LDS General Conference Traditions

Family Traditions for General Conference

I know people have all kinds of traditions from General Conference. Now that we don't have children at home, we just get to listen and take notes. That's kind of new. People (and Primary Presidencies) make Bingo cards, fill in the blanks, etc. All of those are great. Here's a few other traditions I have collected along my way.

Priesthood Pie -
When the men go to the Priesthood session of General Conference, the women stay home and bake pies together. When Priesthood is over, the men come home and they all eat pie together. The men give reports/summaries of the talks and everyone discusses the session. (from Julie Baldwin)

The Tents of Benjamin -
In The Book of Mormon, as the people gathered to hear their prophet and king, Benjamin, they brought their tents. They camped with their tents facing the tower, opened the flaps of the tents, and listened at the feet of the prophet together. One family, especially for their younger children, recreates this event, setting up a tent in front of the tv for General Conference so they can gather together as a family and listen to the prophets. (From Scott Anderson)

72-Hour Emergency Kits -
After General Conference, the parents make a list of every talk and a small summary of the main principle of each talk. On FHE the Monday after Conference, the family gets together, along with their summary and their 72-hour kits. They discuss the talks and make 6-month personal and family goals in each area discussed by the general authorities. At the same time they re-pack their 72-hour kits with fresh food and goodies. The treats for FHE that night are the goodies they are changing out of their own 72-hour kit. Then they are prepared physically and working on their spiritual preparation for the next six months until General Conference comes again. (from Scott Anderson)

Belgian Waffles with Strawberries and Whipped Cream -
Sometimes it’s hard to get those teenagers up for the Saturday morning session of conference. This family prepares a very special Saturday morning breakfast of Belgian waffles, whipped cream and fresh strawberries – available to only those who get up to watch Saturday conference.

Conference Donuts
My daughter and her family fry up little donuts and glaze them for Sunday morning conference session. They share with some of the neighbors. It's a special time to have family over to watch with them.
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I once made a Creme Brulee french toast creation I found in the newspaper. We topped it with a special "Magleby's syrup", whipped cream and strawberries. Everyone wanted that to become a tradition -- but it was so much work I didn't enjoy it. My advice: Keep it simple enough that you want to maintain the tradition!

ADDENDUM --
Julie's comment got me thinking -- and searching. Here are more ideas I found. Some would have to be adapted (Sharing Time Ideas), and some would be great FHE before and after Conference. I have included links to the original articles.
Please Note: This is NOT to overwhelm anyone, just to give ideas to those looking for them. ;-)
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Ensign » 2009 » March
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Preparing Our Children for General Conference

You can help your children—whatever their age—learn from conference.
Gislene Woodbury of Idaho took a few notes during a sacrament meeting to make sure she remembered an impression she had received. She didn’t know that her eight-year-old daughter, Jessica, was watching her until Jessica asked why she wrote something down.

Sister Woodbury realized this was a great opportunity to teach her daughter about recognizing the Spirit and about responding to things she learned and felt. Jessica then asked her mother to teach her how to recognize the Spirit.

“I was surprised. I hadn’t expected my note taking to teach anybody but myself,” Sister Woodbury says. “But I reminded Jessica that general conference was coming up and that if she wanted to write down a few impressions she had during the sessions, we could talk afterwards about what we learned.”

Sister Woodbury said she really didn’t expect her daughter to understand or remember much from conference, particularly because Jessica played with her three-year-old sister during part of it. She also thought that maybe Jessica had forgotten about their conversation several weeks earlier. But Jessica surprised her mother again. When Sister Woodbury stood up at the end of general conference to walk into another room, Jessica said, “Mom, wait! Can we talk about conference?”

“I thought we would have a quick conversation for a couple of minutes and then be done,” Sister Woodbury said. “Instead, she pulled out a notebook and started to talk about several of the speakers. She told me about parts of their talks that stood out to her and asked me about things she heard but didn’t understand.

“The whole conference was special to me, but seeing my daughter have her own spiritual experiences made it even more special. I have learned that I need to embrace every opportunity to teach my children, especially when they show interest in learning.”

