1) Watching, through my tears, as the tears streamed down my EC’s face, as we stood in the Conference Center and sang “Praise to the Man”. Loudly.
2) The nine-year-old FOML proudly declaring himself to be “The Ticketmaster” after he was able to secure 4 tickets from passers-by, just because he was so cute.
3) Watching that same FOML take detailed notes on every talk. (More on this next April)
4) The Pepto-Bismol-colored choir dresses. I absolutely loved them. I want my EC to have one – no – several. And I want a matching suit. And platform shoes. And an afro.
5) The children’s choir on Saturday afternoon, because I got to do that when I was a wee lad of 9 and 11.
6) Reading blog posts and comments about your thoughts on Conference.
7) Getting to spend time with our BYU daughter.
8) BYU-USU. “Go Aggies!” Hehehe.
9) Getting the last parking spot in a parking garage just South of the Conference Center.
10) Elder Ardern’s cool Kiwi accent.
11) Attending Priesthood with my sons – which will soon become more and more of a rarity.
12) Catching a beautiful view of Autumn before it got snowed on.
13) President Monson waving at me and giving me a “thumbs up”. (At least I think it was at me – I was on the balcony so it’s hard to tell)
14) President Uchtdorf smiling for the camera when he name was read for the sustaining vote. This man is the coolest. (Don’t believe me? Read this)
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Your “Ticketmaster” comment reminded me of the time we took our daughter and her newly baptized college roommate to SLC for GC. As a new convert, she could barely contain her excitement and while waiting in the long line to get in the conference center she burst into song. She was majoring in vocal performance and my daughter who also loves to sing immediately joined in. Their rendition of the Willy Wonka classic “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket” – with words altered to fit the event – brought a smile to everyone around.
Non-doctrinally, it cracked me up to watch my three children take turns being the wanderer or the chastiser (‘get back here–the prophet is up next!’ or ‘you can’t really be listening if you are playing on the laptop’). All I had to say was to be nicer to each other–they did all the yelling for me. 🙂
Yes, I agree, President Uchtdorf is the coolest! 🙂
Gotta say, I loved President U’s ties (all of them!)
And my daughter’s text after Sister Dalton’s talk: “Dad, you did all of those things!” (Though I never had to go looking for her…) Made my day.
Kari, Kari, Kari:
I thought I made it clear that we were trying to get tickets – then if we failed, we would come to your house. So sorry! Besides, some uber-righteous people wouldn’t consider “Man Food” snacks appropriate in the Conference Center. I ask you, what is the purpose of a tie if not to wipe orange Cheetos dust off of messy fingers?
True story: The girl seated next to us munched on apple slices for the whole session… (we should have offered to share our caramel dip)
Watching my just crawling daughter chase kittens around the living room during one session. So adorable.
I learned that even though you stock up on ‘manly’ snacks, MMM still doesn’t show up.
And those above mentioned ‘manly’ snacks put you to sleep.
Sorry MMM no more manly snacks, I need to stay awake!
I learned that I need to let my kids win Conference bingo…they need a victory sometimes.
and more snacks!
I loved every part of conference! It was what I needed … A good “shot in the arm”!!!
For me it was when I got my 3 year old jumped up all excited and said, “Mommy he said Jesus Christ!” Everytime he heard someone say it. And then afterwards when he wanted to watch the Restoration because Jesus is in it. So far I’m on the right track!
We enjoyed watching the children’s choir Saturday afternoon. There were those few who just couldn’t stay still while singing – boys playing with their ties, girls rocking back and forth from their heels to their toes.
Tearing up while my own children boldly sang along with Praise to the Man.
Watching all my children who can write take notes on post-its and put them on on General Conference Wall. The four year old drew pictures.
I’ll say this for the dresses … they got our attention.
What struck me? Elder Hales. President Monson’s ‘hello’ and his joke about dedicating the Wyoming Temple himself because the fishing is so good there. Having my girls sit with me in the living room and really listen. Spanikopita and of course, cinnamon rolls.
Does everyone make cinnamon rolls for conference? Are cinnamon rolls to conference what funeral potatoes are to funerals?
I hope you were kidding about the pink dresses. I gagged.
When it comes to Conference, the Spirit speaks to me as much through the music that is sung as through the addresses that are given. Invariably, there is a hymn performed that touches me in a way it never has before. More often than not, it’s a hymn I’d never given much attention to or even particularly cared for in the past. But combined with the lingering Spirit of the spoken messages and through the powerful and majestic delivery of music, I’m suddenly hit like a ton of bricks.
This time around, it was “I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go” during Sunday morning’s session. Musically and lyrically speaking, it’s not the masterpiece as many other hymns and I’d always considered it to be somewhat of an odd-ball song. I’ve played and sung it many times, including at a missionary farewell sacrament meeting with extended family for my own grandparents. But this time, my ears heard it in an entirely new way and instantly conveyed the message to my heart.
By the time the final line was sung, “I’ll be what you want me to be”, I had one of those profound, “Okay, Heavenly Father; I get it” personal revelations. I don’t know if I’ll ever experience the same feeling upon singing that hymn again, but in that moment, I was inspired beyond measure.
TallGirlRunning
President Monson’s “Hello!!!!” at the beginning of the talk where he announced six new temples.
Following the #LDSconf hashtag on twitter and knowing what the next speaker was going to talk about before he or she showed up on the lds.org live feed. My seven year old is now convinced I know EVERYTHING.
Hearing my boys say to their dad, “Hey – that’s what you do. You love mom a lot!” during Sister Dalton’s talk. And they are *ever* so right and I am one lucky woman because of it.
Laughing myself silly over The Dresses. From what a friend said, they are one of the newer ones and will be in rotation for many years to come.
And of course, the cinnamon rolls.
My sixteen-year-old taking notes and loving conference for the first time through her shiny new testimony.
Pres. Monson has some pretty good facial expressions to emphasize points in his great stories.