Preparing For General Conference

The Church Starts preparations for General Conference in Advance… Shouldn’t we too??? General Conference is one of my favorite times of the year!!! I love hearing from the leaders of the church. When the conference is over I always feel recharged and excited to make changes and improvements. It is a time of reflection and learning. 

I wanted to share some ways to prepare for this special weekend so that we are able to capitalize on this event that only happens twice a year.

1= Block out the Days for both 

Saturday and Sunday Sessions

The first key is to block out the time of General Conference. This looks different depending what season of life you are in. When I was young my Mother knew it would be hard to contain four troublemakers for the both sessions on Saturday. So my parents planned to take us on a picnic that just happened to be a few hours away. We would be restrained and listening while we drove and then during the break we would have lunch and play and then drive home also listening to conference. When we were older we would play bingo and get treats for answering questions. Now that it’s just Caleb and I we try to make sure we don’t make any plans and we watch and take notes from the session. I am a firm believer that when we take time for General Conference we are greatly blessed for our efforts. When we make little efforts it not only teaches patterns but it is also those small steps that make the biggest difference. 

2= Prepare Questions

Elder Neil L. Anderson said, “As you listen, the messages you receive may be very literal or they may be customized just for you.

I promise you that as you prepare your spirit and come with the anticipation that you will hear the voice of the Lord, thoughts and feelings will come into your mind that are customized especially for you. You have already felt them in this conference, or you will as you study the messages in the weeks ahead.”

  

Coming with questions to general conference, gives me something to look for while listening to the meetings. I have received many answers during the meeting and find even more when I study the talks after. 

3= Have a list for improvements and changes 

that need to be made

 “President Boyd K. Packer … has a question he often asks when we have made a presentation or given some sort of exhortation to one another in the Twelve. He looks up as if to say, ‘Are you through?’ And then says to the speaker … ,“‘Therefore, what?’ I think that is what the Savior answered day in and day out as an inseparable element of His teaching and preaching. … These sermons and exhortations were to no avail if the actual lives of His disciples did not change” ---Jeffery Holland

We can't just walk away after conference and go back to the same ol things. We need to make those changes to become better. I make a list of improvements or things that I can change to be better, so that I don't forget.

Here are a few videos that go perfectly with this topic 

Video on Preparations made for conference https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-03-38-conference-behind-the-scenes?lang=eng

Our preparation affects what we gain from general conference. https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-the-living-prophets-teacher-manual-2016/chapter-6?lang=eng&query=preparing+for+general+conference

jOuRnAliNg

 I love journaling!!!!! It's right up there with Diet Coke and Caleb. I have always loved writing and recording things I am learning in life and in my gospel study. I am a creative speller but I don't let that stand in my way. 

During middle and high school I have sporadic entries from a lot of different journals that were just too cute to pass up. (I am sure you know what I am talking about... You find a journal that is so darling, soooo amazing you cannot live with out it. So you write three or four times and then a few months later there it is the newest most darling journal. So it goes the serial journals). 

I started writing consistently when I decided to go on a mission in 2008 (yikes the years are sneaking up). Since then I have filled 24 journals. I started #25 a few days ago and I finally feel like I have "the perfect set up". I wanted to share how I set up my journals. You will find that you will take tips and tricks from all over and come up with the perfect set up for yourself. 

This is one of my favorite video's that helped me know how and why to journal... It is a must see!!!!!!! Take the time and watch it!!!

https://youtu.be/51AhzkPnn6I

Each new journal includes:

Here is a video that summarizes this blog that I made:
https://youtu.be/hTUZaJn7QGc

  A cute journal=- Lets face it if you don't like the thing you won't want to reach for it. I usually like things matchy matchy but I do love to have different journals. I get them from Deseret Book, Barns & Noble, or Amazon are my favorite places to find them. You want to make sure that it has quality paper so that your writing is legible down the road. 

          Index=-This is in the first couple of pages so that I can find important or meaningful entries quick and easily. For this reason numbering the pages are key. 

This is an index filled out in one of my journals

This is a blank index so you have an idea of how to set it up

           Highlights-= Is how I tract important dates that happen during each journal. This is great to remember important dates and events at a glance. 

  Patriarchal Blessing=- I put a copy of my blessing in each journal so that I always have it with me so that when phrases or words come up I can add notes or insights. I usually write it so that I can work on memorizing it. This time I color-coded it according to warnings, blessings, and promises.

  Book List=- A list of the books I read during the journal span.

          Start and End Dates- in the front cover I add the start date that I start writing and then The last date. That way I can track event with in those dates.

My Favorite quotes about journaling

"The prompting that goes unresponded to may not be repeated. Writing down what we have been prompted with is vital. A special thought can be lost later in the day through the rough and tumble of life. God should not, and may not choose to repeat the prompting if we assign what is given such a low priority as to put it aside."

Elder Neal A Maxwell

"I've found, as I'm sure you have, that when you're trying to learn from the Lord and you feel an impression from the Spirit, it's important to make a note so it will not be forgotten. The more you not only hear but abide by what you've been told, the more the Lord will give to you. It will come more and more rapidly and you will begin to hear and feel those impressions of the Spirit more quickly than you have previously done."

Elder Gene R. Cook

"Get a notebook, my young folks, a journal that will last through all time, and maybe the angels may quote from it for eternity."

President Spencer W. Kimball

"We often leave the most precious personal direction of the Spirit unheard because we do not record and respond to the first promptings that come to us when the Lord chooses to direct us."

Elder Richard G. Scott

"Knowledge carefully recorded is knowledge available in time of need. Spiritually sensitive information should be kept in a sacred place that communicates to the Lord how you treasure it. This practice enhances the likelihood of receiving further light."

Elder Richard G. Scott

https://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/o-remember-remember-1

Love this video!!!! This video totally changed my life and how I feel about making sure we are paying attention to how the Lord is present in our lives if we are paying attention.