Jesus Christ - The Prince of Peace

Jesus Christ is the giver of peace, The Prince of Peace.  Isiah prophesied of Jesus Christ years before his birth, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a child is given... and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isiah 9:6).  

I know this, because the Savior brings peace to my life.  It is true peace, long-lasting peace, and abiding peace that I cannot find in the world - only through Him and because of His atonement.  “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”  (John 14:27).  This peace comes to me as I think of Him, read of Him, come to Him, and ponder on all that His life and teachings mean to me. 

At Church on Sundays, during the sacramental service, the congregation and I recommit to Him and promise, or covenant, to (1) take upon us His name (to be like Him and stand as His witness), (2) to always remember Him as we go about our days, not just on Sunday or while we are at Church - but always, and (3) to keep His commandants.  Keeping His commandants is one way we show Him that we love Him – “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:5).  As we do these things, we are promised that we might have His spirit to be with us.  For me, that’s a wonderful promise and the key to peace - having Christ's spirit with me always.  And yet sometimes it is hard to always make happen.  Especially in a fast-paced world where there is constant commotion and things and people that divert our attention.  I am not perfect and occasionally I'll miss, but I have found and learned, that if I find time each day to focus on Him through my scripture reading and study; as well as meaningful, personal prayer and ask in prayer for His spirit to be with me, I feel peace that comes from Him, His spirit.  This causes my days to be better and calmer and happier and I'm able to make better decisions and handle situations better.  His peace reduces the stresses in my life.  He is the Prince of Peace and I hold fast to His promise, “But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.”  (D&C 59:23).

This time of year is full of stress as we prepare and get ready for Christmas, a celebration of Christ's birth.  Think about it.  It does sound crazy.  But I do it.  It happens to the best of us.  Hurrying around making this, buying that, preparing this and that, finding that one perfect gift and getting frustrated when we cannot find it, and spending too much money.  Many of these things do not result in considerable peace.  In essence, true peace comes from something and someone who desires us to be calm and patient, peaceful and kind, loving and long-suffering.  Surely there is need for improvement in how I prepare and my family and I celebrate Christmas.

The visiting teaching message for this month, “The Divine Mission of Jesus Christ: Prince of Peace” has opened my eyes to this subject and has caused me to reflect on it these past several days.  As I’ve done so, I’ve seen some connections and helps along the way.  I know these are not coincidences, but from a loving Heavenly Father that has put them in my path and the spirit that teaches me and allows me to recognize and make the connection back to Christ and His peace.  I’d like to share a few of these resources. 

First, when my own visiting teachers came and visited me earlier this month, the message was personalized just for me.  One of the ladies has a special gift to do that, to take scriptures or experiences and substitute her name or others to make it individually special.  It brought me amazing peace when I heard it.  Having it personalized for me made it meaningful and real.  Published in the December 2014 Ensign, it was from a dream Elder Melvin J. Ballard had years ago.  This is what the personalized version was for me:

LuAnn found herself one evening in the dreams of the night in that sacred building, the temple. After a season of prayer and rejoicing she was informed that she should have the privilege of entering into one of those rooms, to meet a glorious personage, and, as she entered the door, she saw, seated on a raised platform, the most glorious being her eyes have ever beheld or that she ever conceived existed in all the eternal worlds.

As she approached to be introduced, He arose and stepped towards her with extended arms, and He smiled as He softly spoke her name. If she shall live to be a million years old, she shall never forget that smile. He took her into His arms and kissed her, pressed her to His bosom, and blessed her, until the marrow of her bones seemed to melt! When He had finished, she fell at His feet, and, as she bathed them with her tears and kisses, she saw the prints of the nails in the feet of the Redeemer of the world. The feeling that she had in the presence of Him who hath all things in His hands, to have His love, His affection, and His blessing was such that if she can receive that of which she had but a foretaste, she would give all that she is, all that she ever hopes to be, to feel what she then felt!

… She sees Jesus not now upon the cross. She does not see His brow pierced with thorns nor His hands torn with the nails, but she sees Him smiling, with extended arms, saying to us all: “Come unto me!”

