Can you believe it’s that time of year already? The bulbs are blooming on Temple Square, the rain is inevitable, and LDS families all over the globe are getting excited to hear inspired messages from the general authorities and prophets.
Twice a year, we get the opportunity to be taught by our beloved leaders, and not a spring goes by that I don’t eagerly wait for the first weekend in April. This year is no exception.
In the days that lead up to General Conference, here are a few things you can do to prepare yourself and your family to get the most out of this wonderful event:
* Pray for the speakers this week. I can only imagine how nerve-wracking it is to address members from all over the world, so saying a prayer for them will certainly be appreciated.
* Plan your weekend carefully. Do you usually spend Saturday mornings outside in the yard or away from home? Do what you can to clear your schedule so that you can listen or watch conference uninterrupted. If you already have plans that you can’t change, you may want to make alternate arrangements to record the session of conference you’ll miss, watch it on the church’s web site, or read the addresses in the May issue of the Ensign.
* Write things down. One of the best things I’ve found for getting the most out of conference is to write down my thoughts during the talks. This keeps your attention on the meaning of the messages and allows you to remember and review them more quickly than rereading the entire talk.
* Plan listening activities for your kids. Even though they may be old enough to sit and listen, two hours at a time is still a long time. Consider setting up age-appropriate activities or games that will help them listen attentively and learn from the talks. You might even play conference Bingo (have the kids listen for certain words) to help them understand the message better.
No matter what you do to prepare, you’ll be glad you did and hopefully you’ll find inspiring messages and direction you can apply to your individual lives.
Related Articles:
April 2009 General Conference Dates
General Conference Recap – Blog Entry
The Miracles of General Conference