General Conference Preparations - Thoughts in 2022

I love general conference weekend! In our home our general conference participation has changed over the seasons. But I love the traditions and practices we have done. Happy memories! It still brings the family together.

Here is an invitation! Life can be stressful. But at general conference, you can find peace. Take some time to ponder what questions you have for God. Then don’t miss the inspiration the Lord has in store for you. Tune into general conference April 2–3 and see what’s possible because of Him. You can watch online at www.churchofjesuschrist.org. There are many ways to get ready. Things to do to set apart the weekend. Honestly, it is like a fun holiday for me. But don't put too much pressure on yourself. Don't feel bad if your conference participation looks different than someone else. Each season of our lives looks different, and it is okay. For instance, in the spring of 2014 I did a blog post, "Preparing for General Conference, our Conference Tradition" (https://rejoicerecordandremember.blogspot.com/2014/03/preparing-for-general-conference-our.html) . That post explains a lot of the ideas our family did for general conference. With older children (ages 27-18) our preparations and what we do now looks different than a season or two ago. And it is great! The efforts and preparation my husband and I made to make general conference a priority and special when our children were younger has paid off to be a big blessing. Consistency, diligence and sprinkled with some fun!

One of the main things for preparaing for general conference, I feel, is to personally prepare by opening our hearts and our minds to receive from God and Jesus Christ through the spirit. This week in studying Exodus 7-13 with the "Come, Follow Me" study, I saw a lot of connection to my preparations and approach to general conference from the hard heart of Pharaoh and his actions. As well as the plagues and consequences of Pharaoh not listening and obeying God.

President Nelson knows a lot about hearts and at age 97 years old he has seen a lot of the trials and afflictions (plagues) throughout the world. I can trust him. President Nelson knows Jesus Christ. President Nelson hears Him and hearkens to His counsel so he can lead the Church and Christ's people today. I know it! Just like the prophet Moses, President Nelson is also a prophet. A living prophet on the earth today. What a blessing!

Enjoy general conference!

A Letter to God and Cheerfully Doing

Dear God, 

Thank you for a good, and complete night's sleep. Thank you for this quiet moment now. Thank you for the spirit I felt yesterday watching a few movies about the Restoration, adding to my preparation for General Conference. Thank you for the video chat I had yesterday with my sisters, for another sister that reached out to me via text, and thank you that my parents drove up from Sandy to stand at the edge of our porch to welcome Andrew home from his mission and talk to us for a bit. Thank you for that. 

This self-isolation and safe distancing hasn't been too bad. Especially compared to the 5+ months Joseph, Hyrum and others endured with terrible circumstances at the Liberty Jail. How horrible! As I watched those movies yesterday I was quickly filled with gratitude once again for my little struggle. I am self isolating with my family around me, in the comforts of my own home, with plenty of things to do to keep me busy and happy, and being able to have much digital contact with others and even safe-distancing contact. There is plenty uplifting and encouraging material to read - Thy word. I can pretty much carry on with my life. I have windows to look out at and occasionally see neighbors and friends walk or drive by, I can step outside and enjoy fresh air, or go for a walk and be cheered up by the daffodils. I am warm. I have a comfortable home and bed. I have plenty of food and can go to the store or a restaurant to get more. I have a bathroom (with plenty of toilet paper), running water, and electricity. Thank you Lord! 

This pondering and writing of these blessings brought to my mind the thought to look up and read more about the Liberty Jail. Which then led me to read this moving and powerful message from Elder Holland, "Lessons from Liberty Jail". He gave this talk in 2008 to young adults. Wow! As in typical Elder Holland style, I read it while hearing his voice in my mind - delivered with passion and full of spirit. Reading these items just adds to my gratitude. I have been given insight, and hope, and it has caused some inner reflection on my own struggle at this time, which actually seems so minuscule - how can I even complain or murmur? Please forgive me. I have it so easy. I see an end in sight. I wonder how long it took Joseph and others to see an end to their cold, damp, stifling, hungry, uncomfortable condition. It lasted for months!  But you were with them. 

Needless to say, this morning I kind of feel things have come full circle a bit for me today in your messages back to me. The scripture message you gave me as an answer of guiding strength almost two weeks ago (March 22) was from D&C 123:17. What I heard you tell me:

"Therefore, dearly beloved [LuAnn],... cheerfully do all things that lie in [y]our power; and then may [you] stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed."

Those were reassuring words. The phrase that came to me with great force and increased my faith, was "with the utmost assurance". Filling me with such hope and firmness to that which I was praying for. This verse of scripture has been a guiding light and a strength for me in the days since as the spirit has brought to my mind this scripture in times in which I have needed it. Thank you!  Connecting this verse to me even more was to be reminded in my study this morning that this verse was actually spoken to Joseph Smith from Thee while he was in Liberty Jail. Wow! His suffering then has eased my struggle now. Not only did Joseph receive by revelation section 123, but also sections 121 and 122 of the Doctrine and Covenants. Who can doubt personal revelation? I can't and I won't. 

I am so blessed! I am grateful. I will remain faithful. I see your hand and notice Thy blessing and tender mercies to me and those I love in this crazy time of the corona virus pandemic. There are miracles in the mess!  I see you doing your work. Thank you God! I so look forward to what other messages you have for me as my family and I participate in General Conference. I am ready! 

Your beloved daughter,
LuAnn


A few more things to add to this experience that I want to remember. There are many scripture verses in the Bible, the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, that have verses about cheer. Doctrine and Covenants 61:36 and John 16:3 are good ones. Sister Franco wrote an Ensign article "Be of Good Cheer" (December 2019), which is inspiring and joyful. 

Back on March 19 (wow, that seems so long ago), I received an email from Hang a Ribbon on the Moon  about a free "Be of Good Cheer" banner printable.  It was so cute!  With events canceling, families staying home, home schooling beginning, people still hustling to find toilet paper, and a day after the earthquake, I knew I needed to print up and color this banner to hang in my home. It has been a cheery reminder to be happy and notice the blessings! We've been able to send pictures to a few family members hopefully increasing their cheer at this time. I wish I could make this banner up and give to everyone I know! 

Additionally, our neighborhood hosted a parade on Monday this week (March 30). We made posters to hang out the windows and decorate the cars. Driving past the homes of the recently returned missionaries, as well as nurses and police officers giving much to help others at this time, we honked, waved, and cheered. I thought it was so much fun! Guess what I had written on the back my van? Yep, "Be of good cheer!"

Speaking of Elder Holland, he shared current words of hope and direction just a few days ago. His words gave me peace - "Shelter in Place".

Finally, there has been a quote that has resurfaced and been going around the internet these few weeks by Fred Rogers which says, "When I was a boy I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'" I think this statement is so true. We have so many people helping at this time, giving of their safety and comfort to help others. But I would also like to suggest, look for God helping you. Notice the many ways God is helping you. Write them down (record) so you remember and your can rejoice now and later.  "...cheerfully do all things that lie in [y]our power; and then may [you] stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." (D&C 123:17)

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