I’m always on the lookout for fun Conference activities for my family. Activities that keep us quiet are good. Activities that help us listen are better. But activities that help us ACT and keep Conference in our home after the Conference weekend is over are BEST. And these fun Conference Strips will fit into that category!
These simple strips can be used in so many ways. First of all, print them out, then decide how you’re going to use them! I’ve included the following suggestions, but get creative on how they could best help YOUR family to keep Conference in your home and hearts. And to act on all you’ve heard over the weekend.
General Conference Activity Strips
There are strips for each of the Twelve Apostles, with an extra sheet of President Nelson (since we usually hear from him more often.) There is a sheet of strips with “Sister_____” for you to fill in, and then a sheet with blank lines for you to add the names of additional speakers.
Here are some ways you can use these fun strips:
Before Conference:
- Sometime in the days leading up to Conference, have each family member look up and learn something about each of the Twelve and write it out on their strip. When it’s that speakers turn, it’s fun to read a little bit about them to get to know them better. You could then add their notes of what they teach us on the strip (or on the back.) This is a great FHE to prepare for Conference!
- Have each person choose an apostle strip and have each person make a guess of what we’ll learn from him on the back. During Conference, they can take their chosen apostle and write notes on the front. When Conference is done, have each person go back and see if their guesses were right!
During Conference:
- Print a set for each individual family member, or print just one for the whole family to work on together.
- As each speaker speaks, mark the session (so you can refer to it again later) and then write down your favorite quotes, feelings, thoughts, or what you learned.
- If you print one set for the whole family, you can divvy them up between everyone. Each person would be responsible for a few speakers.
- Have the family work on each strip together. Pass each strip around as you listen to the speaker and have everyone add a thought or inspiration they have.
- Color in the little pictures as you listen, or draw your own on the speakers that aren’t from the Quorum of the Twelve. Bonus – color their ties to match the tie they’re wearing when they speak!
“The greatest blessings of general conference come to us after the conference is over. Remember the pattern recorded frequently in scripture: We gather to hear the words of the Lord and then we return home to live them.”
-Robert D. Hales
After Conference:
Listening during Conference is only half the work! The BEST part comes as we apply what we’ve learned once Conference is over.
Elder Robert D. Hales once said, “The greatest blessings of general conference come to us after the conference is over. Remember the pattern recorded frequently in scripture: We gather to hear the words of the Lord and then we return home to live them.”
Here’ are some ways you can use these strips to continue to keep Conference in your hearts in the weeks after:
- You can use these strips for upcoming FHE lessons. Simply choose one, listen / watch or study the talk together and then discuss how you can take action to apply what you’ve learned.
- Use them as a dinner time discussion. Pull one out and read it over dinner and have a short discussion. What do you remember about the talk? What have you been doing to apply the teachings? What could you do this week to take action on this talk?
- Have a Sunday devotional. Have each person grab a strip and share. Or have one person be in charge of teaching a short lesson and sharing their testimony about the talk.
- Make them into a chain. Fold each strip over lengthwise (they are a little fat if you don’t) and then staple them into a chain. Then use this chain in any of the above settings. Pull of a strip each day at dinner, each week at your Sunday devotional or FHE night.
- Put them in a “Conference basket.” Fold the strips and put them in a basket (or box, jar, bowl, hat, anything that will hold them.) Again, you can pull one out when you do one of the above activities.
- Search for them. For a fun FHE activity, hide the strips around the room. Everyone has to search for them, then share.
- Show them off. Choose one each week to display on your fridge or bulletin board. It will act as a reminder to everyone to live what they’ve learned.
p.s. If you’d like to help your family make the most of General Conference, check out my General Conference journals. They are a great way to prepare for Conference, then record your insights and impressions as you listen. The packet also includes an action plan so once Conference is over, you’ll be ready to apply what you’ve heard. And – there’s even a fun, special edition just for the kids.
I hope your Conference weekend is full of lots of listening and inspiration.
You may like these other fun ways to get ready for General Conference!
