackett, another northern Utah elder for the Witnesses, said new this year, four separate district conventions are being held in southern Utah for the first time.

At the Burns Arena on St. George's Dixie State College campus, English conventions will be held on July 9-11 and again on July 16-18. In addition, Spanish-speaking conventions will be staged there in July 23-25 and again on July 30-Aug.1.

These new southern Utah conventions were moved from Las Vegas and highlight the growth of Witnesses in the area.