Conference Preparations

For The Children...
LDS General Conference Activity Books have changed the General Conference viewing experience for our children (and in turn, for us). Click here at LDS Media Talk for Activity Book Ideas.

For The Family...
Plan special meals..especially breakfast. For as long as I can remember, my mom made Swedish Pancakes on General Conference Sunday Morning. Being on a later time zone makes for a "non-rush-out-the-door" Breakfast experience, as compared to every other Sunday during the year.

For The Women and Girls...
Make "Conference Quilts" for a Charity, Friend, or Family Member (We have donated Lap Quilts to the VA Hospital and others to Project Linus or LDS Humanitarian Services) While the men are at General Priesthood on Saturday Night, have a Quilt-tying session or some other Service Activity. Of course, a yummy snack or dessert should be involved. Sometimes I plan to do pedicures and manicures during the Saturday Night Priesthood Session, inevitably, the girls ask..."What about Conference Quilts?"

For the Men and Boys...
Dinner out before Saturday Night Priesthood Session (on our time zone) When we are in Utah for Conference, it is Dinner after Priesthood, sometimes just the guys and sometimes the women meet the men (if we can break away after some serious shopping all during the Priesthood Session!!)

For Your Soul...
Prepare your heart. The entire week before General Conference, I pray that my heart and mind will be OPEN to the messages I hear. I pray for the Leaders and Speakers who are preparing messages, as well. Preparing my heart is my favorite, and most important of all preparations

Spring or Fall, LDS General Conference is one of the highlights of my year!

How Do You Prepare For LDS General Conference?

What are you Conference Weekend Traditions?

It Was Over Far Too Quickly...

LDS General Conference Weekend

LDS General Conference came and went all too quickly for me. During the last Session, I said to Ron, "This is the point of General Conference when I wish there were 2-3 more sessions for me to soak in. I could listen for several more hours."

I usually have one hands down favorite message, however, I am having a difficult time saying that just ONE is my favorite. The messages delivered hope, courage, and strength to my soul.

Temples were mentioned often and at one point, I was reminded of an experience I had in Utah last week while I was driving into the Salt Lake Valley from the South. All at one time, I saw the newly dedicated Draper Temple, The Jordan River Temple, and the soon to be completed Oquirrh Mountain Temple out near Daybreak. I was overcome with emotion as the spirit whispered to me that the Salt Lake Valley NEEDS the protection of these multiple temples. Surely, the number of Latter day Saints in the area can support a temple and will keep these temples busy, yet it is the PROTECTION these temples will bring to this area that will prove to be a blessing as the days go by.The Draper Temple (above)

The Oquirrh Mountain Temple (below)

What was your favorite or most memorable message of General Conference? Was it over far too quickly for you!?

One...Two...Three...Four...Five

Count Down Time

ONE Week until Katherine turns 12 AND we get to attend

The Orlando LDS Temple for her first Youth Temple Trip

(This photo was taken last week at her last Primary Activity Day...

she shared her famous Cupcake Cake with the group..

I maintain that this cupcake cake pan is the easiest cake to make

and it looks like you worked hard..my kind of project)

TWO Weeks until Orlando Time Out For Women....THREE Weeks until Katherine and I are in Utah attending THIS in person! Yes, the first few days of Spring Break, I am taking Katherine to Utah on a Mother/Daughter Birthday Trip. Shhhhh...it's a surprise! She will know the details on her Birthday...Friday, the 13th!

FOUR Weeks until LDS General Conference. And Katherines' Braces come off (maybe)

FIVE Weeks until Easter... and Completion of reading The Book of Mormon

Conference Quilts

Conference Quilts

Mother-Daughter Night.

When we are not in Salt Lake attending LDS General Conference,

(which happens at least once per year lately)

this is a tradition I hope to continue during

April and October General Conference.

While Ron was at the Priesthood Session on Saturday Night,

Katherine and Megan each made a Tied-Quilt,

with a little help from yours truly.

They selected the fabrics (so true to their personalities..Katherine's

with Cupcakes on it and Megan's with sports for a baby boy).

