It’s General Conference weekend! That means ten hours of hearing from prophets and apostles and other inspired leaders of the Church. It also means eight hours of trying to keep children engaged (at best) or occupied (at least). Our household favorite is this: Before each session, each person picks a gospel word. (We don’t allow variations on the names of deity “out of reverence or respect to the name of the Supreme Being” and “to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name.”) We associate each word with a particular bowl of some small candy, like M&Ms or chocolate chips. Then the kids listen for the words: whenever a word is used, all kids get a piece of the designated candy, and we mark it on a white board to see who “wins” the session.
What are your favorite activities to keep your young ones engaged with General Conference?
The Church provides several printable options, include a conference notebook, conference bingo, and drawings of the Prophet and the Apostles that can be colored in. Other commercial enterprises and individuals have put together their own packets.
I’ve created a coloring sheet so that kids can keep an eye out for our inspired women leaders in the Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary General Presidencies and color an outline of their blouse (or top of their dress), which you can download here and see below.
Happy conference!
So these are leaders chosen on merit (presumably), at the time they were chosen. Why are none of them over 70?
Pres Nelson was chosen on merit in 1984 (when he was 60), after that all he had to do was outlive his fellow apostles. Conversely if someone in the 15 showed particular merit (Uchtdorf ?) that would not be an asset. They could not be allowed to compete with the oldest, and if they survive to become leader they may not be capable of that merit by then.
What a strange way to choose a leader. Can this be what God wants? Who could change it?
Great activity ideas. I’ll try to remember them for when my kids are old enough to participate.
Geoff,
This is an odd place to be lodging that particular criticism. Perhaps there is a more appropriate place for it.
So….you’re asking your kids to focus on what the women are WEARING instead of what they are SAYING?? Good Lord, man!
Troy: Ha! That’s a good point. The main activity, listed at the top of the post, focuses on the speakers’ words. Also, my previous work on this blog is focused on women’s words. I also don’t think there’s any harm in giving small children something to color during a talk.