Skip to main content

How to Prepare Your Kids for General Conference

lds.org
A few years ago, I wrote a post on how to prepare for general conference. Now that I have two kids, and after seeing great ideas online, I think it's time to share how to prepare your kids for general conference too!

1. Explain what general conference is.
Tell your kids the week before that instead of going to church the next Sunday, you will be staying home and watching the prophet and other church leaders speak to us about the gospel starting Saturday morning. Show them pictures of the First Presidency and other church leaders in the Friend or conference issue of the Ensign.

2. Put together activities for the kids.
Thanks to blogs and Pinterest, there is a plethora of activities for your children to do during conference, and most require little preparation. Here is a link-up to some great ideas. There are also activities on the Church website. Be sure to match the activity to your children's ages and likes and any goals you have in mind (ex: listening for certain topics, learning to recognize leaders, or simply being reverent). Get all the activities ready by Friday night so the kids have something to do as soon as conference starts.

3. Prepare the house for conference the days and nights before.
Have everyone do their chores and complete their homework. Clean up the area where you will watch conference and know when and how you will watch it. Do any food prep the night before so making breakfast and lunch is easy and doesn't cut into any conference time. Get everyone to bed early so you wake up and get ready in time for the morning sessions and no one is sleepy or grumpy. Make sure any children who still nap get rest between sessions.

4. Create a reverent environment conference morning.
Simply getting dressed in appropriate clothing and eating a good breakfast before conference starts will set a good mood for the rest of the day and help everyone be attentive and reverent. Avoid putting on the TV, a movie, or secular music. Instead, play Primary songs and other church music or watch any pre-conference programs to invite the Spirit. Continue to keep the Spirit in between and after sessions.

5. Talk about what you learned.
After conference is over discuss during dinner what you learned. Have the kids share their favorite talks, songs, or activities. Keep conference fresh in their minds the following months through the Friend and family home evening lessons.

You can find more ideas on how to prepare your kids for general conference on the Church website. Have a great general conference weekend!

Sharing Time: What do you do to prepare your kids for general conference?
Labels:

Comments

Anonymous said…

Your article is excellent.
General Conference can be fun and spiritual at the same time. Doing these activities will help the children learn about the gospel.
Constance
April 6, 2014 at 5:30 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

New URL Coming Soon To Avoid Using "Mormon"

photo by ilker In light of President Nelson's talk in October 2018 general conference , I will be changing the title and address of this blog very soon to eliminate the use of the word "Mormon." Because I won't be buying a domain name, I don't know what the new URL and blog name will be yet. I'm not very literate in the website world, so please bear with me as I roll out these changes. I'm trying to learn as much as I can quickly to reduce broken links and errors. Thank you, and I hope you keep reading my blog!
Post a Comment
Read more

"Be Thou an Example of the Believers" at Home

Today, my husband and I spoke in sacrament meeting. Here is the first part of my talk ( read Part 2  and Part 3 ): “The effect of our words and acts is tremendous in this world. Every moment of life you are changing to a degree the lives of the whole world.” Those are the words of President David O. McKay.* If we have such an astounding influence over the world, we need to be examples of righteousness. As Paul counseled, “Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. . . . Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in so doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Timothy 4:12, 16). The Lord said, “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also” (John 14:12). So to be an example of the believers is to do what the Lord has done so that we can “save [ourselves], and them that hear [us].” We usually apply this principle to missionary work, but it also e...
3 comments
Read more

Mormons and Gay Marriage

photo by Matt Cook It is known news that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) contributed much to stop gay marriage from becoming legal in California. However, most people do not understand fully why we are against it. I will address common questions concerning Mormons and their opposition to gay marriage. Are Mormons against gay people? No. As the expression goes, we "hate the sin, not the sinner." That creed applies to any person struggling with sin, not just gay people. What we disapprove of is the homosexual lifestyle. There are members of our Church who are homosexual yet as worthy as heterosexual members because they do not participate in that lifestyle. Elder Holland said , "Let me make it clear that attractions alone, troublesome as they may be, do not make one unworthy. The First Presidency has stated, 'There is a distinction between immoral thoughts and feelings and participating in either immoral heterosexual or any homosexual...
2 comments
Read more