General Conference IDEAS for CHILDREN

An email I received from Elisabeth Wozniak:

Its General Conference time again and I am really excited about making this a meaningful experience for our family and young women's group. There is an EXCELLENT article in the March 2009 Ensign entitled, "Preparing Our Children for General Conference" that give great ideas for making general conference more meaningful for your family. Here is the direct link to the full article (http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&l ocale=0&sourceId=9e906c667a6af110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1)

I have also included some of the ideas in the body of this email that we plan on using with our kids.

Also attached are general conference activity packets for your kids based on their age group. Below are the links to the web site where I got them with the direct link if you want to download it from that site if you have problems opening the attachment. I am also attaching a questioner I made for last conference for our young women's group to use. It is not as professional as the other ones made, but it asks different questions. Our young women's group gets together for the Saturday morning session at someone's house and we enjoy a brunch/lunch before conference starts. So much fun!

Let me know if you have any great ideas about making general conference more meaningful for your family or young women's group. I always love new ideas!

Conference Packet for kids:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/13298891/2009-April-Conference-Packet

Conference Packet for older kids/teens:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/13587708/Conference-Journal-Older-Child

Some ideas for smaller children from the 2009 March Ensign article, "Preparing Our Children for General Conference":

They remove the center spread with photos of General Authorities from the most recent conference edition of the Ensign and hang it near the television. Each time a new speaker appears on the screen, the children study the poster and try to find the speaker's picture. They are rewarded with a sticker to place on the poster or in a notebook of their own. They quickly learn to identify the First Presidency and others by name, says Sister Sorensen.

The Sorensens set out a bowl of small treats for each session. Next to the bowl, they place objects that represent key words for that session. Each time the children hear one of those words spoken from the pulpit, they can help themselves to one treat. Sister Sorensen notes: "It's surprising to see how much young children can and do listen. Their enthusiasm is priceless as you hear them say, 'Mommy, he said temples!".

For the sessions that fall during typical mealtimes, the Sorensens prepare a picnic basket and lay out a blanket in front of the television. Brother and Sister Sorensen tell their children that they are like the families in the Book of Mormon who sat on the ground and listened to their prophet, King Benjamin, teach them about the gospel of Jesus Christ. We thank our children for allowing us to listen and praise them for their reverence and attentiveness. We bear testimony throughout the day of the things we have heard and felt and reiterate our love for living prophets and apostles.

Brother and Sister Sorensen make sure they spend time with their children before and after sessions. They let them have active or outdoor play to get out all their wiggles.
Love,
Elisabeth

Remaining Sunday MORNING Sessions

I am POSTING the email I just sent out....here on the BLOG...

Good Morning, Sisters...I realize....our next GENERAL CONFERENCE is nearly upon us...There is NO WAY we will finish our LAST General Conference talks...by taking ONE a week...I would like to make a proposal...for the next couple of weeks...I would like each of you to comment on the ANY of the remaining talks....I am nearly done with my Conference issue...Our LAST POSTED General Conference talk was given by Elder Robert Hales...on "Christian Courage: The Price of Discipleship"....EXCELLENT.... However, the talks I read while I was in Texas...were SO OUTSTANDING...that my General Conference "ENSIGN" issue is FILLED with one comment after another....

For instance: 1. Bishop Keith B. McMullin - "God Loves and Helps All of His Children" - You learn the TRUTH about Heavenly Father...(most Christiandom would REJECT what we know to be true about Him); the story of the Chinese official...brought my emotions to the surface...; you learn that the Church welfare plan is GOD INSPIRED; how Father will lead us through whatever storm we face... http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-947-23,00.html
2. Sister Elaine S. Dalton - "A Return to Virtue".... - A MUST READ - It is a CALLING for a RETURN TO VIRTUE....!!!! http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-947-24,00.html 3. Elder M. Russell Ballard - "The Truth of God Shall Go Forth" - POWERFUL talk..."no unhallowed hand can stop the work"....One of the lines that touched me...was this line..."He (Father/Christ) isn't asking us to die a martyr's death; He's asking us to LIVE A DISCIPLE's LIFE."!!!! (don't you LOVE IT???) http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-947-25,00.html

4. President Thomas S. Monson - "Finding Joy in the Journey".... Oh...my sisters...THIS TALK was FANTASTIC!!!! There was SO MUCH WISDOM...in this talk...Here is one of the lines...I LOVED... "If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then GRATITUDE takes its place among the NOBLEST of VIRTUES." http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-947-26,00.html NEXT week we can tackle the remaining Sunday Afternoon Session talks...but, if you have comments for any one of the ABOVE talks....I would LOVE to hear them...as I, believe, our other sisters would, also....

Cristian Courage: The Price of Discipleship

First...before I move onto this next Conference talk...I so hope you all took time to read...President Eyring's talk...giving us ideas on how to UNIFY...to become ONE...in heart and mind...It truly was a MARVELOUS TALK!!!!!

This week's talk is an ABSOLUTE MUST READ...by Elder Robert D. Hales....There is hardly one word...that was NOT UNDERLINED...and comments made...DISCIPLESHIP is one of my most favorite subjects...and when one of the brethren goes into depth of what it means to be a DISCIPLE of CHRIST...I seem to take DOUBLE NOTICE....Oh...my...I am HOLDING MYSELF BACK...from making comments...I SO WANT to hear what YOU have to say!!!!

http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-947-22,00.html

"Our Hearts Knit as One"

My dear Sisters: I know I am a bit behind in posting this General Conference talk by President Henry B. Eyring..."Our Hearts Knit As One"...You might be wondering why I would...use the music "Come Thou Fount" with this talk....I can only express that when I listened to this song this morning...I feel SO DRAWN to my Father...and to our beloved, Savior, Jesus Christ...It is SO POWERFUL...I feel UNITED with THEM....I believe...when we feel UNITED with THEM...we will DESIRE and WILL BE UNITED with EACH OTHER...

President Eyring mentions..."that a GREAT DAY of UNITY IS COMING..." Christ is RETURNING...that He is returning to "live with those who have BECOME HIS people and will find them UNITED, of ONE HEART, UNIFIED with HIM and with our HEAVENLY FATHER..."

Oh...dear Sisters...many of you...including me...are praying for His RETURN....AS SOON AS POSSIBLE...but, until He returns...there is MUCH we need to accomplish HERE...

President Eyring refers to the Book of Mormon...in the days of Alma...how to ACCOMPLISH this UNITY...I would love your thoughts...on HOW we can do this TOGETHER...or examples of UNITY....that you have personally experienced...or seen...

I LOVE President Eyring!!! There is something about his ability to teach THE GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST!!!! I DESIRE to do MUCH MUCH BETTER....