General Conference Activity Ideas, April 2012

It's never to early to prepare for conference. . LDS General Conference is March 31-April 1 this year. Here is my updated list of possible activities and activity pages for you to check out. All links have been verified.

I organized the list into subject/sections and removed outdated/broken links.  All links new, new to me, or updated for April are marked with an asterisk*. Any additions or updates after today are marked with a double asterisk**. If you have new sites to offer, please let me know. Many of these are lists or multiple pages and you can click through them to assemble a packet or set of activities perfect for your children.

Activities/Games
**Activity Bags from Craft Critters.  These are so neat.
**Conference Stations from We Talk of Christ
*Conference Train from Little Family Fun
*Conference Bingo from LDS Handouts
Conference Jenga from Little LDS Ideas

Apostle Matching Cards from A Year of FHE

Coloring Pages from LDS Clip Art

Conference Bingo from Oopsy Daisy

I Spy the Prophet Game from We Talk of Christ
General Conference Games from Lady Create-a-lot
Fall conference coloring sheet from A Little Tipsy
General Conference activity list from Sugardoodle  (scroll to the bottom for a list)
Activity pages from The Friend
Multiple Activity Pages from The Idea Door, including one for youth
LDS Word Search puzzles from LDS Resources
Really cute General Conference Memory Game from Beehive Messages
LDS Crossword Puzzles from About.com
Apostle Naming Game from Suite101--good for toddlers who might like matching-type games
Conference Activities from lds.org
Dot-to-Dot Activities from My CTR Ring
Fill in the Blank Pages from My CTR Ring
General Conference FHE Ideas from Suite101
Ideas for Toddler and Preschool Age from FHE Planner
Assorted activities at Mormon Chic
Conference Bingo from The Friend
Lots of various links from About.com (lots of fun printable packets)
Activity pages from Pratt's FHE Idea Box
Preschool activity packet from Sharing Ideas is Fun to Do

Ideas for Conference Weekend at Hugs and Giggles

After Conference FHE Ideas
*Using General Conference quotes in your home from The Redheaded Hostess
*General Conference Recap at Cookie Nut Creations
Conference Question Jar at Prepared not Scared
Conference Ideas for FHE from Little LDS Ideas

Conference Kits/Baskets
*Kid Baskets at Homemaking Fun
Conference Kits at Gluesticks

General/Assorted Ideas
*Lots of Ideas from The Redheaded Hostess (check out the comments section of the post)
*General Conference Ideas from We Talk of Christ  (love the Lego suggestions!)
*General Conference Book Club from Diapers and Divinity
*Tons of great ideas from The Lund Family Blog
*Conference Bags from The Things I Love.  Awesome idea!
Ideas at Inkablinka
Lots of Ideas from A Year of FHE
Great ideas from Latter-Day Chatter
Lots ideas from Blue Skies Ahead  Love the conference socks
General Conference Traditions from Chocolate on My Cranium
Activity Ideas from Lady Create-a-lot
Suggestions from A House of...
Conference ideas from Cookie Nut Creations
Lots of Ideas at Little LDS Ideas
Tips and activities from Discover the Scriptures
Lots of ideas and links from Food Storage and Beyond
Some general ideas for General Conference
General Conference Wall from We Talk of Christ

Gifts for Others 
*Conference kit to give as a Visiting Teacher from Every Day Food Storage
M&Ms of Conference from Let the Games Begin
Conference Trail Mix from A Mama B's
Conference Care Kit Idea from Shauna and Co.
Conference Kit from A Bushel and A Peck
Conference Baskets as gifts
Cute activity bags to do for a primary class from Fluffy Bunny Feet Designs


Journals/Note Taking
**Conference worksheets/note taking from Nathan Richardson
*Conference journal from VisitingTeaching.net
*Conference notebook from the Ensign for post-conference study
*Conference journals and other ideas from Prepared Not Scared
*Conference journaling for YW from Sugardoodle
Note taking downloads from Holy Handouts
Conference journals from A Bushel and a Peck
Note taking ideas from The Redheaded Hostess