Parents can do much to enhance their children’s experience with the doctrine and principles taught at general conference. Several members share how they have helped their children prepare for, participate in, and learn from general conference.

Before Conference

For Kimberly Olsen of Utah and her family, conference preparation is both a spiritual and temporal matter. “The week before conference, I spend a little time every day talking to my five-year-old daughter about how exciting it will be to get to hear the prophet talk to us,” says Sister Olsen. She and her daughter also look for conference-related games and activities in issues of the Friend magazine.

The Olsens don’t stop there, however. They complete chores, homework, grocery shopping, and other standard weekend activities by Friday night. “We are able to devote the rest of the weekend to our family and conference,” says Sister Olsen. “It makes our experience fabulous.”

Clearing the family’s schedule is also important to Heather Ann Turner of Utah. Sister Turner remembers that as a missionary in Argentina, she had no choice but to completely clear her schedule in order to participate in general conference. “In two of the areas where I served, the entire ward got on a bus and traveled for two hours to get to a stake center where we could watch conference. These members’ dedication and devotion to the gospel was clear. They saved their money to be able to afford the trip. They took time off work. They packed up their families for two days. They did all of this to turn their hearts toward the prophet and participate in this great semiannual event. That was a powerful lesson to me.”

Now Sister Turner and her husband, Jeremiah, show their family that general conference is a top priority by talking about conference weeks in advance, writing it on the calendar, and working with their children to prepare spiritually.

During Conference

The Turners also make conference memorable by developing family traditions that coincide with general conference. Their favorite is holding a family testimony meeting for family home evening on the Monday following conference. “This gives us an opportunity to reflect on the messages we heard over the weekend and to ponder their meanings for each of us personally,” Sister Turner says. “We learn from and strengthen one another with the added light we gain from general conference.”

The Turner family also suggests creating traditions by turning a favorite food the family enjoys into a special treat served at conference time, or participating between sessions in a family activity, such as playing games, watching old family videos, taking a walk, or talking about the session that just ended.

Kristin Keller of Texas also remembers special traditions her parents created for her and her siblings. These, she says, helped establish in her mind that conference was something to look forward to.

“When I was 12 or 13, I realized that there was a wide array of activities I could choose to do on Saturday instead of watching conference. Although Mom and Dad always set an example of participating in all of the sessions of conference, they didn’t mandate that we do the same. They did, however, provide incentives. For instance, we would have a family picnic in the backyard between sessions, or on the Monday after conference we’d go out for ice cream and talk about the talks that stood out to us the most.”

Sister Keller says that when she was a teenager, the incentives were what drew her to participate with her family, but over time, gleaning from all four sessions of conference became a habit. “I came to understand that general conference was more than just fun family time, although it was also that. It was an opportunity to learn from prophets and receive guidance for my life. I am grateful to have been taught those patterns early in my life.”

Participating in conference can be challenging for families with small children. When Matt and Stephanie Sorensen of Minnesota had three children under the age of four, they decided to watch general conference via satellite from their own home. Sister Sorensen knew that in order to view, hear, and enjoy the talks peacefully, she would need to make “substantial preparation.”

Like the Olsen and Turner families, the Sorensens talk about the importance of general conference ahead of time. “We pray individually and with our children that our hearts will be prepared for the messages of conference,” Sister Sorensen explains. “We try to convey that we are excited about general conference weekend and that we look forward to it.”

Sister Sorensen knows that it can be difficult for children to sit quietly through conference, but she and her husband have found age-appropriate activities that engage their children in conference.

• They remove the center spread with photos of General Authorities from the most recent conference edition of the Ensign and hang it near the television. Each time a new speaker appears on the screen, the children study the poster and try to find the speaker’s picture. They are rewarded with a sticker to place on the poster or in a notebook of their own. “They quickly learn to identify the First Presidency and others by name,” says Sister Sorensen.

