Our Family Follows the Prophet

General Conference Fall 2013

Twice a year we have General Conference.  Apostles, General Authorities and other Church Leaders speak to us.  It is amazing.  Really.  I look forward to it and read the messages over and over again.  However, when you have children ranging in age from 2 - 15, getting them excited to sit for two hours at a time to listen to "old people" speak can be challenging.  Very.

Each night before we have family prayer we repeat the same thing, basically our family motto:
Our Family Sticks Together
Our Family Follows the Prophet
Our Family is Hard Workers
Our Family is Honest
Our Family is Kind

I love that we do this and repeat it together.  Often as challenges arise in our children's lives and our own we can easily refer to this and it falls under one of these things we believe.  The answers are easier to explain and we remind ourselves who and what we are.

So... if we follow the prophet, then we listen to General Conference.  I challenged our family to pray about something we need an answer to and try to listen for the answer during conference.  I posted Elder Uchtdorfs quote on preparing for conference a few places in our home to remind us.  We talked about conference in Family Home Evening and really tried to prepare the children and ourselves to learn and listen.  It was interesting as the kids and us as parents recognized our questions being answered during the messages being given.

I made a basket that the children could see but not touch until Conference began (torture much?).  It had activities, treats (of course) and envelopes (with activities) we opened along the way.  We started with the sign:  Our Family Loves Conference and each person had a piece of paper with BECAUSE...  I loved the responses.  We posted them by the TV so we could remember we love this.  Right?  Right?  

The best activity was Conference Bingo.  The kids each made their own and cut out pictures of apostles, key words and gospel terms.  When they got a bingo... Voila... a treat.  Dad spoiled them, for each and every bingo they got a treat, by Sunday afternoon the sugar intake was definitely high and they were getting restless and hyper.

Each child also had a quote or printable they could pick and put on the wall.  I loved how each one fit their personality.  

It was a great time to be together, to relax, have yummy breakfast and dinners.  The boys went to Priesthood session together and home for milk shakes after.  I love my family.  I love conference.  It was as great as it always is.  It gave me the boost I need to carry on.