General Conference for Kids

Here is what we do to get the kids more involved in listening to conference (and being quiet so we can hear it too)! This is a past post from my blog. You can go there to download a conference packet and conference bingo (our favorite). We have done these things for the last few years and they are still very excited for this weekend so they can do them again. Let me know if you have any ideas for getting kids involved in conference.

http://www.solutions.memoriesbymindy.com/lds.htm

9/09
I love watching General Conference each April and October. I love being home all weekend with my family watching conference on the tv. I love having big breakfasts and soups to eat for lunch and dinner. I love hearing our church leaders give us inspired words and guidance. The one thing I didn't love was having my children cause such a ruckus that we couldn't hear much of what was going on.

In April I made a General Conference Basket for the family to enjoy. It worked very well for my three and six year old kids. I took different General Conference packets I have found on the web and customized them to what I wanted. I make one for each child. There is a photo of each Prophet and Apostle and a blank head next to it so they can color what they look like when they speak. I also have a tie on the page for them to color to match the speakers tie. I have a spot for them to write or draw pictures of what they are speaking about. At the bottom there are different things they can color if it applies to the speaker, such as if they are bald, wear glasses etc. I also have pages for other speakers who are not Prophets or Apostles including pages for the women who speak. At the end of the conference packet, I include several coloring pages, word searches and other fun things from the friend. If they finish or get tired of coloring about the speaker, they can flip to a page in the back of the packet and work on that. I bind all the pages together into a book to make it easy to flip through. The first year I printed a packet from the internet I didn't bind it and pages were flying all over the room!

I also made Conference Bingo Cards that we all really enjoyed. There are several topics on the card including prayer, faith, temples, etc. We play by covering our entire card with pieces of candy (m&m's, gummy bears, mini marshmallows etc) and as we hear someone discuss one of the topics, we get to eat the piece of candy on that square. The person who get's bingo first gets to eat the remainder of their candy!

I put the packets, bingo cards, and candy in a basket along with crayons and a few other little things for the kids to do. I have found with my kids that if you package something to look nice, for some reason they like it better. That is why I bind their books and have everything arranged nicely in the basket.

General Conference

I just wanted to remind everyone of General Conference this weekend. You can watch it at the church, on byu tv, or on your computer at www.lds.org. With so many ways to watch it there's no excuse not to!!!

Saturday: 12:00-2:00, 4:00-6:00
Priesthood session 8:00-10:00 at the church building. This is the only place your husbands and sons can watch this so please encourage them to go and watch. It will bless their lives and your family's lives.

Sunday: 12:00-2:00, 4:00-6:00

I have always enjoyed conference and hearing the prophets and apostles words. This past April I had a few things on my mind. I decided to pray before I watched conference and ask that I might receive answers as I listened to the speakers at conference. I was amazed as I watched all the sessions that I received the answers and guidance that I needed. It seemed like the entire conference was about my two concerns. As I got my Conference issue of Ensign the next month I went through it and highlighted all quotes and information that related to my two concerns. I picked one color marker for each concern and started highlighting. Each page was filled with wonderful thoughts on each issue. Here is an example of just one page.




Here is a story I found: Henry B. Eyring, “Rise to Your Call,” Ensign, Nov 2002, 75
Not long ago, a young man I did not know approached me in a crowded place. He said quietly but with great intensity: “Elder Eyring, I have just been called as the president of my elders quorum. What advice do you have for me?” I was sure that what he needed to know and to feel I couldn’t give him there, with the people rushing past us. And so I said, “I will give you my counsel in general conference.”

I am grateful I decided to do more than just watch conference. I also prayed and listened for ways the words of modern day leaders could help me in my life today. I encourage all of you to think about something you are struggling with and go to the Lord in prayer. Then, listen in conference to all the wonderful thoughts from the leaders and pay attention to the Spirit that you feel. You will be amazed as I was!

General Relief Society Broadcast

If you didn't get a chance to watch the General Relief Society broadcast, here it it. The talks were great. I especially loved President Monson's talk.