Each time we work on a project, the girls are more confident

to try a new skill and work on their own.
Above and Below are the Finished Products.
They chose great flannel prints and coordinating fabrics for the
backs. I did not give any input in this department. I showed them
the rows of fabrics that would be appropriate for making tied
quilts and off they went. I was impressed with their choices.
Megan's favorite part is using the sewing machine. She already
has such control as she guides the fabric. It took me years to feel
as confident on a sewing machine as she already is at 9 years
old. She was able to use many of the sewing supplies she
received for her Birthday in August.
Her own pins and pin cushion were a highlight!

Katherine liked using the sewing machine, yet LOVED sewing

with the large needles when it came time to tie the quilt with yarn.

Note the "Conference Tent" in the background..... The idea

came from this month's Friend Magazine Watching Conference

"King Benjamin" style made the weekend even more fun.

Where will these quilts go? We are hoping to children affected by
Hurricane Ike. We have a few others to add to this collection.

In years to come, I am hoping the Conference Quilt Tradition will be one

we plan and look forward to as our Mother Daughter General Conference Tradition

during The Saturday Night Priesthood Session.

Oh....

Of course....we had YUMMY take out food, also!

It's not a Mother-Daughter Party without the Food!

Can I just say... General Conference alone brings such a powerful spirit

to our lives and our home.

However, the sweetness of that powerful spirit was magnified

as we were making these quilts with the desire to serve someone in need

. Do you ever have a weekend that you just don't want to end?

This past weekend would be in the category!

It was wonderful.

LDS General Conference
Highlights...

The Music....Especially The Primary Children's Choir at the Saturday Afternoon Session! Nothing can reach down deep in my soul as Inspirational Music. When the Children sang, We Thank Thee, O God For A Prophet"....Oh My.
A Temple in my former stomping grounds...."The Greater Kansas City Area" aka CLOSE to Independence, Missouri. As a result of growing up in that area, I am very aware that a temple being announced near Independence, Missouri gets the attention of members of the LDS Church and non-members, alike. I am so excited to attend this temple!!!! (This is one of 5 newly announced temples)
Talks A few messages hit me between the eyes. Each message was packed full of wisdom and depth. As with most General Conferences, the Saturday Sessions seem to consistently be my favorite. This General Conference is no exception....my favorite messages were on Saturday.
Andrew went to all sessions on Saturday (including The Priesthood Session) and the afternoon Session Sunday. He sat on the floor, close to the front in each session he attended.

This was such a busy weekend. I have so much to write about and so many photos to post. I loved having everything centered around General Conference. Hooray for DVR and re-playing over and over!!!

What were some of your Highlights of General Conference?

Did you watch all Four Sessions?

Did you enjoy the music?

Quilts, Questions, and General Conference

A Breath of Fresh Air....

Inhale Deeply

No Politics, No Debates, No Economic Bailout,

Put It All Away and Say......

Hooray For

LDS General Conference Weekend

How Do You Prepare for General Conference?

Do you have any General Conference Traditions?

Have you ever attended General Conference in person?

This is Alison and Me in

The Tabernacle on Temple Square last October.

We were there for General Conference.

General Conference Thoughts:

