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Reflect and Connect

How do you prepare for General Conference?

Read how BYU employees respond to this question.

General Conference is a really special weekend for our family. When our children were small, we helped them prepare materials that would assist them to stay reverent and listen to the conference messages as much as they were able. They liked to watch conference sessions in a play tent because we had shared with them that King Benjamin's message to his people (who gathered in tents to hear him) was sort of like the first general conference. As they got older, we encouraged them to pray about questions or concerns they could be pondering as we went into general conference weekend, and we promised that they would find answers and guidance if they listened carefully and prayerfully. And they did! We also make a big deal of the food we prepare and eat during the weekend and make sure everyone has a way to take notes according to however they like to do it (some use laptops or tablets; some use notebooks; one daughter takes notes and draws little pictures to make them memorable to her). We provide comfortable spaces and make sure we show how excited we are for conference. We don't treat it as something we need to "make time for" and move other things around; we think of it as a destination weekend that is exciting and nourishing to our spirits and our family unity. We feel this effort has paid off: our children (who are all grown now, aged 27 to 18) all greatly enjoy conference, and make the effort themselves to ensure it's a spiritually (and gastronomically!) satisfying experience. Our oldest daughter is attending graduate school in Great Britain, and she and I were texting back and forth today about our respective general conference plans. It fills my heart with joy to know that this is so!

Stacey Kratz, External Relations

I prepare for General Conference in two ways: 1. Re-read all of the talks from the last General Conference 2. Prayerfully decide on one or more questions I hope to have answered during this General Conference.

Sarah Cook, Enrollment Services