Surely I have not had that experience, yet.  But, wow, it just fills me with a great amount of peace and happiness and hope.  I can see it in my mind, standing before the Savior.  I can imagine the true joy I would feel.  It makes me feel loved and causes me to feel a greater amount of love for my Savior.  I know I’ll see Him one day and I hope the experience is very similar to what is described.  If I ever feel overwhelmed, I know this reminder will feel me with peace from Him – The Prince of Peace.   Try it yourself; re-read Elder Melvin J. Ballard’s dream but this time use your name.  

Second, was a recent post from LDS Living - "7 Ways to Replace Stress with Peace from Elder Scott".   The post references back to Elder Scott’s April 2013 Conference Message entitled, "For Peace at Home".  For me, these words are obviously timely, sound and true advice from an apostle of the Lord.  It’s too lengthy to reprint here, so I've included the hyperlinks.  Great stuff, please read them. 

Finally, another resource was from a Christmas song by Amy Grant, "I Need a Silent Night".  I first heard this song a few years ago, maybe even just last year.  I loved the song, probably because I could totally relate.  I would listen to it over and over again on YouTube while working in the kitchen, until I finally decided to buy the song and just add to my music collection.  As I listened to the song again this week and focused my thoughts on the words, it reminded me what we all seek – not just a silent night, but more peace during the hectic, busy Christmas season.  Yep, another connection was made!  True peace comes and the one who gives us that peace is The Prince of Peace.  The music lyrics are below.   For me, instead of an “angel voice”, it is the spirit, the spirit of the Lord that I hear.  [This was kind of fun, I even found a video of David Archuleta singing this song too.]

I've made the same mistake before
Too many malls, too many stores
December traffic, Christmas rush
It breaks me till I push and shove

Children are crying while mothers are trying
To photograph Santa and sleigh
The shopping and buying and standing forever in line
What can I say?

I need a silent night, a holy night
To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise
I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here
To end this crazy day with a silent night

December comes then disappears
Faster and faster every year
Did my own mother keep this pace
Or was the world a different place?

Where people stayed home wishing for snow
Watching three channels on their TV
Look at us now rushing around
Trying to buy Christmas peace

I need a silent night, a holy night
To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise
I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here
To end this crazy day with a silent night

What was it like back there in Bethlehem
With peace on earth, good will toward men?

Every shepherd's out in the field
Keeping watch over their clock by night
And the glory of the Lord shone around them
And they were so afraid

And the angels said fear not for behold
I bring you good news of a great joy that shall be for all people
For unto you is born this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord
And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace

I need a silent night, a holy night
To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise
I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here
To end this crazy day with a silent night
To end this crazy day with a silent night
(http://www.songlyrics.com/amy-grant/i-need-a-silent-night-lyrics/#6H8vvKYTQiBmW5QF.99)

The Savior brings peace to my life. How blessed I feel to know  and experience this.  I love Him.  I'm grateful for His life, His example and His incomprehensible atoning sacrifice. 

To conclude, I wish you all a Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of The Prince of Peace.  Jesus Christ is Christmas!  I echo that “He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world.  His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son” (The Living Christ: Testimony of the Apostles)  May you see evidence of His peace this season and throughout the New Year.

Our Forever Family Photo Book

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This time last year I was inspired with a great way to preserve our most recent family photos.  Which was to add them to a photo book and include wonderful, inspiring, true quotes and promises about families from prophets and apostles. I was so excited about this!

I share this photo book idea, perhaps you might want to make a similar book for your own family or extended family with some of your favorite family photos.  For those with young children, this would be especially nice to finish off the year with the 2014 Primary theme of "Families Are Forever". Another idea to suggest is that once I created my family book, I used the same layout (or format) to make other personalized books for friends with their own family photos.  It turned out to be a very meaningful gift and something I was really excited to give.

I love the people in this book and I also love these carefully selected quotes, all of which reminds me what truly is important - my forever family!

Cherries, Cherries, Cherries, and MORE Cherries!!!!

This spring our cherry trees were full with bright, white blossoms. "We looked out our windows and what did we see?  Popcorn popping on the cherry trees!" 

It was almost as if the trees were celestial!   In the seven years we've lived here, the cherry trees have never quite looked like this.  They were so beautiful! 

It wasn't long before the beautiful blossoms fell and in their place we could easily see all the small, green cherry buds emerging.  This worried us as we were nervous to the amount of fruit these trees were capable of producing! To help save some funds for our summer family vacation, we opted not to have the trees professionally pruned back in January/February and we certainly did not try pruning them ourselves.  I think the lack of pruning might have been our problem for all these cherries!  In fact, knowing that the cherries would probably be at their very best picking during the time we were on our trip, we thought much about just picking those little green cherries right then.  Someone talked us out of that idea.  Instead, we decided to have a professional come and spray the cherries for worms, for that had been a problem in years past. 