• The Sorensens set out a bowl of small treats for each session. Next to the bowl, they place objects that represent key words for that session. Each time the children hear one of those words spoken from the pulpit, they can help themselves to one treat. Sister Sorensen notes: “It’s surprising to see how much young children can and do listen. Their enthusiasm is priceless as you hear them say, ‘Mommy, he said temples!’”

• For the sessions that fall during typical mealtimes, the Sorensens prepare a picnic basket and lay out a blanket in front of the television. Brother and Sister Sorensen tell their children that they are like the families in the Book of Mormon who sat on the ground and listened to their prophet, King Benjamin, teach them about the gospel of Jesus Christ. “We thank our children for allowing us to listen and praise them for their reverence and attentiveness. We bear testimony throughout the day of the things we have heard and felt and reiterate our love for living prophets and apostles.”

• Brother and Sister Sorensen make sure they spend time with their children before and after sessions. They let them have active or outdoor play “to get out all their wiggles.”

Sister Sorensen says that these things not only help her children participate, but they also help her and her husband to be able to watch and learn from all the sessions of general conference. “There is a great sense of spiritual safety as we gather our family around the Lord’s messengers,” she says. “The Spirit is present in our home, and it is truly a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy that “‘all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children’” (3 Nephi 22:13).

After Conference

Linda Beverley of England recalls growing up in Scotland in a time when she and other members listened to a radio broadcast of general conference while slides of the various speakers were projected onto a wall. She and her husband, Malcolm, are grateful that by the time they were married and had their six children, they could watch general conference by satellite broadcast.

To set general conference apart as a special event, Brother and Sister Beverley designated the family home evening following conference as “Quiz Night,” when each member of the family would ask three questions about the talks, the reports, or things they observed. It quickly became tradition, and even years later, as the Beverleys’ sons and daughters left home to serve missions and attend college, the children insisted on continuing to share Quiz Night questions via letters and e-mail.

“When our children were young, we wondered whether questions like ‘What color was the prophet’s tie?’ would really make a difference in their lives,” Sister Beverley admits. “However, Quiz Night established a pattern that has matured with the children.”

Sister Beverley notes that it takes longer to complete Quiz Night now because the family discusses at length their thoughts and feelings about the talks given. These conversations “give rise to greater insights than any of us could have achieved alone,” she adds. “Even though our family is now scattered throughout the world, we feel united, sure in the knowledge that like the sons of Mosiah, we are ‘still … brethren in the Lord; yea, and [we have] waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth’ (Alma 17:2). This simple tradition has helped our children learn to focus on the content and power of the talks and to realize the importance of general conference.”

Several years ago, Dave and Christine Heiner of Utah began using the most recent conference edition of the Ensign as their family home evening manual. As soon as the new issue became available, the Heiners purchased one copy for every member of their family and wrote each person’s name on the cover. Each Monday night they would read a talk together, paragraph by paragraph, pausing to ask and answer questions, to discuss thoughts, and to liken what they learned to their lives.

“We gave the children each a highlighter and taught them to highlight words, sentences, and paragraphs that felt important to them. To keep our younger children engaged, we let them use their highlighters in any way they wished. They colored the umbrellas, statues, General Authorities’ ties—whatever they felt needed a splash of color. We also discovered that photographs in the conference issues are wonderful vehicles for teaching children. One or two beautiful photographs usually accompany each conference sermon. Our family learned to find the ways the photographs enhanced the talks and taught the same principles.”

That tradition began many years ago. The Heiners’ children are married now and have families of their own. “They continue to treasure their conference copy of the Ensign, and their children have their own magazines with their names on the cover,” Sister Heiner says.

“My husband and I still use our conference Ensign on Monday nights. Prior to our family home evening, we choose a sermon and read, mark, and ponder it individually. Then we come together to discuss what we have learned. Our discussions inevitably cause the words of the prophets to sink deeper into our hearts and change us.”

Help Children Develop Good Habits

“It is when children are young that parents must be innovative in helping them develop good habits regarding conference participation. As our children are given opportunities to observe and learn the role of these special witnesses, they will receive a spiritual confirmation of the sacred calling of their Church leaders, and they will feel a deeper love for and interest in these leaders and their message.” Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Presidency of the Seventy, “Teaching Our Children to Love the Prophets,” Ensign, Apr. 1996, 47.

