Weekend Thoughts

(Sarah's paper dolls from her activity packet)
I've decided General Conference is like a well-attended baby shower. You get so many exciting gifts that it's hard to keep track of them all. It isn't until you take them home, examine them one by one, and decide where they fit into your life and home that you really appreciate the thoughtfulness of the gifts and how helpful they will be. This past weekend, we listened to eight hours of speakers and lovely music. Eight hours is a lot of time to dedicate to listening and learning, particularly when you have eight kids, but to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, this is an important weekend that comes twice year. We believe our Church is a modern restoration of Christ's Church, and that includes having prophets and apostles on the earth today -- we believe that our leaders are not just inspired, not just generally good, but that they have the same calling and authority as prophets did anciently. They are not perfect men, but they are men who have the calling to speak for God, and we take that seriously. So, what do modern prophets speak about for eight hours? Lots of things, but in particular their testimony and the doctrine of Christ and his Atonement and Ressurection. They also instruct us in how better to teach and rear our families, how to be better examples and more charitable, how to respond to tragedy and trial, and how to communicate with God more fully through prayer and scripture study. One of my favorite talks for its clarity and focus was about how Latter-day Saints view and honor the family and why we have children. If you've ever wondered why I or other LDS families you know have more kids than the average household, this talk is for you. Later in the week, the words of all the talks will be posted and I'll do some more extensive quotes. One of the best parts of conference for our family was the announcement that the Provo Tabernacle, which was burned in a fire last Christmas, will be turned into a temple. This is a building that has housed meetings, graduations (including DH's), concerts (including one of my BYU choir's), and more. I'd driven by it on Thursday and looked at its charred remains and felt so sad. What a great tribute to the people who sacrificed to build it in the first place to have it become a temple. Beauty for ashes. Despite the beautiful feast conference is, it can be tough on kids to pay attention that long. My kids were really, really good for the first two hours. See? They colored and took notes at the table and were amazingly quiet. The second hour, they all helped me sort through all our kid puzzles. We did every single one (probably 25 to 30 total), trying to find and match up all the homeless pieces. They weren't QUITE as good for the rest of the sessions. I heard the words "boring" and "how much longer?" more than a few times, but there wasn't any fighting and I know at least the older ones were listening. We try to make sure the weekend isn't just sitting and listening. We roasted s'mores in our backyard. We went for a walk to the duck pond yesterday, where Sarah caught a new friend and was disappointed when I wouldn't let her keep him. We enjoyed the fall colors. We let the kids play outside between sessions, where Michael led three of his sisters in an elaborate Orc-fighting game. It was a beautiful weekend.

Comments

Tristan said…
Sounds lovely! I think my oldest would have been sad not to keep a duck too. How funny.

I agree, Elder Anderson's talk on families was one of my favorites. I loved how clearly he talked of the doctrine of family!
Tracy said…
Conference was indeed beautiful. Grateful to be uplifted, and that the kids can be a part of things, too. And lucky you, quiet kids and no fighting. I'm green with envy. ;)
Emily said…
I haven't looked at your blog before. Your kids are so cute! You look like you did a GREAT job with getting ALL of them to participate in some way or another - at least for a while. Good post. Good way to spread the word that members of the LDS faith value children. I don't know if you saw Heather/Women in the Scripture's comment on my blog how it was sad that Elder Anderson had to find a non-LDS woman for that quote that he shared. There should be more like you out there sharing the happiness of their big families!
John said…
I can't believe she caught a duck! That is amazing. I love general conference. I love that I do not have to do anything except listen for a whole weekend. I can't wait to get learning all the new stuff.I thought that announcement of the second Provo Temple is awesome! Go Provo! That Temple is always busy and PACKED! I have never been there and not been in a bursting to capacity session. How neat it will be to have 2 temples in one city!
lesa said…
We had a great weekend too!
Corine Moore said…
I miss those days with little ones (even though Conference is a breeze now); it really is true that you miss the little things you think you take for granted and can live without, once they are gone! I'm glad to see you are enjoying it! :D
Corine Moore said…
(I meant... you miss the little things that are easy to take for granted; little things you might think you can live without - once they are gone.) :o
Kazzy said…
Wasn't it an awesome weekend? So excited for the tabernacle temple!

I drove past it on Saturday night and saw posters and balloons and people taking family photos. :)
I am so excited about the Tabernacle too. I love it that they are going to keep it red and keep the original feel to it. Those pioneer buildings are so incredible and it makes me happy that it won't be lost.
kacy faulconer said…
Since we've lived here I've enjoyed the bursting out of doors along our street that happens between sessions. Sam and Ben came in at exactly the right time and I asked them how they knew it was starting: "We heard Sister Bartholomew saying it was time to go in."