The fruit ripened, became red in color and the cherries were very plentiful.  In some areas they grew like grape clusters!  With two trees, we were going to have so much fruit and we would not be around for a couple of weeks to do much with them (nor did we really want too).  We offered the cherries to everyone!  Some came and picked buckets full.  Others came with their little children for a small grocery sack full.  

                                

One day (Flag Day), Eliza and her cousin picked cherries and sold them.  This was kind of embarrassing for me, since a few hours previously I put a post on my Facebook page that they were for free.  But those two girls picked the cherries and bagged them in various sizes and made $30+ that afternoon.  Still, this hardly put a dent in our over-abundant cherry supply! 

While yummy and sweet, the cherries can be a big mess when they fall to the ground.  Some just drop, but the raccoon and birds do their fair share in helping the cherries to fall.  My husband has spent hours raking up cherries to help get the squished, sticky residue out of the grass; in hopes that that pit comes out of the lawn too.  Why worry when you can pray?  We were worried that while we were gone for a few weeks those cherries would fall and we would come home to a huge mess on our lawn.  We prayed and included this worry in our prayer the morning we left for our trip.  Praying also that people would stop by and pick, and pick cherries while we were gone.  Some people would text or email or even comment on Facebook that they stopped by, this would make us so glad.  When we returned, we were happily relieved to not have the anticipated big mess on our lawn.  Our prayer was answered, and that prayer may have very well been answered by a kind, anonymous soul (or two or more) who raked up for us. How grateful we were for that tender mercy, no matter how the Lord chose to answer it.

I didn't know too much about what to do with cherries, other than bottling them or making jam. So when I saw this little cookbook, "Berry and Cherry Recipes" at The Arch gift shop in St. Louis, I knew I could greatly benefit from it.  Some things I made with the cherries this year were cherry syrup for pancakes; a cherry sauce and cherry frosting for some sweet rolls; a cherry crisp dessert inside a pie shell; cherry muffins; cherry braised chicken dish.  Almost all of the recipes turned out well.  Lance particularly loved the chicken and cherry crisp.  The muffins, however, did not look too great and they were heavy and dense - more like hockey pucks.  

   

We still had so many deep, red cherries all over in our trees!  Another plea was sent out.  This time we tried placing a sign at our sidewalk that would alert people passing by, including friends and neighbors in other parts of the neighborhood, that we had plenty of cherries to share and wanted to give away!  More people came and the sign was effective.  We left a larger step stool in the yard along with a wobbly, wooden ladder.  In hopes that it would make the picking job easier and perhaps more enticing.  Thankful we were whenever someone stopped by and picked.

People were appreciative too of the cherries.  Their thankfulness to us came back in various forms.  Such as people posting pictures of their pickings on Facebook or photos of pies or other yummy things they were able to make with the cherries.  Someone left a nice note on our door.  Another neighbor brought us some cherry almond jam she and her family made.  It was soooo good!  Many would tell us how much they picked and how glad they were for the cherries.  Most recently we had someone stop by and bring us a warm loaf of homemade wheat bread.  Very yummy and thoughtful too.  While these gestures were not necessary; especially since we were most thankful to them for helping us out with picking!  It did feel good to share and know that people liked them.

Well over a week ago, there were still lots of cherries high in the trees and they had to come down.  Lance was really tired of raking them and the cherries were getting less firm and darker in color.  I'll use Andrew's words to explain what we did.  He gave a talk about families at Church on Sunday and used this example in his talk.  He shared:  

"One way to help in the home is by working together.  When we work together, we can accomplish a lot.  As you know we have 2 big cherry trees in our front yard. And this year we had the most cherries we ever had! We had a lot of people come over and pick them, but it seemed to not even make a dent. Towards the end of the growing season the cherries fall on the ground. We have to rake them up, and that is a tough job to do. My dad would come out almost every other day and rake them up.  Although we didn't help him very often raking up the cherries, this week, we worked as a family and got rid of all the cherries in the tree.  We laid tarps out around the trees. Some of us climbed up in the trees and began shaking the branches. Others would reach up with rakes and knock of the trees.  Working together we cleared both trees."

