Our Very Survival

"The world is full of so many self-help books, so many self-proclaimed experts, so many theorists, educators and philosophers who have advice and counsel to give on any and all subjects. With technology today, information on a myriad of subjects is available with the click of a keystroke. It is easy to get caught in the trap of looking to the 'arm of flesh' for advice on everything from how to raise children to how to find happiness. While some information has merit, as members of the Church we have access to the source of pure truth, even God Himself. We would do well to search out answers to our problems and questions by investigating what the Lord has revealed through His prophets. With that same technology today, we have at our fingertips access to the words of the prophets on nearly any subject."
('Kevin R. Duncan', Our Very Survival, Ensign, November 2010)

This Should Rivet Us

“There seems to be no end to the Savior’s desire to lead us to safety. And there is constancy in the way He shows us the path. … Those means always include sending the message by the mouths of His prophets whenever people have qualified to have the prophets of God among them. Those authorized servants are always charged with warning the people, telling them the way to safety…

“In our own time, we have been warned with counsel of where to find safety from sin and from sorrow. One of the keys to recognizing those warnings is that they are repeated.

“One of the ways we may know that the warning is from the Lord is that the law of witnesses, authorized witnesses, has been invoked. When the words of prophets seem repetitive, that should rivet our attention…” — Henry B. Eyring, “Finding Safety in Counsel,” Ensign, May 1997, 24

General Conference Preparation Ideas

So I am giving a lesson tomorrow in Relief Society about the importance of listening to the living prophets (especially), and have been doing some research on ideas people have to prepare for General Conference. I thought I would share some of my favorite ideas that I've heard:

• General Conference Book Club. A Talk is posted each week from the most recent LDS Conference and you are invited to re-read it and comment on it if you'd like (www.diapersanddivinity.com).
• Do a service project during conference like making leper bandages, baby blankets, hygiene kits.
• Use it as the time to go through Food storage/ Emergency kits to replace old items, rotate winter items for summer ones, replace batteries in smoke detectors etc.
• Prepare games for kids. If you go to www.lds.org, there are activities and computer games for kids. At  www.sugardoodle.net you can find ones for all ages from nursery to youth.
• Learn about the Apostles prior to Conference: "Something we do every year is get to know the first presidency and 12 apostles. For several weeks before General Conference we review each man and learn something about him. This year I wanted to make it a little more interactive so out of the 5 we talked about that night we would do something that one of them liked to do. So the first week we made banana bread together... because Pres. Eyring likes to bake with his family. The next week we watercolored because Elder Scott likes to paint. And this week we went outside to play football since Elders Holland and Cook played (and Elder Bednar met his wife playing flag football). I think it made it a little more memorable for my boys. I am going to be posting this idea on my blog soon and I'll try to word it more clearly!"
• Have another family or some friends over for Pot luck in between sessions or after a session. We do this most years and it's always such great experience.
• DVR/TIVO Conference so you can use for FHE's during next 6 months.
• Another suggestion I read: "We do 'conference candy' I put out a candy dish and each session my husband and I pick a word and when you hear the word you can help yourself to a piece of candy (got the idea a few years ago in the Ensign and it works GREAT!!")
• I heard of a really neat tradition someone had. In their family they talk about King Benjamin's address and how everyone came and put up their tents up and listened to his message. Then the parents set up a tent in front of the TV with a mattress inside it and they have fun yummy treats and listened listen carefully to conference.
• Make a list of specific questions or issues you're working on and would like help with.
• Fast about a specific topic before Conference
• Pray, to feel the Spirit, about one or all of the things on your list, for the speakers
• Learn about the General Authorities' lives, families, etc.
• Have a Family Home Evening about General Conference (how to act during, what happens, who speaks, etc.)
• Read your Patriarchal Blessing if you have it
• Get plenty of sleep the night before
• Do all your cleaning and chores before Conference if you can
• Plan to discuss the talks after you watch Conference. This helps you pay attention because you know you'll have to have something interesting to say about it later.
• Plan to listen for which talk to focus on for your Visiting/Home Teaching lesson
• Plan and shop for meals the day before. Have a Conference food tradition.
• Find your journal or whatever you take notes in. Find a pen, too.

For FOOD IDEAS click HERE.

For more General Conference Preparation ideas, check out this awesome blog, here.

What are some things that you or your family to do prepare for it?