Wife Like Me

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General Conference is coming up in a few weeks and before our site crashed I had a list of ideas for how to watch General Conference was a popular post of mine, so I’m going to re-write that post here from scratch. 

General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a twice-annual, weekend-long event where General Authorities of the Church speak to the world.  It’s broadcast across the globe to churches and homes and members of the Church and people of other faiths are encouraged to watch.  There are five two-hour sessions, one of which is exclusively for those who hold the Priesthood (but published for general reading later).  It is a priviledge to have the opportunity to hear a prophet of God speak to the world and I love it.

That said, sitting and listening to eight-to-ten hours of speeches in one weekend can be challenging for anyone.  The couch is comfortable or the pew is uncomfortable and the lights are low.  It’s easy to get distracted or even to fall asleep.  For that reason, I am brainstorming a list of ideas for how to stay awake, interested, and alert during General Conference.  Please feel free to add your ideas to the comments below.

Play Conference Bingo–make a grid of gospel topics or pictures representing topics, and cross them out as they are discussed and see who can get a “bingo” first

Pray for answers to specific problems or questions before hand, then listen for your answers in the talks (or promptings from the Spirit as you listen)

Learn about the apostles and the prophet and their personal lives and histories here.  Knowing who they are can sometimes help you understand their talks and appreciate what they say more.

Read some or all of the Institute “Teachings of the Living Prophets” manual to help you appreciate the role of the prophet and apostles.

Sing along with all the songs.  Stand when the director tells the audience to stand.

Take notes on the talks.  Or on the spiritual promptings you get as you listen. 

Sketch the speaker’s face as he/she speaks.

Write down every scripture reference anyone makes and look it up later.

Write down notes to remind you of stories you want to tell in a church lesson or Family Home Evening.

Think about the people you Visiting Teach or Home Teach while you listen and decide which talks you will share with them next month, or what you’ve learned that you could use to improve your Visiting or Home Teaching.

Think about someone in your family and how you can improve your relationship with them as you listen.

Have snacks and drinks handy while you listen.  Sometimes munching on (preferably healthy) food can keep your body occupied and free up your mind to listen.  Plus, it keeps your blood sugar up.

Do needle point, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, or other crafty thing that doesn’t require your ears (or your eyes too much).  Keeping your hands busy may help your mind to pay attention and stay awake.

Talk to your children about how much you love the prophet and apostles and show them by paying attention to what they say (if that motivates you).

Listen for particular words.  Keep a tally of how many times words are used like faith, baptism, repentance, holy ghost, love, Jesus Christ, Book of Mormon, Bible, prophet, etc.

Make it an event–General Conference is bigger than Christmas for my aunt’s family.  They invite people over, have big celebratory meals, and the girls go out and do something really fun while the guys are at Priesthood Session.  It’s good to watch with other people and discuss it between sessions.

Plan to tell someone else about what you learned at General Conference.  I listen better when I know I’ll have to repeat it back later.

Pray to be able to have a good experience at General Conference.

GET PLENTY OF SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE!  Get up early enough to be awake by the time the session starts.

Get showered and dressed and be ready to listen in plenty of time for the beginning of the session.  Wear clothes that subconsciously tell you to listen, even if you’re watching at home.

Allow yourself to empathize with the speakers–imagine how they must feel speaking to millions of people all over the world.  Be their mental cheerleader.  Pray for them.  Think of how you’d listen if it was your dad or brother or son up there speaking, then try to do it that way. 

Read the talks from the last General Conference and think about how you did in the last six months at obeying the words of the prophet.  Write down steps you can take to improve.

Take notes of ideas for goals or changes you’d like to make in your life as you listen to the talks.  Write down anything that sounds like what God really wants you to do, personally.

Think of how grateful you are to hear a prophet’s voice when so many people before had no access to a prophet, and remember to listen as though the Lord were speaking to the church directly. 

Tell the Lord in prayer beforehand that you will do whatever He asks of you in Conference even if it’s hard for you, then listen to what you are asked to do with the intent to do it.

Write down any blessings that are promised, and what it will take to get those blessings.  Do what it takes, and pay attention when you get the blessings.

Write down your testimony as you listen. 

Watch for the pattern of how the talks, songs, and prayers are organized. 

Fast with a purpose during Conference.

Memorize names and positions of speakers.

Make yourself a questionaire like this one and fill it in while you listen.

Okay, that’s all I have time for tonight.  Add your ideas below.  I’ll put up a seperate post on watching Conference with kids and preparing in advance.