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Contributed by: Jeannigould
http://www.jeannigould.com
Mar 16, 2008
Hi sisters,
I have shared this idea before, but believe it's worth repeating :)
I have had three successful "Prophet Parties" at my home recently, and
the girls are asking me if I'm doing it again this spring.
What's a Prophet Party? The idea, officially called "Come Listen to a
Prophet's Voice" can be a faith promoting 10 hour value project. (The
project idea is published in my YW Book/CD-Rom "PERFECT PROJECTS for
Personal Progress"--see Deseret Book or Seagull book, etc.) After I came
up with this idea, it seemed so obvious, but I'd never heard of it
before! I am so glad it is catching on!
Spring is the ideal time for this project, as that's when the 90- minute
YW General Broadcast is held (Saturday, March 29th this year). I
generally count it for Faith or Integrity. It can also be Choice &
Accountability as you choose wise use of your time, etc.
What do we do during the 8 hours of conference? We play Mia Maid (M&Ms)
bingo, chart each speaker (see the general authorities photos in the May
or November Ensigns), and other supportive activities (see the yahoo
primary groups for general authority brief bio cards, etc!).
But mostly we sit quietly and listen, taking notes in our journals.
Occasionally we'll have a short discussion of some points a speaker has
made. At the end of conference, we take 30 minutes to record our
feelings in journals. (8 hours, plus 90 min, plus 30 min = 10)
I'd love to have all my young women watch all the conference sessions
with their families. But that doesn't necessarily happen, I've
discovered. I was surprised to find that even some Laurels from active
Latter-Day Saint families had never actually listened to conference
before, or never more than one session. It would be on in the background
at their home, but they really paid no attention. Easy to sit and
silently text message instead of take notes in your journal and open
your heart . . .
My area has had conference on TV for the past 5 or 6 years - used to
have to drive 45 minutes to hear a radio broadcast at the Stake Center,
and only a handful of people attended. Are we taking this gift for
granted? I am pleased to say that girls who have attended my "Prophet
Party" once, tend to come again the next conference.
I invite each girl to bring a treat to share, and I provide "PP
Pepperoni Pizza and Pop" in the break.
Hope you try it and enjoy conference through fresh eyes.
Previous
Comments made: Tue Oct 3, 2006
My Prophet
Party can fulfill Personal Progress goals. I serve Pepperoni Pizza and
Pop between sessions, wear a Purple or Polka dot shirt, you get the
idea. Some girls are a little hyper - this is a quiet and calm party by
intention though of course I provide conference activities: match the
apostles, Mia Maid (M&M) bingo, etc. I had a Laurel (from a strong LDS
family) tell me she had never actually watched conference before. This
was during last April conference. And she came again this weekend! A
Perfect Payoff. And a good example to the new Beehives attending, as she
is cool. This party is optional of course. Ideally the YW would watch
with their families, but I live in the real world... The Beehives
attending were thrilled when I pointed out that the podium, made from
President Hinckley's black walnut tree, has decorative carvings
especially in honor of them ;-)
We Participate fully in all sessions - singing along with the choir,
folding our arms during prayer,
taking careful journal notes, standing when the Prophet enters and
leaves, sustaining the leaders, etc.) And then our beloved Prophet and
President BLEW A KISS straight to us at the end! How sweet was that?! My
girls were soo happy and excited.
Favorite scripture of the weekend - from Elder Holland. "My hand is
stretched out still. I shall lengthen out my arm...all the day long."
The Lord's hand is stretched out all the day long in hopes we will turn
to him. He will be with us through our sins and our suffering, for
Christ suffered greater than us all. Then he rose on Sunday. Elder
Holland said that in our own lives also that "Sunday will come"! I
thought it was a beautiful talk.
(Whoops -
the "Sunday will come" comment came from Elder Wirthlin. Elder Wirthlin
spoke of the resurrection after that terrible Friday. He said, we will
all have our Fridays, but I testify that Sunday will come. He also
discussed how the disciples, afterward, did not go back to their regular
lives, but continued to testify of the truth.)
So many of our youth feel hopeless and as if they can't come back from
sin. Yet we know the Lord is reaching out to ALL of us. "He can make
each of us clean again. Even you," as Elder Shayne M. Bowen so
powerfully said. Side note: Can't believe that group of youth really
took a girl hiking without mentioning the 4 hour religious breaks...
I also noticed that FOUR separate times, by four separate speakers, a
particular scripture was quoted: "Come unto me, all ye who are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest. For my yoke is easy and my burden is
light." (Shared by Elder Oakes, President Faust, Sis Elaine Dalton (YW
counselor), and Elder Anthony D. Perkins of the 70!)
That hit me as a strong message of this conference. The gospel can bring
us comfort, peace and happiness, as we come to know the Savior. Related
to Elder Holland's talk as well. I think there is something I am meant
to understand here. (Though I've already written and recorded a song
with this beautiful scripture as inspiration ("Come to the Savior" duet
from 'We Are Daughters' music CD).
During the 2 hour break from 11-1 on Sunday we watched John Bytheway's
'Standards Night Live' DVD (112 minutes) which is excellent, bytheway
;-) This makes a total of...10 hours!!!
I feel Conference gets better and better each year. (It may be related
to my own maturity level?) I so enjoyed sharing thoughts and
understandings with these young women as we listened to our beloved
prophet's voice.
Jeanni Gould
Activities & Thoughts
Personal Progress
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