Remove the spread with photos of the General Authorities from the most recent general conference edition of the Ensign. Use it to help children learn to identify the names of the speakers.

Create general conference traditions by participating between sessions in a family activity, such as playing games, watching old family videos, taking a walk, or talking about the session that just ended.

Each time children hear a key word spoken from the pulpit, let them help themselves to a small treat. You might be surprised by how much young children can and do listen. Praise them for their reverence and their attentiveness.
“Preparing Our Children for General Conference,” Ensign, Mar 2009, 23–27
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Friend » 2003 » November
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Sharing Time: Follow the Prophet
By Vicki F. Matsumori

Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets (Amos 3:7).

How can following the prophet help us? Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles told a story about his father, who worked and lived in the home of President Joseph F. Smith (1838–1918):

One night Elder Perry’s father came home very late and tried to open his bedroom door. The door would not open. He pushed and pushed, and it still would not open. He gave up and turned to sleep on a rug that was in the hall. As he turned, he bumped into a nearby, partially opened door—and woke up the prophet!

Although it was midnight, President Smith came over and showed Elder Perry’s father how to open the door by pulling instead of pushing, and how to get around in the dark: “Keep your arms in front, but hands together.”

Elder Perry teaches us what a prophet does to help us. He said, “Isn’t a prophet someone who teaches us to open doors we could not open ourselves—doors to greater light and truth? Isn’t a prophet like a pair of hands clasped together in front of the body of the Church, helping members navigate [find their way] through the dark [hallways] of the world?” (Ensign, Nov. 1994, 18-19)

As we listen to the prophet and follow his advice, we can have the doors of our understanding opened, and we will be able to move through our life, guided by the Savior’s light.

“Follow the Prophet” Tube Story
1. Cut out the two long rectangles, and the windows and circles inside the longer one.
2. Form both rectangles into tubes by gluing or taping tabs A to tabs B.
3. Insert the smaller tube in the larger one, then turn it to move the family from going to hear the prophet, to listening to him, to going home, to following his counsel. (Note: Will have to go to the article for this.)

Sharing Time Ideas
(Note: All songs are from Children’s Songbook unless otherwise indicated; GAK = Gospel Art Kit; TNGC = Teaching, No Greater Call)

1. Help the children understand that the Lord’s servants have always taught His gospel. Before sharing time, choose messages from the most recent general conference talks that can be reinforced with scriptures located in the Epistles — e.g., 1 Cor. 3:16 (your body is a temple), 2 Tim. 3:14–17 (study the scriptures), James 1:5–6 (pray). Copy short excerpts from the conference talks and place them on the backs of the pictures of the General Authorities who gave them.

Write the scripture references (spell them out) on one side of the chalkboard. Have the children locate the scriptures, read them aloud, and write on the other side of the chalkboard the principles taught. Have a child read one of the conference-message excerpts aloud and ask the other children which scripture matches that message the best. Place the picture by the scripture, then sing songs that reinforce the message. Repeat the process until the matching is completed. Bear testimony that our prophet and Apostles today teach the word of God and that blessings come when we listen and obey.

2. Help the children understand that a prophet’s guidance often comes because he is a seer who can “see” into the future (see Mosiah 8:17). Invite a guest speaker to share a conference message such as President Gordon B. Hinckley’s message “The Church Goes Forward,” about the growth of the Church and the “fulfillment of … prophecy” (Ensign, May 2002, 4–7). Sing songs about the Restoration, temples, and missionaries. Discuss how the children can prepare for the future by following the prophet’s counsel today. Review principles of “The Six Bs” (Friend, Feb. 2001, 24–25). Give the children paper and pencils and have them draw two pictures—one of themselves living one of the Bs today, and a second of themselves continuing to live that principle in the future as a missionary, student, mother, or father. Bear testimony of the blessings that come from choosing the right today.