The cherries would be knocked to the ground on tarps we had laid out on the lawn and then dump the cherries from the tarp to the green can.  We were so thankful for Lance's brother who came and shared a big chunk of his time helping us getting the last of the cherries down.  By the time we were all finished last Saturday, I think we calculated we filled the green can at least one and half times.  Now that's a lot of cherries!  Especially considering how many were picked and used by others!  

I hope this works, here is video that shows the process...

Why don't we just cut the trees down?  We've considered it.  But we love the shade these trees offer our home, especially since we have older windows on our west facing home that really need to be upgraded.  Certainly we will prune next year and are really thinking of spraying the trees so they won't bare fruit next year.  We'll see.  But for now, we'll enjoy the few months break before the leaves turn golden and start to fall and our work of raking starts back up.  ;)

Nauvoo and Carthage, Great Experiences

My family and I have been enjoying a fabulous family trip.  Actually, my husband and I call it "The Long-Awaited, Thaxton Terrific Family Road Trip to Nauvoo".  We've been gone 8 days now and there has been so much we've seen and done; so much to rejoice about and record and moments that I want to always remember. 

One such experience, was on Tuesday morning, June 24.  Lance and I had the blessed opportunity to go to the Nauvoo Temple - a first visit to this temple for both of us.  It is such a beautiful temple!  Before we went inside, we took a few pictures and walked around the temple grounds enjoying the beauty, the peace, the sunshine, the quietness and not feeling rushed.  Across the street from the temple but facing the towards the temple, is a statue of Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum.  It depicts the last time they would see the Nauvoo temple before heading to Carthage.  Such a tribute to these two great men, this statue is.  I would later find out the person who did the sculpture is an uncle to one of my daughter's really good friends. 



As I took a closer look at this monument and particularly read the description posted there, I was overcome with complete awareness that this event took place 170 years ago that day!  To me, this meant my being in Nauvoo and going to the temple on this particular day in history was exceptionally special and moving for me.  I was filled with gratitude, yet combined with a feeling of reverence and sadness as I tried to imagine what the Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum must have felt; how their families felt; and how the Saints in Nauvoo, which included many of my own ancestors, might have been feeling. 

So grateful I am that Lance and I were able to take our children to Nauvoo and experience all that is there to experience.  It's been wonderful and I hope to record more experiences later, because there is so much I want to remember about all our adventures!   

On Thursday, June 26th, our family went to Cartage, Illinois.  This is the place that Joseph and Hyrum were killed almost 170 years ago, as the next day would be that anniversary.  Again, I was filled with awe and reverence to be at such a important place in Church history near a monumental day.  I cannot really describe it, but there is a special feeling inside the jail and around the grounds.  Something you just have to experience yourself.  I am very thankful we were able to come as a family and witness this together.  I know each of my family members had unique and special experiences themselves. 

Just over 20 years ago Lance and I were able to visit Nauvoo and Carthage with some friends of ours when we were living in Topeka, Kansas while Lance was attending law school.  I was pregnant with our first child.  It was a great experience then and one of the many reasons why I have looked forward  to taking our family to many of these same places.  Twenty years ago I believed Joseph Smith was a prophet and never really doubted his account of seeing God the Father and Jesus Christ.  But that day I really wanted to know for sure.  I remember saying a simple, silent prayer as I we went inside the building asking my Heavenly Father if Joseph Smith was indeed a true prophet and if he really did see all he said he saw.  As I sat in that room listening to the account of what occurred in that room, I was overcome with a feeling inside me that I can't really describe.  The feeling was good and enlightening and I knew I was receiving confirmation to my prayer through the Holy Ghost witnessing to me of the truthfulness of what I desired to know for myself.  That experience has meant so much to me throughout my life.  It was simple, yet so powerful.  A witness that I never can deny.  Sitting in that upper room in the Carthage Jail this week with my family, a similar witness came to me again. 

I love the prophet Joseph Smith.  I admire him and appreciate him.  His sacrifices were great.  The work he preformed and the service he gave well over 170 years ago blesses me and my family today.  I KNOW he was a true and living prophet.  My experiences this past week with what I saw, the things I have felt inside my heart, and the knowledge and enlightenment I gained have only increased my testimony of him and his work.  I rejoice to know this!

