Getting The Most Out Of Conference

"Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all [the Prophet's] words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith. For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory."

(Doctrine and Covenants 21:4-6)

Conference is coming up on Saturday! Here are a few tips to help you prepare:

• Avoid Distraction
• Keep A Conference Journal
• Look for a Topic of Interest
• Think of a Personal Need
• Make and keep traditions -- a big breakfast, tying quilts, ice cream between sessions, etc.
• Get to Know the Speakers

Did You Know?
President Monson was born in Salt Lake City. He became bishop at the age of 23 and was ordained an Apostle at the age of 36. He served in the United States Navy during World War 2, was married in the Salt Lake Temple and has three children. He graduated from the University of Utah and got his MBA from BYU. He has received the Boy Scout Silver Beaver Award, Silver Buffalo Award, and international Scouting's highest award, the Bronze Wolf. He enjoys fishing, raising pigeons, and basketball.

President Eyring was born in New Jersey. His father was a brilliant scientist. He married Kathleen Johnson in the Logan Temple and they have six children. He holds a B.S. degree in Physics from the U of U and a Master and Doctor of Business Administration from Harvard. He is related to Spencer W. Kimball. He served a mission in the Western States Mission and served in the US Air Force. He likes to water color and cook.

President Uchtdorf was born in 1940 in Czechoslovakia. He was six years old when his family joined the Church. He was a refugee in war-torn Germany during World War Two. He joined the German Air Force in 1959 and received his pilot wings in Big Spring, Texas. He was an airline pilot for 26 years. He was married in the Bern, Switzerland Temple and has two sons. He enjoys traveling, photography, classical music and stargazing.

President Packer just turned 75 on September 10. He was born in Brigham City, and has 10 kids. He served as a bomber pilot during World War 2. He was ordained an Apostle in 1970. He served as the President of the New England Mission. He is an educator by profession and also has his Bachelors Degree from Weber State, his Masters from Utah State and his Doctorate of Education from BYU. He is an artist, and like sketching, painting, and drawing birds.

L. Tom Perry was born in Logan in 1922. He served a mission to the Northern States and then served for two years with the Marines. He received his B.S. degree in finance from Utah State University. He married Virginia Lee in the Logan Temple and has three children. His wife passed away in 1974. Two years later, he married Barbara Dayton in the Salt Lake Temple. When he was a teenager, his nickname was "Stretch" because he was so tall. He really enjoys sports.

Russell M. Nelson was born on September 9, 1924. He is an internationally known heart surgeon. He graduated with his Masters Degree from the University of Utah at the age of 23, and his PhD at the age of 30. He has performed open heart surgery on Harold B. Lee and Spencer W. Kimball. He served in the Army during the Korean War. He married Dantzel White and has 10 children, 9 daughters and 1 son. He has 55 grand children. His wife passed away in 2005. He married Wendy L. Watson in 2006. He loves music.

Dallin H. Oaks was raised in Payson! His father died when he was only eight years old, and three years later he began working to help his mother. His first job was to sweep at a radio repair shop. Because of that job, he became interested in radios. Before he was sixteen years old, he had earned his radio/telephone license and gotten a job working for a radio company. Soon after, he was working regularly as an announcer. It was while Elder Oaks was announcing a high school basketball game that he met June Dixon, whom he later married. He graduated from BYU and then went to The University of Chicago Law School where he graduated at the age of 25. He was a law clerk to the US Supreme Court and President of BYU. He has six children and enjoys fishing and camping. His wife, June, passed away in 1998. He married Kristen McCain in 2000.

M. Russell Ballard's birthday is coming up on October 8. He will be 71. He served a mission to England. Prior to his call to be an Apostle in 1985, he had interests in the automotive, real estate, and investment businesses. Both of his grandfathers were apostles and his great-grandfather was Joseph F. Smith. He was married in the Salt Lake Temple and he and his wife Barbara have seven children. His hobbies are fishing and golfing, and he enjoys fixing things.

Richard G. Scott was born in Pocatello, Idaho. When he was 5, his family moved to Washington D.C. He graduated from George Washington University as a mechanical engineer, and did post graduate work in nuclear engineering. He helped develop nuclear power plants for submarines and aircraft carriers. He served a mission in Uruguay. He married his wife, Jeanene in the Manti temple. They have seven children. Jeanene passed away in 1995, and Elder Scott has never remarried. His hobbies include music, painting, bird watching, and enjoying nature.

Robert D. Hales was born in New York. He is a graduate of the University of Utah and holds a master of business administration degree from Harvard. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a jet fighter pilot and intelligence officer. Professionally, he had a distinguished business career. He served in executive positions with three major national companies, and was CEO of Max Factor. He served as Mission President in the England London Mission, and has served as bishop in Weston, Massachusetts, Chicago, Illinois, and Frankfurt, Germany. He also served as a branch president in Seville, Spain. He has two sons. He enjoys baseball and playing the piano.

Jeffrey R. Holland was born in St. George. He loves sports, and was on Dixie High School’s state championship football and basketball teams and lettered in football, basketball, track, and baseball. After his mission, he was the co-captain of the Dixie College basketball team that won the conference championship. He served a mission in England. He married a cheerleader, Patricia Holland, and they have 3 kids. He received his bachelor and master degrees in English and Religious Education from BYU. He obtained master and doctor of philosophy degrees in American Studies from Yale University. He still loves sports and enjoys spending time with his family.

David A. Bednar was born in California. His father wasn't a member of the Church, but was baptized by Elder Bednar after Elder Bednar returned from his mission in Southern Germany. He attended BYU, where he received a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. He also received a doctoral degree in organizational behavior from Purdue. He was President of Ricks College and helped the school make the transition to a four-year university (BYU–Idaho). He was also an assistant professor at Texas Tech University and a professor of management at the University of Arkansas. He was He and his wife Susan were married in the Salt Lake Temple. They have three sons.

Quentin L. Cook was born in Logan and is the great-great grandson of Heber C. Kimball. He served a mission in England, where one of his companions was Jeffrey R. Holland. He married his high school sweetheart, Mary Gaddie in the Logan Temple and they have three children. He graduated from USU with a bachelor's degree in political science and from Stanford Law School. Elder Cook was the captain of his high school football team.

D. Todd Christofferson was born in American Fork and grew up in Pleasant Grove. He served as a missionary in Argentina. He earned his bachelor’s degree from BYU, where he was a Hinckley Scholar, and earned his law degree from Duke University. He began his law career as a law clerk to Judge John J. Sirica during the Watergate hearings. He and his wife, Katherine, were married in the Salt Lake Temple and are parents of five children.

Neil L. Andersen was born in Logan, and raised in Pocatello, Idaho on a dairy farm. He served a mission in France, and later served as the Mission President in France. He graduated from BYU, where he was a Hinckley Scholar, and earned a masters of business administration from Harvard. He supervised Church audiovisual production, including the filming of The Testaments: Of One Fold and One Shepherd and managed construction of the broadcast facilities in the Conference Center as the executive director of the Church Audiovisual Department. He speaks four languages, English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. He and his wife have four children.

{We live in an amazing time!} You can find activity packets for your little ones (and even big ones) here, here, or here. Just download and print!

So please, please take advantage of Conference this weekend! Think of a need you have right now....concern for a family member or friend, help with a calling, strength to overcome a trial or temptation....write your concern down in your journal, and then see what they brethren have to say to you! The Lord will answer your prayers!

Happy Conferencing!