3. For younger children: Make picture necklaces to remind the children of principles taught during general conference. Cut 4–5 long pieces of string or yarn, and tie the ends of each string together to form necklaces. Using a stapler or tape, attach a small picture of an item representing the content of a talk to each string necklace. Examples: a tithing envelope for a talk on tithing, a CTR shield for a talk on choosing the right, a child praying for a talk about prayer, shoes for a talk about walking in faith and following the Savior. Place the necklaces under selected chairs before Primary.

Ask the children who find necklaces under their chairs to put them on and come to the front of the room. For each picture, review the name of the General Authority who gave the talk and the subject the picture represents. Give the children case studies relating to their pictures and ask them to act out the answer—e.g., act out a job or chore you could do to earn money, then show how you pay tithing on that money; act out watching television when a movie comes on that uses words that make you feel uncomfortable, then show what you would do; name three times you could pray, then show what you look like when you say your prayers; act out seeing your father beginning to rake leaves while you are walking to a friend’s house to play, then show what you might do.

As each child demonstrates an action, have the rest of the Primary do the same action. Sing a song to reinforce the principle--e.g., “I’m Glad to Pay a Tithing” (p. 150), “Choose the Right Way” (pp. 160–61), “Children All Over the World” (pp. 16–17), “Love One Another” (p. 136).

Bear testimony that the children will be blessed as they remember the words of the prophet and other General Authorities and follow their counsel. Sing the chorus of “Follow the Prophet” (pp. 110–11).

4. Use Eph. 6:13–17 to help the children understand how listening to and following the counsel of our prophet and other General Authorities can serve as an armor of God to protect them. Before Primary, draw a picture of a person wearing armor on a large sheet of paper or on the chalkboard. Label the armor from the scripture description: GIRDLE (of truth), BREASTPLATE (of righteousness), SHOES (preparation of the gospel of peace), SHIELD (of faith), HELMET (of salvation), SWORD (of the Spirit). (Note: For examples of armor, see Primary 4 manual, 91; GAK 112 [picture of David fighting Goliath].)

On slips of paper, write several copies of counsel given by General Authorities during recent general conferences, such as these from the October 2002 general conference: Elder M. Russell Ballard / “Keep yourselves clean and pure and radiant”; President Gordon B. Hinckley / “Rise to the divinity within you.” Place the strips in a container.

Have the children locate and read Eph. 6:13–17. Help them identify the pieces of armor and how each would protect them. Help them understand that following the words of the prophet and other General Authorities can protect them.

Have the children take turns choosing a slip of paper from the container. Ask each child to read the counsel from the General Authority and then give an example of how he or she could follow that counsel. After the child does this, invite him or her to color in a piece of the armor on the picture. Then sing a Primary song that applies to the principle of the armor piece chosen--e.g., “Stand for the Right” (p. 159), “Choose the Right Way” (pp. 160-61), “A Young Man Prepared” (pp. 166-67), “Faith” (pp. 96-97), “He Sent His Son” (pp. 34-35), “The Holy Ghost” (p. 105).

Give each child a picture of a doll to draw the armor on and color. Review what each piece of armor represents and how the children can develop their own “armor” to protect them from worldly influences. Invite them to take their dolls home and share what they have learned with their families.

5. To help the children practice following the prophet, play “Who’s the Leader?” Have the children sit in a circle. Choose one child to be It and leave the room; choose another child to be the leader in the circle. The leader does actions like tapping the knees, patting the head, and raising an arm. The rest of the children follow the leader’s actions. Have It return and go to the center of the circle and try to discover who the leader is by watching the children follow him or her. After a correct guess is made, choose two other children to be It and the leader. Play several times.

Discuss who the leader of the Church is. How can we follow him? Review some of the principles the prophet gave in his messages during general conference. Have the children make up actions to help them remember his counsel--e.g., put their hands to their ears (listen to your parents), fold their arms (say your prayers), put their hands to their mouths (say kind things). Sing songs such as “Quickly I’ll Obey” (p. 197), “We Bow Our Heads” (p. 25), “Kindness Begins with Me” (p. 145).