Packets
**Activity packet from Somewhat Simple
*Packet for preschoolers from Sharing Ideas is Fun to Do
*Packet from Jenny Phillips.net
*April 2012 Packets from Sugardoodle
*2012 Packets and Activities from Food Storage and Beyond
2011 Conference Packets at Scriptures4Kids (nursery, junior/senior primary and YM/YW)
October 2011 packet from Sugardoodle
Conference Packet from Magnify = Simplify
Conference Packet from Beehive Messages
Conference Ideas and links at LDS Resources
Activity packet from Deseret Book

Preparing for Conference
Preparing Yourself for Conference from Diapers and Divinity
10 Ideas for a meaningful conference for children from Mormon Times

Making Conference Memorable from Mormon Momma

Ideas to prepare for General Conference
Staying awake during General Conference

Rewards/Treat Ideas
Ideas from The R House
Conference Store ideas from A Mama B's
General Conference Treat Buckets at Brown Paper Packages
General Conference Ideas (Candy Lei Countdown) and Linky Party at A Mama B's
Conference Baggies from Sugardoodle (I love this idea!)

Tents
Pitch your tent for Conference from Latter-day Homeschooling
Conference Gathering based on King Benjamin at Chasing Molly

As always, thanks to those who actually do the work and put these packets and pages together. I have the easy job of simply compiling them.

Have fun! If this information has been helpful, please leave me a comment and let me know.

(dis)Abilities and the Gospel...Review

About the book:
Each day, parents and Church leaders struggle to teach individuals with special needs. Using real-life stories and a touch of humor, this inspiring book guides you to teach effectively, overcome communication barriers, and build strong relationships with people of all ages with disabilities. Discover each person's ability to learn and grow as you help them feel like a valuable part of your life.

Having a son who has Asperger's, I was very anxious to read (dis)Abilities and the Gospel. I think this is a long-needed and much welcome resource. The authors speak from personal experience as each has children with special needs.

The book is one you can read straight through, but it's also one that you can pick up and just search or read a chapter. General information about special needs as well as specific information about particular diagnoses is included. I particularly appreciated that there are chapters covering different ages/stages: Primary, Young Men/Young Women/Adults and Families. There are hints and suggestions for both parents and teachers. Suggestions on not only how to survive getting through Sacrament Meeting, but how to teach special needs children about prayer, and about Heavenly Father, scouting, etc.

This is a fantastic resource. I think that every ward should have a copy and every auxiliary president as well as any teacher who has a special needs child in their class should read it.

While written from an LDS perspective, this is a book that is applicable and adaptable to any denomination or classroom.

Thanks to Mariah at Cedar Fort Publishing for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Danyelle Ferguson here and Lynn Parsons here. You can purchase your own copy here.

Read 11/11

* * * * *
5/5 Stars

General Conference Activity Ideas, October 2011

It's that time again. LDS General Conference is October 1st and 2nd this year. Here is my updated list of possible activities and activity pages for you to check out. All links have been verified.

Some links are from 2007 or earlier, but are still available. All links new, new to me, or updated for October are marked with an asterisk*. Any additions or updates after today are marked with a double asterisk**. If you have new sites to offer, please let me know. Many of these are lists or multiple pages and you can click through them to assemble a packet or set of activities perfect for your children.

**Conference Bags from The Things I Love.  Awesome idea!
**Cute activity bags to do for a primary class from Fluffy Bunny Feet Designs
**Lots of Ideas from A Year of FHE
**Ideas from The R House
**Great ideas from Latter-Day Chatter
**Note taking downloads from Holy Handouts
**Conference journals from A Bushel and a Peck
**Lots ideas from Blue Skies Ahead  Love the conference socks
**General Conference Traditions from Chocolate on My Cranium
**Preparing Yourself for Conference from Diapers and Divinity
**M&Ms of Conference from Let the Games Begin
**2011 Conference Packets at Scriptures4Kids (nursery, junior/senior primary and YM/YW)
**Pitch your tent for Conference from Latter-day Homeschooling
**Activity Ideas from Lady Create-a-lot
**Conference Kits at Gluesticks
**Ideas at Inkablinka
**Conference Jenga from Little LDS Ideas
**Note taking ideas from The Redheaded Hostess
**Conference Trail Mix from A Mama B's
**Conference Store ideas from A Mama B's
**Coloring Pages from LDS Clip Art
**Apostle Matching Cards from A Year of FHE
**Suggestions from A House of...

