My kids are excited for "Superbowl" Conference

This weekend is a very special time for Latter-day Saints around the world. Known as “Conference Weekend,” members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spend time during the weekend listening to the Lord’s chosen prophet, His 12 apostles, and other general authorities of the Church.

Conference happens twice a year, on the first weekend in April and the first weekend in October. This year "Conference Weekend" coincides with the celebration of Easter and I can think of no better way to spend it than listening to talks about the Savior, His life, love and example.

During conference the Lord's called and ordained leaders offer words of encouragement and counsel. Using the Spirit, scriptures, wisdom, personal stories, clarity, warmth and even humor they help lift us above the things of this world. Common topics include the Savior and His atoning sacrifice for us, how we can better keep the commandments, the need for repentance from weaknesses big and small, and how to remain hopeful in an increasingly darkening world.

While talking about the Lord’s plan for our salvation and happiness, they teach us about the sanctity of marriage and share ways we can build better, happier marriages. They offer parents hope and insight during the struggles of raising children. They talk of the importance of forgiving others, serving others, comforting others. You cannot listen to their talks without feeling the Savior’s love. Through that love you feel better about yourself and those around you. Suddenly life is easier, the way more clear, and Christ closer.

Despite the wonderful Spirit and eternal messages, though, teenagers and young children often struggle with listening to conference. For years we had to coax, encourage…at times require…that our children watch at least one session of conference over the weekend. Now all of our children eagerly gather in the room to watch and stay awake for almost all four sessions.

The difference?

Food!

My sister-in-law told us of something they did in their home. We tried it, and it worked. My children have named it “Superbowl Conference.”

Prior to each session we fill bowls with a variety of snacks. (We use different snacks at each session so they don’t get bored with the snacks.) I let the children label each bowl with a word they think we will hear during conference. They choose words such as repentance, Jesus, baptism, prayer and others. Then, during conference, if they want to take a snack they have to wait for the appropriate word.

It is fun to see everyone diving for a Holy Ghost chip or a scripture M&M. Some speakers will wipe out an entire supply of prayer grapes while others will send my family snacking through all the bowls. (Over the years we have learned to include healthy snacks as well, such as grapes, apple pieces, dried fruits, nuts, cheeses, jerky, etc.)

Food really does help our family feast on the words of Christ!

The Church is also helping families with children keep them involved before, during and after conference. They have a new Web site filled with a variety of activities for all ages. There are coloring pages and games to print off and take with you. For fun at home there are also matching games on the computer, slideshows and videos, stories to listen to and ideas for things to make and do. If your children are Matt and Mandy fans they also have a section just for them.

The games are not just for conference but any time. Here is the link. Some of the games take a while to load, but they are a fun, entertaining ways to encourage them to listen and learn.

LDS Conference Games for Children

Thanks to modern technology, anyone can watch conference on television, by satellite, over the internet at lds.org (see link below), or get printed copies of the talks to read. If I counted right they can listen to conference in 67 different languages and get printed copies of it in just as many. Copies of past conference talks are also available and all of it is for free. For more information on the conference broadcasts, go to

LDS General Conference Page

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You have updates coming...A Mormon looks at living prophets and the Bible

“Adam’s revelation did not instruct Noah to build his ark; nor did Noah’s revelation tell Lot to forsake Sodom. These all had revelations for themselves…and so must we, or we shall make a shipwreck.” (Harold B. Lee)

To most of the “modern” world the prophets are dead and they “stone” those who proclaim otherwise, calling them deceived and their prophets false.

Yet the Bible boldly proclaims that the Savior of our world is “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

He has not changed. What he did yesterday he still does today. That means the comforting promise given in Amos 3:7 is still valid: “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”

Since Hebrews is true, then Amos 3:7 is also still in force. If God worked through prophets yesterday, then he must still work through prophets today.

That also means the leadership organization which Christ put in place during the meridian of time is still His one and true organization. His church then was built on a “foundation of the apostles and prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.”

For Him to be the same, unchanging God, that organization must remain today.

In fact Paul declared why. “He gave some apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers: For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…”

And here is the part that we must not overlook…

“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God…That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”

That church organization, with prophets and apostles, was established by Christ and must continue until we all come in the unity of the faith.

Are we there yet?

Goodness, no. The world is still shattered by the different winds of doctrine, the ‘ability’ of men and women to wrest the scriptures to their own interpretation.

According to the Bible we still need a prophet and apostles to lead us. A prophet, called of God, guides us in the proper interpretation of the scriptures and doctrine. He leads us in an undeviating course through a changing world. He knows there is only "One Lord, one faith, one baptism."

A living prophet is like the computer program that tells us we have updates coming. He can give us counsel and guidance that applies to our lives; but we must agree to accept those downloads and apply them or they do us no good.

Likewise, we must accept the words of a living prophet and blend them with the words of all of God's prophets to truly have a strong foundation beneath us that will carry us through our specific times.

Noah’s revelations did not warn Lot to flee Sodom. Moses’ revelation did not prepare the apostles for the crucifixion or the modern saints to face pornography, greed, or immorality. Though their lessons are applicable to all of us, each prophet is called to guide his people through very specific trials.

I testify the Bible is true. God has not left us alone today. He has not changed. He still calls prophets to guide His children through today’s specific trials. He knows our heart-felt needs and has provided a living prophet and twelve apostles on the earth today.

For more information on the current living prophet and the Lord’s apostles, go to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints