This year General Conference landed on Easter weekend. If it were warmer, I felt better, and my kids actually cared anymore we'd have gone on a picnic or camping, even and listened to Conference on the radio. Last Easter we were in Hawaii. This year we're watching Conference at home. Yesterday's sessions were wonderful with Elder Holland delivering a no holds barred,I'm-talking-to-YOU! message, again. I swear I never really paid attention until last fall's message.
So yesterday we watched the first session, and I discovered following it on Twitter was really cool, because people point out things that may have slipped past me. Even with the release of the I-pad Conference had a higher trend on Twitter and like someone mentioned, it IS a bit more fun than Conference Bingo. After the first session, during the 2 hour break, I spread out a couple drop cloths and let my kids dye their Easter eggs. I set about making a massive amount of potato salad. My youngest daughter loves to help me make food. We take the seasoning of the food very serious. We throw in unconventional things and it's usually a work of art. My oldest daughter checks in every 5 minutes to see if it's done yet. She is rail thin. 5'7" and still growing. I made about 2 gallons of potato salad and she eats a staggering amount. By the time I had the mess cleaned up it was time for the second session. I watched a documentary on the Shroud or Turin and found it to be less convincing in proving it's authenticity than one I watched a couple of weeks ago suggesting a masterful fake with the ingenuity of Leonardo DiVinci. My husband and I hid the girl's Easter baskets and went to bed feeling the day had been very pleasant.
I'm typing this moments before today's first session begins. My youngest has worked her way through a amount of candy in the basket I hid in too easy of a place and she woke her sister to come watch Conference. It's beginning soon, and we see beautiful shots of the temple grounds and of the temple itself. The spring flowers people waiting to get into the conference center. The cameras carefully avoid the protesters. Most are of other faiths (a lot of signs proclaiming that we don't worship the right Jesus and that we're a freaky cult) some don't believe in much of anything.
*I took a break in writing so I could listen to the morning session, Presided over by President Eyring. President Uchtdorf spoke first and if you can't be moved by him, you're possibly defective. "Do we not hope that our many imperfections will be forgiven? Only proper we extend to others what we wish for ourselves." I'm not going to mention them all, but Elder Scott is getting better with age. Our Prophet's message was, as always, amazing. President Monson has always been one of my favorite speakers and with Eyring and Uchtdorf as the First Presidency, Conference it truly an experience that lifts our spirit and gives us hope. The theme thus far has been the importance of parents teaching their children in the home (spiritually and educationally), by word and by example.
My children have often questioned me about the crucifix we see on jewelry or the buildings of other Christian denominations. Sometimes it's difficult to remember that we choose not to use the images of the crucifixion (though it's certainly taught from the beginning of their education of scripture and faith). If you don't explain it carefully, they may very well tell a member of a different faith that wearing the crucifix is bad or a sin when, in fact, our reasons are very simple to explain. We tend to focus on the birth, ministry, the atonement, AND the resurrection. Of course the crucifixion is a major part of death of Christ, the atonement and the resurrection gives us hope and the desire to become more Christ-like. So Conference this year has been inspiring and a wonderful way to get our mind off of the chocolate bunnies, Easter baskets, and the hype that tends to overshadow the true meaning of holidays based on religious beliefs (I'm sure it happens to non-Christian denomination, but it seems to be more prevalent in Christian religions.
So the protesters have always baffled me. The time, money, and effort put in to try to convince us that we are on board a useless and crazy train headed for the wrong destination. Why do they care? AND why do they care ESPECIALLY this time that it coincides with Easter. Shouldn't they be celebrating THEIR Jesus's existence, and all that comes with it, that is celebrated as a renewal. If they aren't Christian, how 'bout a positive weekend? Somewhere warm. No matter their philosophy or religion, I'm not certain it's the best way to honor it by hating on Mormons.
Time for the second session. Happy Easter! If nothing else comes from the message our leaders are giving us, spend the day in positive and happy activities with your children, your family. We CAN'T be wrong on that part.
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