*October 2011 packet from Sugardoodle
*Conference Baggies from Sugardoodle (I love this idea!)
*Conference Bingo from Oopsy Daisy
*Conference Care Kit Idea from Shauna and Co.
*Conference Kit from A Bushel and A Peck
*Conference ideas from Cookie Nut Creations
*Lots of Ideas at Little LDS Ideas
*Conference Question Jar at Prepared not Scared
*Conference Gathering based on King Benjamin at Chasing Molly

General Conference Treat Buckets at Brown Paper Packages
Conference Packet from Magnify = Simplify
Conference Packet from Beehive Messages
General Conference Wall from We Talk of Christ
Conference Ideas for FHE from Little LDS Ideas
I Spy the Prophet Game from We Talk of Christ
Kids Conference Store from A Mama B's
General Conference Games from Lady Create-a-lot
Fall conference coloring sheet from A Little Tipsy

General Conference Ideas (Candy Lei Countdown) and Linky Party at A Mama B's
Conference Ideas and links at LDS Resources


General Conference activity list from Sugardoodle  (scroll to the bottom for a list)

Tips and activities from Discover the Scriptures
Lots of ideas and links from Food Storage and Beyond
Really cute General Conference Memory Game from Beehive Messages

Conference Packet from Magnify = Simplify
Conference Activities from lds.org
Dot-to-Dot Activities from My CTR Ring
Fill in the Blank Pages from My CTR Ring
General Conference FHE Ideas from Suite101
Ideas for Toddler and Preschool Age from FHE Planner

Activity pages from The Friend
Multiple Activity Pages from The Idea Door, including one for youth
LDS Word Search puzzles from LDS Resources
Conference Baskets as gifts
LDS Crossword Puzzles from About.com

10 Ideas for a meaningful conference for children from Mormon Times
Apostle Naming Game from Suite101--good for toddlers who might like matching-type games
Assorted activities at Mormon Chic
Activity packet from Deseret Book

Making Conference Memorable from Mormon Momma
General Conference Baskets from Creative Holiday Gift Ideas
Conference Bingo from The Friend
Lots of various links from About.com (lots of fun printable packets)

Activity pages from Pratt's FHE Idea Box
Some general ideas for General Conference
Ideas to prepare for General Conference
Staying awake during General Conference
Ideas for Conference Weekend at Hugs and Giggles
Preschool activity packet from Sharing Ideas is Fun to Do

As always, thanks to those who actually do the work and put these packets and pages together. I have the easy job of simply compiling them.

Have fun! If this information has been helpful, please leave me a comment and let me know.

Mormon Messages

I love the Mormon Messages videos.  They are fantastic lessons and lesson helps.

We have a child with Asperger's and sometimes formal FHE lessons just don't work.  Some days I know he will be ok with longer lessons and other days I know that we need something short and sweet.  The Mormon Messages are terrific for this.



For our lesson this past Monday, we wanted to follow-up and reinforce the Easter messages of Christ's resurrection.  We gathered around the computer and watched His Sacred Name: An Easter Declaration which is the video I posted for my Easter message here on the blog.  It's not quite 3 minutes long.  Afterwards we asked a couple of questions about it and realized from our children's answers that they have a basic understanding of the Atonement and Jesus Christ.  It was, literally, a 5-6 minute lesson, but a very moving one where we all felt the spirit.

You can find Mormon Messages on YouTube and the Church's website.  They cover a wide range of topics.

Happy Easter

General Conference Activity Ideas, April 2011

It's that time again. LDS General Conference is April 2nd and 3rd this year. Here is my updated list of possible activities and activity pages for you to check out. All links have been verified.

Some links are from 2007 or earlier, but are still available. All links new, new to me, or updated for April are marked with an asterisk*. Any additions or updates after today are marked with a double asterisk**. If you have new sites to offer, please let me know. Many of these are lists or multiple pages and you can click through them to assemble a packet or set of activities perfect for your children.

**General Conference Treat Buckets at Brown Paper Packages
**Conference Packet from Magnify = Simplify
**Conference Packet from Beehive Messages
**Activity pages from LDS Primary Blog
**General Conference Wall from We Talk of Christ
**Conference Ideas for FHE from Little LDS Ideas
**I Spy the Prophet Game from We Talk of Christ
**Kids Conference Store from A Mama B's
**General Conference Games from Lady Create-a-lot

*General Conference Ideas (Candy Lei Countdown) and Linky Party at A Mama B's

*Conference Ideas and links at LDS Resources
*April 2011 packet from Sugardoodle

General Conference activity list from Sugardoodle  (scroll to the bottom for a list)
Packet from newlds.org
2010 Conference Packets at Scriptures4Kids (With Melanie at Sugardoodle: nursery, junior/senior primary and YM/YW)

2010 Easter-related Conference activities at A Little Tipsy
Tips and activities from Discover the Scriptures
Lots of ideas and links from Food Storage and Beyond
Really cute General Conference Memory Game from Beehive Messages

Conference Packet from Magnify = Simplify
Conference Activities from lds.org
April 2010 Conference Packet from Beehive Messages
Dot-to-Dot Activities from My CTR Ring
Fill in the Blank Pages from My CTR Ring
General Conference FHE Ideas from Suite101
Ideas for Toddler and Preschool Age from FHE Planner

Activity pages from The Friend
Multiple Activity Pages from The Idea Door, including one for youth
LDS Word Search puzzles from LDS Resources
Conference Baskets as gifts
LDS Crossword Puzzles from About.com


10 Ideas for a meaningful conference for children from Mormon Times
2009 General Conference Printables from Visiting Teaching

Apostle Naming Game from Suite101--good for toddlers who might like matching-type games
Assorted activities at Mommy Chic
Activity packet from Deseret Book

Making Conference Memorable from Mormon Momma
General Conference Baskets from Creative Holiday Gift Ideas
Conference Bingo from The Friend
Lots of various links from About.com (lots of fun printable packets)

Activity pages from Pratt's FHE Idea Box
Some general ideas for General Conference
Ideas to prepare for General Conference
Staying awake during General Conference
Ideas for Conference Weekend at Hugs and Giggles
Preschool activity packet from Sharing Ideas is Fun to Do

As always, thanks to those who actually do the work and put these packets and pages together. I have the easy job of simply compiling them.

Have fun! If this information has been helpful, please leave me a comment and let me know.

New FHE Site

Cool.  The Church has a new website devoted completely, to Family Home Evening. 

Lots of links.  Lots of ideas.  All in one place.

It also has an "Our Most Memorable Family Home Evening" feature, which looks neat.

Check it out here.

Merry Christmas

The secret of Christmas,
Is not the things you do at Christmas time
But the Christmas things you do
All year through.

Happy Thanksgiving

Photo used with permission from Rosehaven Cottage.

Thanksgiving: 

1: the act of giving thanks

2: a prayer expressing gratitude

3: a public acknowledgment or celebration of divine goodness

"To express gratitude is gracious and honorable, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven."  --Thomas S. Monson

General Conference Activity Ideas, October 2010

It's that time again. LDS General Conference is October 2nd and 3rd this year. Here is my updated list of possible activities and activity pages for you to check out. All links have been verified.

Some links are from 2007 or earlier, but are still available. All links new, new to me, or updated for October are marked with an asterisk*. Any additions or updates after today are marked with a double asterisk**. If you have new sites to offer, please let me know. Many of these are lists or multiple pages and you can click through them to assemble a packet or set of activities perfect for your children.

**Tips and activities from Discover the Scriptures
**Lots of ideas and links from Food Storage and Beyond
**Pumpkin Conference Coloring Page from A Little Tipsy
**Packet from LDS Resources
**Packet from newlds.org

*2010 Conference Packets at Scriptures4Kids (In conjunction with Melanie at Sugardoodle.  It includes nursery, junior and senior primary and youth)

*General Conference Memory Game from Beehive Messages
*October 2010 Conference Packet from Magnify = Simplify
*Conference Activities from lds.org
*April 2012 Conference Packet from Beehive Messages
*Dot-to-Dot Activities from My CTR Ring
*Fill in the Blank Pages from My CTR Ring
*General Conference FHE Ideas from Suite101
*Ideas for Toddler and Preschool Age from FHE Planner

General Conference activity list from Sugardoodle  (scroll to the bottom for a list)
Activity pages from The Friend
Multiple Activity Pages from The Idea Door, including one for youth
LDS Word Search puzzles from LDS Resources
Conference Baskets as gifts
LDS Crossword Puzzles from About.com
Assorted ideas from Mormon Share
10 Ideas for a meaningful conference for children from Mormon Times
2009 General Conference Printables from Visiting Teaching
General activity ideas from Suite101
Apostle Naming Game from Suite101--good for toddlers who might like matching-type games
Assorted activities at Mommy Chic
Activity packet from Deseret Book
Easter-related Conference activities at A Little Tipsy
April 2010 Conference Packet from Sugardoodle
October 2009 Conference Packet from Sugardoodle


Making Conference Memorable from Mormon Momma
General Conference Baskets from Creative Holiday Gift Ideas
Conference Bingo from The Friend
Lots of various links from About.com (lots of fun printable packets)
Activity pages from Pratt's FHE Idea Box
General Conference Coloring Book from Sugardoodle
Coloring pages from The Friend magazine
Some general ideas for General Conference
YW Conference Worksheet (from 2008)
Ideas to prepare for General Conference
Staying awake during General Conference
Ideas for Conference Weekend at Hugs and Giggles
Preschool activity packet from Sharing Ideas is Fun to Do

As always, thanks to those who actually do the work and put these packets and pages together. I have the easy job of simply compiling them.

Have fun! If this information has been helpful, please leave me a comment and let me know.

FHE Lesson: Gospel Principles---The Creation

Lesson 5 of the Gospel Principles manual is called, "The Creation". The original lesson can be found online, here.
---------------------------------------------------------------
This was a great, straight-forward lesson.

The first question: Why did we need to come to earth?  is a perfect way to reinforce the Plan of Salvation, which was taught in Lesson 2 of the Gospel Principles manual.

Next we asked:  Who created the earth?  
The answer is obviously Jesus, but He was instructed by Heavenly Father.

How did He create the earth?
With the priesthood, and ours isn't the only world He created.  This answer is in the book, but the discussions will be far ranging depending on the age and interests of your family. 

The days of the creation:
Each of the 6 days of creation is briefly discussed.  For young children, this is a perfect time to use a coloring activity or flannel board story or some kind of visual aid.  Photos are available from Church Distribution in the Gospel Art Kit, Visual Aid Cutouts, and online in the Friend.

End with the question: How do God's creations show that He loves us?
The explanation in the book is terrific, and the answers from your children may surprise you as well.

Additional Resources: 
The Creation, fabulous activities and lessons from Sugardoodle 
God's Love for His Children, April 1998 Friend
Creation Coloring Page, January 2010 Friend
All Things Bright and Beautiful,  November 1988 Friend
Heavenly Father and Jehovah Created the World, February 2010 Friend
The Creation--Each Day a Gift, November 1998 Friend

FHE Lesson: Gospel Principles--Freedom to Choose

Lesson 4 of the Gospel Principles manual is called, "Freedom to Choose". The original lesson can be found online, here.
---------------------------------------------------
We used this lesson to talk about choices.  Because our boys are at different levels and abilities of understanding, we spontaneously ended up having two small lessons within the lesson, as we talked and explained to their levels of understanding.

We talked about consequences and what they are and that every choice we make has a consequence; some are good consequences and some are bad.

The main point or principle that we ended up really focusing on and discussing because of the way our children directed the lesson with their questions, was that Heavenly Father wants us to be happy.  He is happy and he loves us and he wants us to be just like Him and to live with him.

As with all of our FHE lessons, because of questions from our children, sometimes they take a different turn than what we had originally planned.  We have found that it's important to be flexible and to teach by the Spirit. 

The nice thing about Family Home Evening is that you tailor it for your family. Have a plan, have an idea.  Know the points or principles you want to teach.  Then see where it goes.  To me, the most important thing about having FHE is to teach your family and teaching your family always goes better when everyone is involved and when discussions arise from the questions your children pose, rather than following a rigid outline someone else has put together.

Non-Traditional FHE

We are not always traditional when it comes to our Family Home Evenings.

We don't follow the standard order of things: prayer, scripture, song, lesson, activity, talent, prayer, etc. We always have prayer, we don't always do a song. We don't always have our FHE on Monday night, either.

One of the things that I have come to realize is that each family and each situation is different. Whether it's FHE or something else, the most important thing is consistency. Sometimes we have family prayer in the car, in the morning, before heading off to drop children off at school. Sometimes I have had family prayer more than one time in the morning; once with each child, if they are not up at the same time. It might not be a traditional family kneeling in a circle, but we have consistent family prayer.

When it comes to FHE, some people have it on Sunday. Others are strict in their formats: always a song and scripture and lesson and talent. You need to do whatever works for your family and often that means reevaluating.

This past week, my husband was off work on Monday, and our children were off school. So, our FHE was our day trip to another part of Idaho. We knew we would not get home in time t have a traditional FHE, so instead of having our Fun FHE later in the month, we did it today, as a day trip. We did not have a "lesson" nor did we have a song or talent, etc. But, we often try and incorporate gospel lessons into our every day conversations and activities, and we were perfectly comfortable doing this yesterday.

When you have young children, your lessons are often shorter. A former bishop's wife used to call FHE, her Family Home Moment, when her children were very young. As they get older, you can incorporate longer, more advanced lessons.

Consistency matters. Like Elder Bednar said in his October 2009 conference talk, "Today if you could ask our adult sons what they remember about family prayer, scripture study, and family home evening, I believe I know how they would answer. They likely would not identify a particular prayer or a specific instance of scripture study or an especially meaningful family home evening lesson as the defining moment in their spiritual development. What they would say they remember is that as a family we were consistent.

Sister Bednar and I thought helping our sons understand the content of a particular lesson or a specific scripture was the ultimate outcome. But such a result does not occur each time we study or pray or learn together. The consistency of our intent and work was perhaps the greatest lesson—a lesson we did not fully appreciate at the time." Ensign, Nov 2009, 17–20

FHE Schedules and Planning

Last year, I was looking for someway to revamp the way we do Family Home Evening. A friend of mine shared with me, her family's way of doing FHE which was to schedule lessons, etc. We finally decided to implement something similar and I love it.

1st Monday: Lesson
2nd Monday: Family Learning
3rd Monday: Lesson
4th Monday: Fun
5th Monday: Service Project

I don't plan to go in this particular order every month. Some months we might have two lessons in a row or mix it up. We are using the Gospel Principles manual for our lessons this year, which eliminates trying to figure out what to teach each week.

For fun, you can do anything: you're only limited by your imagination and interests. On this past Monday, our fun FHE was to watch the newest episode of Doctor Who together. We hadn't seen it yet and it is one of our favorite television shows. Now that the weather is warmer, we will be venturing outside more.

For Family Learning, I am going to do things like teach my boys how to do a load of laundry, and iron a shirt or properly load the dishwasher, clean a toilet, etc. We may even incorporate Faith in God/Duty to God/Scouting requirements in there.

I love schedules and having a plan. It means we're more likely to have FHE and it means we stay consistent, which is so important to me.