A few days ago, I saw this article with outstanding photos and descriptions of Carthage Jail.  I reference it here for a few reasons.  First, to help me and my family remember the Martyrdom on the 170th Anniversary.  Second, if my photos of Carthage don't work out these are excellent to help us rejoice in what we saw and experienced.  Third, to help serve as a record that we were there.  And fourth, an event we always hope to remember.   

[http://ldsliving.com/story/76187-photo-gallery-remembering-the-170th-anniversary-of-joseph-and-hyrum-smith-martyrdom]

Other resources to share:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865602996/Finding-peace-in-Carthage-Jail.html?pg=all

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865605870/170th-anniversary-of-the-martyrdom-of-Joseph-and-Hyrum-Smith.html?pg=all

2014 Notable Church-History Anniversaries

Spring 2014 at Our Happy Home

Beautiful signs of spring!  Including bike rides, rising outdoor temperatures, cleaning out flower beds, pruning prickly roses and raspberry bushes.  There has also been emerging flowers, cherry blossoms galore, and fragrant lilacs too!   Even rain, as we've had plenty of April and May showers.  It's made having broken sprinklers a bit more bearable, or at least fixing them hasn't been on the top of the priority list - yet.  So grateful for the rain!  On a recent Saturday, when we all worked out in the yard, the ground was so soft that it made pulling weeds pretty effortless.  The cool, over-cast day was even an extra bonus for making the yard work that day actually quite enjoyable and memorable.  

"Why does my heart with gladness sing?

Only because it's spring!"

(Primary Children's Songbook)

  

         

   

Because of Him

I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Several days ago The Church released a new video, "Because of Him" .  It’s fabulous!  With beautiful background music, the video clearly expresses that Jesus Christ did what no one else ever has, and many things are made possible because of Him.  If you haven’t seen it, I hope you will take the few minutes to watch it now.  When I did, I felt immense gratitude for Jesus Christ and was overcome with a feeling of reverence and awe for His great love and sacrifice.  The video is a perfect tribute to Him and a reminder to all of us why we celebrate Easter. 

If you liked that video, I'd like to share another video I saw yesterday that is also very wonderful.

I love Jesus Christ.  I know He lives.  Because of Him and His atoning sacrifice I have felt great strength given to me during different periods and times in my life, and often it is daily and in simple ways.  I have felt the healing His atonement provides as I repent, change, and start over.  It's real and it's powerful.  How thankful I am to know that Christ "broke the bands of death". Christ didn't take death away, but He has allowed us to overcome death because of His resurrection . 

"And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection."   -Mosiah 16:7

"And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."  -Alma 7:12

Jesus Christ does the same with spiritual death, He doesn't take sin away or our moral agency, but because of His atonement He provides a way for us to overcome sin and be forgiven for our mistakes.  The Savior wants to forgive us.  I'm far from perfect and I don't have the perfect life.  None of us are perfect, we need His mercy, long-suffering and grace.  But with faith in Him and obedience to His commandments, our lives can progress forward.  I feel blessed to know this.  

"And since man had fallen he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atone for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth; and that he breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory;...."  -Alma 22:14

"...be faithful in Christ; ...may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever."  -Moroni 9:25

Because of Him my life is happy.  Because of Him my life has direction.  Because of Him I can have peace.  Because of Him, after this life I can return to Him and our Father in Heaven and live forever with my family.  Because of Him, Easter has great meaning.

Rejoice and have a joyful Easter!

Preparing for General Conference, our Conference Tradition

Less than a week away before we get to participate in General Conference.  I'm excited!  This has become an anticipated event for me and for the most part, I think the rest of my family too. 

When the children were younger they would do conference bingo or coloring-type activities as they watched and listened.  Doesn't mean the kids were angels, because some of these activities worked only for a short time (even if M&Ms or Skittles were involved for the Bingo markers). Yep, we had our fair share of weeping and wailing, and quite often from my husband and me.  It was hard to get everyone to listen and be quiet for that many hours.  But we just kept at it each year, conference by conference.  Our efforts are beginning to pay off. 