• Over the years, I have been blessed to attend many sessions of General Conference in person. I have attended at the Tabernacle on Temple Square and at the new Conference Center in Salt Lake City. Whether I attend in person or watch in my chapel or from my home, my experience is greatly enhanced when I prepare my spirit and heart. The week prior to General Conference, my prayers are focused on those preparing messages and most of all for my own heart to be open and receptive to the teachings of the spirit.
• Take your Questions To Conference. A few years ago, while speaking at a Conference in Orlando, Sister Wendy Nelson (wife of Elder Russell Nelson) told of how she took a life changing question to General Conference. She received an answer and later when she went back to review the message, the message was about a completely different subject. She received personal revelation at the moment she needed it most. Taking My Questions To Conference has changed my entire General Conference experience. I actually WRITE THEM DOWN and make each question a matter of prayer for the weeks prior to General Conference. (yes, they are written as I type) The spirit will speak to you when you are prepared to listen.
• Ron has had the blessing of taking each of our sons to the General Priesthood Meeting in the Tabernacle and/or The Conference Center. I plan on taking each of our daughters to the Young Women General Conference Broadcast at least once while they are in the Young Women's Program. Katherine turns 12 in March, so it is looking like we will head there in April.
• Quilts.....Tomorrow while Ron is at the Saturday evening General Priesthood Session, Katherine, Megan, and I are going to make a quilt. This is a tradition I want to keep going. I remember going to my Aunt Marilyn's house and the women would be sitting around working on a quilt while listening to the Saturday Sessions of General Conference.
• Sunday Morning Breakfast. We make Swedish Pancakes or Belgian Waffles. With the sessions not starting until noon EST, we have plenty of time to have a lazy morning, enjoy a wonderful breakfast, and be prepared for the Spiritual Feast that is sure to be served.
• Our Ward Young Women make and sell Conference Bag Lunches for Saturday. It has been a nice tradition to enjoy lunch made by the Young Women. When we are out of town (in Utah for Conference) I still order the lunches for those here at home, or for another family who may not have the means to enjoy this Conference treat.
• When I am in Utah for General Conference, I love Ladies Night at Deseret Book during the Priesthood Session on Saturday Night.Oh yes! Authors, discounts, samples, artists, book signings, etc. As soon as the Priesthood Session is over, I meet Ron (after enjoying Ladies Night) and usually a few friends, for dinner. Being on Mountain Time makes it perfect for going out after the Priesthood Session. At this moment, Downtown Salt Lake City is completely torn up due to Construction. Thank you, Deseret Book for finding a place for Ladies Night while you are displaced....The Joseph Smith Memorial Building was perfect!
• Mission Reunions! Attending Ron's Mission Reunion (after ALL these years) continues to be one of the Highlights of our trips to April General Conference.
• Seeing people I have not seen in years....I ALWAYS ALWAYS meet up with people I have not seen in years.
• Satellite TV! Now I can watch General Conference (and any other LDS Church TV Programming) at home. And now.....I can DVR all sessions and replay, replay, replay! I have re-watching last week's Relief Society Session over and over this week! No more waiting for the Ensign Magazine to arrive. ( I can still remember the days when General Conference was Broadcast to our Chapels via phone line....NO VIDEO. We would sit for the entire 2 hours and LISTEN. We've come so far! I remember President Kimball teaching that advances in Technology would be for the benefit of The Church Members. This is one HUGE example of technology blessing my life!
• Watching General Conference at home can have disadvantages. Preparing my Physical Surroundings (a clean orderly home) is vital to having a the spirit present for General Conference viewing. I also find that when my house is clean and orderly, I am not distracted by feeling like I should be cleaning or organizing. Preparing my Children with and attitude of respect and reverence. This is a no friends running in and out weekend. This year, I prepared Conference Packets for them to work on as they hopefully listen or at least are present while Conference is on. Of course, there are prizes for completed packets. I don't expect them to listen attentively to every message, however, they are expected to show reverence and respect while General Conference messages are presented.
• SING Stand and sing with the Congregation!!!!!
• Take Notes! I have a special General Conference Journal for taking notes. Every time I review the notes, I am taken back to the time I first heard the message and how I felt when the spirit was teaching me. I am starting a new journal this Conference.
• Andrew lives next to the Conference Center. Unless you live IN the Conference Center, no one lives closer than my son, Andrew and those in his complex. I am so excited for Andrew to be in that area. I can't wait to hear how he gets Tickets to General Conference (we did not request them far enough in advance). It will be a story worth hearing....I am sure! After all....it is Andrew I am speaking of. His life is an adventure, which means, being his mother is an adventure!

I look forward to the Spiritual Feast of General Conference.

Do you?

How do you prepare?

What are your thoughts as this Breath of Fresh Air, aka General Conference, approaches?

Happy Weekend Everyone!