Play the game again and have the leader use the actions from the prophet’s message. Sing “Stand for the Right” (p. 159). Express gratitude for the prophet and tell how following his counsel has blessed your life.

6. Additional Friend resources: Sharing Times--Sep. 2001, 20–22; June 2001, 38–40; May 2001, 34–36; Apr. 2001, 12–14. Ensign resources: “Hear the Prophet’s Voice and Obey,” May 1995, 15–17; “Teaching Children to Follow the Prophet,” Mar. 1989, 52–55.
Vicki F. Matsumori, “Sharing Time: Follow the Prophet,” Friend, Nov 2003, 15
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Ensign » 2003 » October
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Questions and Answers

Question
What are some ways that Church members of any age—adults, youth, and children—can get more from the spiritual feast available during conference?

[Answers]

A good way to help prepare our hearts before conference is to pray for those who will be speaking to us. Praying in behalf of the speakers not only makes us more in tune with the Holy Ghost but also helps us feel a vested interest in what the speakers are inspired to say. I also have found that wonderful things happen when I pray that my children will be prepared to hear. Devoting the preceding fast Sunday to the purpose of being ready to receive all the Lord wants us to know also helps us as we prepare our minds and hearts. —Michelle Martin, St. Peters Ward, St. Louis Missouri North Stake

A few weeks before conference, I show my three small children the poster of the General Authorities that appears in each conference issue of the Ensign. I tell them stories about the prophet and the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Many of these stories can be found in the magazine database on the Church’s Web site www.lds.org. Family home evening is a good time to share these stories in the weeks before conference. My children like watching and recognizing the leaders they have learned about. —Jennifer Dale, Riverview Ward, Mesa Arizona Maricopa North Stake

In our family, we anticipate conference by examining our lives and identifying areas of concern in which we need help and added light. Examples might include our roles as parents, our responsibilities in our Church callings, insights into the Savior and His ministry, insights for Saints living in a secular world, and so on. Then during the conference, we diligently try to listen for promptings that relate to these areas of concern (and others) and make note of the impressions as they come.

I find it useful to put my notes into two columns—the left-hand column for notes on the talk I am listening to, the right-hand column for impressions I receive. Some impressions relate to the message of the talk, but many are flashes of inspiration that relate to other concerns. After conference, this list of impressions will serve as my spiritual agenda for the six months until the next conference. —Richard Boyer, Holladay Third Ward, Salt Lake Holladay Stake

In our previous ward in another state, we hosted a simple potluck lunch between general conference sessions for several families in the ward, the full-time missionaries, investigators, and recently baptized members. Food assignments were made the week before so that cooking could be done ahead of time.

This potluck lunch was a good opportunity to get to know families in the ward as well as newly baptized members. It provided another place for the missionaries to interact with investigators and for ward members to begin to build relationships with these individuals. Those watching conference for the first time were able to ask ward members any questions they had. —Wylie Ann Anderson, Grove Creek Fourth Ward, Pleasant Grove Utah Grove Creek Stake

By far the most effective way I have found to get more from the spiritual feast available during conference is to buy and frequently listen to the conference CDs (available at distribution centers). I listen while I lift weights or do any other repetitive tasks. I listen when I clean the kitchen. When I’m discouraged or struggling, I sit down, take notes, read along in the Ensign, and apply certain talks on a personal level. I especially enjoy listening to the music on the conference CDs as I go about my daily tasks. As I listen, I am frequently reminded of goals I have made. By playing a conference CD, I now have a sure and effective way of being inspired and uplifted. —Merlene Lillywhite, Reedville Ward, Cedar Mill Oregon Stake

For two to three weeks after general conference, our family scripture study is spent reading and discussing each talk. We take turns choosing and reading a talk, and we discuss the principles spoken of and how they apply in our lives today.