I have tried to make conference time enjoyable and memorable for our family, but it does require some preparation.  Besides making, copying, or putting together little packets of activities (please see additional website links at the end of this post for more activity ideas), we have always displayed large photos of the Prophets and Apostles on our wall.  Which were easily purchased at the Church Distribution Center. Sometimes a child would put sticky notes on the picture after the apostle/prophet spoke - keeping track of who spoke and who was yet to speak.  A few times I would jot down little notes on the post-it about what their message was about and later review as a family at Family Home Evening.  Displaying the pictures, I feel, is a nice way to get younger children familiar with the names and faces of the apostles.  Each of the pictures is in its own page protector.  So after conference, the blue adhesive putty is removed from the back and the pictures are all placed back in a 3-ring binder ready for the next conference.  Additionally, over the years I have cut out articles about the prophet's and apostles’ personal life, which have appeared in some church magazines, then stored that too in the page protector along with the picture. This has allowed us to learn more about our leaders and to better relate to them and their conference messages.  These days, this information is easily available and can be researched on LDS.org.  Another entertaining way we've learned the names of the apostles and the order of them being called to serve, is by watching and listening to the Prophet and Apostles Song; not necessarily Church approved, but helpful and fun.  

A few years ago, I saw on KSL-TV a fabulous idea a family shared for their General Conference tradition.  I loved it!  You can view it here and get a better idea of what I'm about to explain.  The idea involves food and there is some preparation that goes into it, but it is well worth it, trust me.  We assign a certain food item that is to be eaten when each of the apostles speak.  For example, when Elder Scott speaks we suck on butter"scot"ch candies.  President Monson enjoyed fishing, so we eat gold fish crackers.  We drink individual containers of chocolate milk when Elder Anderson speaks, because he grew up on a dairy farm milking cows.  And the list goes on.  All of the snacks are gathered and placed in a basket, unless it requires refrigeration of course.  Attaching a tag to the food item and a similar tag on the apostle picture posted on our wall, has become helpful so everyone knows what the next treat will be.  It's a lot about the food, right? But there is a catch, in our home you have to be watching or listening to get the snack.  This has become a really fun tradition and it's been great for our entire family to think of snack items to coordinate with each prophet and apostle.  It’s great to shake it up, so we don't necessarily do the same food items each time.  I mentioned earlier the additional bio information that is added to the prophet and apostle pictures; for researching and finding good food ideas to go along with each apostle, the info has come in very handy. This snack idea is an enjoyable tradition and seems to work great for our family, but if it's too much, I also found a scaled down snack idea another family uses for their conference tradition and you can find it here.

I recently found that the Church has a whole web page on how to prepare ourselves and our families for General Conference.  Addressing important topics such as: why we need prophets, or the blessing of General Conference, or how General Conference addresses individual circumstances, preparing children for conference, and more.  Great subjects for a Family Night discussion!  

Now that our children are older, conference time has become a true joy. Something to rejoice in!  I look forward to it and hope my children do too.  It’s the tradition I love.  General Conference at our home is not only spiritually uplifting, but a lot of fun - pajamas, conference bingo, yummy breakfast, air mattresses and blankets, silly snacks, note taking and just being together as a family listening to living prophets is a joy!  

I welcome your comments sharing what you do in your home for General Conference.  Below are additional web sites with creative General Conference ideas I have gathered over the years.  This is all making me think I should create a Pinterest account, so I can have a General Conference board. :)

http://preparednotscared.blogspot.com/2011_03_01_archive.html

http://www.jennyphillips.com/gc/

http://blogmyheartandhome.wordpress.com/2011/04/01/general-conference-questions-answers/

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/children?lang=eng

http://blogmyheartandhome.wordpress.com/2011/03/28/the-first-presidency-and-the-12-apostles/ 

http://nathanrichardson.com/2012/03/general-conference-notes-worksheet/

http://beinglds.blogspot.com/2012/03/general-conference-reverence-stations.html

http://beehivemessages.blogspot.com/2009/09/general-conference-memory-game.html

A few days after the original posting, I found a few more websites with more General Conference ideas!  I am so grateful that there are so many creative people willing to share their ideas and creations.  Thank you!!!

http://www.ldsliving.com/story/75387-100-conference-activities-for-kids (This is a link to 53+ ideas)
http://www.simplyfreshdesigns.com/2012/01/quiet-book-apostles-prophets/
https://www.theredheadedhostess.com/teach/general-conference-teach/general-conference-trivia-game/
https://www.theredheadedhostess.com/teach/general-conference-teach/make-your-own-general-conference-review-game/
http://www.ldsliving.com/story/75395-fhe-following-the-prophet