Conference Report

Last Sunday was General Conference. I explained what conference is and what we usually do during it in a blog post last October. This time, I wanted to do something different. For one thing, we wanted to cut down on the amount of candy the kids eat. I also wanted to hold their attention for longer, keep us all in the same room and yet have David and I able to hear and enjoy conference.

I purchased these trays at Michael's, using a 40% off coupon. We used the conference bingo, same as last time, and as before, the kids pretty much just ate the marshmallows.

I also purchased an over-the-door shoe holder and filled it with small toys, crafts, stickers and a few candies. Most of the items were from the dollar store.

There were 24 shoe holders, 12 for each child, with one for each apostle. Unfortunately, I forgot about the first presidency, which meant I needed three more spaces. I ended up just combining some of the apostles into the same slot.

I was surprised at how well this plan worked. The kids stayed interested and the items kept them entertained longer than I expected. 

I was actually able to listen to conference and even take notes! It was great for all of us.

Here are some of my favorite quotes (from my notes, so they are not verbatim).

President Holland

• Today if people want any gods at all, they want gods that don’t demand much - who not only don’t rock the boat, but don’t even row it. They try to create God in their own image.
• Defend your beliefs with courtesy and compassion, but defend them. 

Neil L. Anderson

• Your generation (speaking to the youth) has more access to temples than any other generation in the history of the world. 

Dallin H. Oaks (Priesthood session)

• Men hold the priesthood, but they are not the priesthood. 
• Rather than focusing on our priesthood “rights,” we should focus on our responsibilities. 

Donald L. Hallstron (Priesthood session)

• Commonly accepted practices in the world choke our relationship with the priesthood 

Randall L. Redd (Priesthood session)

• Owning a smart phone does not make you smart. Don’t do dumb things with your smart phone. 

President Eyring (Priesthood session)

• You will be a model of the priesthood whether you want to be or not. 

President Monson (Priesthood session)

• If you ever find yourself where you shouldn’t ought to be – GET OUT! 

Russell M. Nielson

• Some people only look to their bank book for peace or to celebrities for guidance. We should follow God’s law, not man’s law. Even if everyone is doing it, wrong is never right.
• All men have fears, but those who face their fears with faith have courage as well. 

Richard G. Scott

• Do not become so absorbed with trivial things that you miss the basic doctrines. 

Robert D. Hales

• We don’t need to understand all the reasons for a commandment before we obey it. 

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

• It is hard to be grateful if our thankfulness is only in proportion to the number of blessings we can count. Instead of being thankful for things, be thankful in our circumstances, whatever they may be.
• If we are grateful, we acknowledge that we don’t understand everything, but have faith that someday we will.
• We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved. How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?

Jean A. Stevens

• Heavenly Father accomplishes his miracles one moment and one person at a time. 

President Thomas S. Monson

• Blame keeps wounds open, forgiveness heals. Make sure our interactions with others are always full of love.
• Be loving and kind to those who don’t share our beliefs or standards. 

Lawrence E. Cowbridge

• The truth will always be opposed. 

Michael John U. The

• It is critical that we learn to recognize when we have enough. If we’re not careful, we will chase after temporal instead of spiritual treasures. 

Marcos A. Aidukatus

• The internet is a great tool, but it is easy to become distracted and infected by worthless info. One should not sift through garbage. 

D. Todd Christofferson

• Christ’s victory over death ended the human predicament. Now there are only personal predicaments.

I love General Conference. I always come away feeling recharged. I am grateful to know that God has a prophet and apostles on the Earth today.