Family home evenings are based on conference talks as well. For example, for one of our family home evenings I photocopied and handed out to each person in the family a copy of one of the talks. I had previously made up 25 questions from the talk, and each family member had to scan the talk to find the answers. —Wendy Daniels, Church College New Zealand First Ward, Temple View New Zealand Stake

A few years ago I began making conference packets for our school-age children. I would prepare a folder with a variety of conference-related games (see past issues of the April Friend magazine for ideas), and I also made snack bags the children could eat from during the hymn in the middle of the meeting.

Between the sessions on Saturday we go to the park to play and have a picnic, and between the Sunday sessions we go for a family walk. It has been a joy to watch our children learn to love conference. —Jenny Marie Hatch, Louisville Ward, Boulder Colorado Stake

To help children pay attention during conference, pick one word such as love, joy, Jesus, and so on, and have everyone use tally marks to keep track of how many times the speaker says that word during his or her talk. At the end of the talk, take a moment to count up how many times the word was said. Later, look up the word in the Bible Dictionary and discuss why Heavenly Father might inspire Church leaders to refer often to this topic during conference. —Cathy Jones, Corona Fourth Ward, Corona California Stake

Using a three-ring binder and notebook paper, you can make a family conference journal that will be valuable to you later. First, encourage each family member to take notes during the talks. After conference, have all family members write about their favorite talk, describing the main points and explaining why the talk was important to them. Date and sign each of these journal entries. Family members may choose to illustrate their entries with drawings or with cutouts from old Church magazines. Put the pages in the family conference journal. This journal can become a family keepsake as well as a resource for family night or Church talks. —Paula Lewis, Blanding Seventh Ward, Blanding Utah West Stake

Before each general conference, the Young Women leaders in our ward choose three general conference talks from the previous conference, one for each age group, and make a copy for each girl. At our Mutual activity, the girls split up into age groups for about 30 minutes to read and review their assigned talk. The girls take notes as they discover the counsel, warning, instruction, and blessings (“CWIB”) in each talk. This motivates them to think about each message and how it applies in their lives. Then we all come back together, and a spokesperson from each group reviews for everyone the “CWIB” found in the talk. Our girls have come to learn that there really is a lot in general conference that applies to their lives. —Kim McDowell, Glendive Ward, Glendive Montana Stake

When the conference edition of the Ensign arrives, my husband and I choose a brief quotation from each of the talks given by the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. We post these quotations in the kitchen where we can review them often. Each morning before family prayer, someone picks a “prophet quote,” as we call them, to share with the family. Sometimes we briefly discuss the meaning of the statement or how it can apply in our lives. This keeps the words of the prophets before us daily and reminds us of the special callings given to these leaders. —Kelly Barfield, Hartsville Ward, Florence South Carolina Stake

We attend all the sessions of conference as a family; then each Sunday, we enjoy hearing again one or two selected talks from the conference. In the past we have watched the talks on video or read them out loud from the Ensign. Now we listen to them on the Internet. We try to pace our listening so we finish all the talks before the next conference. Listening to the servants of the Lord every Sunday has been a constant blessing to us. —David D. Ames, Moses Lake Fifth Ward, Moses Lake Washington Stake

I was surprised when my in-laws first told me that their most celebrated family tradition was general conference weekend. As I have regularly celebrated this special occasion with them since then, I can now say it has become my favorite family tradition as well.

The entire family, including babies, children, youth, parents, and grandparents, join together for this special event every April and October. The Friday night before conference, we camp out in tents in the backyard, preparing to hear the prophets speak as did the people in King Benjamin’s time. The children love it!

We enjoy every session of conference together, and everyone is encouraged to bring his or her scriptures to look up verses referred to by the speakers. We share our thoughts about the conference messages after each session. On Saturday night the priesthood holders go to the general priesthood session while the others stay together for family fun and games. When the priesthood holders return, dessert is served as they share the messages given at the priesthood session. On Sunday afternoon we all have a testimony meeting together. Now general conference weekend is becoming our children’s most celebrated tradition. —Nancy Hauck, Morningside First Ward, St. George Utah Morningside Stake
“Questions and Answers,” Ensign, Oct 2003, 53