General Conference - Favorite Memories of Favorite Weekends

Twice a year we have the privilege of hearing from our Prophet, Apostles, and other leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at General Conference.  This opportunity came last weekend, and it was wonderful!  And since this was the last time we would experience General Conference with one of our children in the house, it brought back a lot of memories. 

There are several sessions of General Conference.  On Saturday, there are sessions from 10:00-12:00, 2:00-4:00, and a Priesthood session from 6:00-8:00.  Then on Sunday, we again have sessions from 10:00-12:00 and 2:00-4:00.  When you kids were little, getting through even one session seemed to take monumental effort! 

This is a picture we took on October 4, 1998.  It’s a picture of Josh, Jayna, and Dallin running around the back yard in between sessions to get the wiggles out!  I don't know why Michelle is not in this picture--she is probably running laps around the entire house!  Look how small our backyard trees were—not to mention Josh’s shorts!  

April 2003

Here we are 4 ½ years later.  Do you remember when we couldn’t get Conference on our TV, so we listened to it on the Internet in our office?  Needless to say, we were a little cramped!

Regardless, our General Conference treats were always yummy!  Knowing how long two hours can seem to a young child, and in an effort to help you kids look forward to General Conference, we started establishing some family traditions—most of which had to do with yummy food!  Some of our consistent favorites were pumpkin chocolate chip bread and gorp.  But do you also remember when we delivered homemade “General Conference Cookies” in between sessions to friends?  And how about General Conference Bingo?

Dallin with pumpkin chocolate chip bread.

Our hope was that while you were young, you would look forward to General Conference because of the fun traditions and memories surrounding it—and that your love for Conference would change and develop over the years into a desire to sit and learn at the feet of Apostles and Prophets.

October 2007

Here's Josh with his friend, Justin Mattice.  Do you think they are closing their eyes so they can better ponder the messages of the speakers???  (Note the General Conference Bingo game behind Justin's left arm.)

October 2010

We used to have a big lunch in between sessions on Sunday.

At some point that changed to a big breakfast Sunday morning.

One of the funnier Conference traditions has to do with the boys and the Priesthood session on Saturday evening.  Instead of watching this session at home, they would go to the Church to watch it.  But they would strategically choose their seats—because they prided themselves on being the first ones out of the Church parking lot when the session was over.  Then they would always go to Sonic and bring their food home to eat while watching sports—in April, it’s usually the Final Four game of the NCAA Tournament. 

Here are Dad, Josh, and Dallin after another successful evening being the first out of the parking lot.

With Dallin going on his mission in August, this might be our last General Conference with a child at home.

Here are Dad and Dallin after the Priesthood session, again being the first ones out of the parking lot.

And here was our Sunday morning breakfast.  I made french toast with Kneader's cinnamon bread.  Yum!

Dad and I were talking about past General Conference memories this weekend.  We were a little sad.  But then Dad said, "We'll have to start some of our own General Conference traditions as a couple."  And that sounds wonderful!

Kids, it will be fun to see, as you marry and combine the best ideas from both of your families, what kind of General Conference traditions your family will develop and enjoy on General Conference weekend.  It was so fun to see little Afton’s “General Conference Apostle Bags” and know that her parents are teaching her, even at the age of 2, to appreciate and be engaged in General Conference.

For anyone else who might be reading this blog, just know that I love General Conference!  And if you are interested in seeing what it's all about, you can go to this link:  

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2014/04?cid=HPSU040614654&lang=eng

And if you simply want to watch one of my favorite talks given this past weekend, Gratitude in Any Circumstances,  by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf', a member of our First Presidency, here you go:

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/grateful-in-any-circumstances?lang=eng