Finding the right lds conference activities can totally change how your family experiences General Conference weekend. Let's be real for a second—asking a bunch of kids (or even some adults) to sit still on a couch for eight to ten hours over two days is a big ask. We all start with the best intentions, but by the middle of the Saturday afternoon session, someone is usually upside down on the recliner and the toddler is trying to see if a crayon fits inside the VCR—wait, I'm showing my age—inside the game console.
The goal isn't just to keep people quiet; it's to help the messages actually sink in while keeping the atmosphere in the house peaceful. Over the years, I've seen some pretty creative ways to handle the "wiggle factor." Whether you're a parent trying to survive the weekend with your sanity intact or just someone looking to stay more focused yourself, having a plan makes a world of difference.
Getting Ready Before the Music Starts
If you wait until the opening hymn of the Saturday morning session to figure out what you're doing, you're already behind. A little prep goes a long way. Some families like to do a "Conference Store" where kids earn play money or tokens for listening and can "buy" treats or small toys during the breaks.
It helps to have a dedicated basket or bin for your lds conference activities. Throw in some fresh crayons, some printed packets, and maybe a few quiet toys that only come out twice a year. There's something about the novelty of a "special" toy that keeps a kid's attention way longer than the stuff they see every day.
The Classic Conference Packet Approach
You can't talk about conference without mentioning the classic printed packets. There are tons of talented people online who create these every six months, and they're a lifesaver. Usually, they include coloring pages of the apostles, word searches, and sections to draw what the speaker is talking about.
But here's a tip: don't give the whole packet to the kids at once. If you do, they'll flip through every page, color half a face, and tell you they're "done" before the first speaker finishes their opening prayer. Try handing out one or two pages per session. It keeps the momentum going and gives them something to look forward to when the next session starts.
For older kids who might feel "too cool" for coloring, you can find more sophisticated journals. These usually have spots for "Favorite Quote," "Key Themes," and "Personal Revelation." It moves them away from just doodling and toward actually processing what's being said.
Creative Hands and Quiet Play
Sometimes kids just need their hands to be busy so their ears can be open. Legos are a huge hit in our house for this. You can give them a challenge: "Build a temple," or "Build a scene from the Book of Mormon." It's quiet, it takes a lot of focus, and it's surprisingly relevant.
Another favorite among lds conference activities is the "Conference Bingo." You know the ones—they have squares for things like "Temple," "Gratitude," "Missionary Work," or "A speaker wears a red tie." Kids love the competitive aspect of it. You can use Cheerios or small candies as markers, and once they get a Bingo, they get a slightly larger treat.
If you want to get really fancy, you can set up a "Tent of Meeting." Basically, you just throw some blankets over the dining room table or set up a small pop-up tent in the living room. Fill it with pillows and books. For some reason, kids are way more likely to listen quietly if they're in a "fort" than if they're just sitting on the sofa.
Food-Based Focus
Let's be honest, food is half the fun of Conference weekend. A lot of families have "Conference Traditions" when it comes to meals—crepes, giant cinnamon rolls, or a big pot of chili. But food can also be part of the activities.
One popular idea is "Speaker Snacks." You put out a variety of small bowls with different treats, and each bowl is labeled with a topic. If a speaker mentions "Faith," you get a pretzel. If they mention "Jesus Christ," you get a chocolate chip. It's a literal way to "feast upon the word," and it keeps the kids listening intently for those specific keywords. Just be careful with the sugar levels, or the Sunday afternoon session might involve a lot of kids vibrating out of their seats.
Engaging the Teens and Adults
Teens are a bit trickier. They don't want a coloring page, and they'll definitely roll their eyes at a blanket fort. For them, lds conference activities might look a little more digital or social.
Encourage them to use social media for good during the sessions. They can look for their favorite quotes and create a cool graphic to share on Instagram or text to a friend. There's also the "Conference Quote Wall." We use a big roll of butcher paper or just a bunch of Post-it notes on a kitchen wall. When someone hears a line that really hits home, they write it down and stick it up. By Sunday evening, you have a whole wall of inspiration that stays up for the rest of the week.
For adults, sometimes the best activity is just taking off the "mom or dad" hat for a second and actually taking notes. I've found that using a dedicated journal just for Conference helps me look back and see patterns in my life. It's less about a game and more about creating a space where the Spirit can actually get a word in edgewise.
Keeping the Spirit of the Weekend
At the end of the day, the point of all these lds conference activities isn't to create a Pinterest-perfect weekend. It's okay if the house is a mess. It's okay if you missed half of a talk because you were cleaning up spilled apple juice.
The real magic happens in those small moments between the talks—the conversations you have with your kids about why we listen to a prophet, or the quiet feeling you get when a specific message answers a question you've been carrying. The activities are just the scaffolding to help those moments happen.
If an activity isn't working, don't be afraid to scrap it. If everyone is grumpy, maybe it's time for a quick walk outside between sessions to reset. General Conference should be a highlight of the season, not a chore. By keeping things light, fun, and a little bit tasty, you're helping your family look forward to these weekends for years to come.
Wrapping it all up, remember that every family is different. What works for the neighbors might not work for you, and that's perfectly fine. Whether you're doing a full-blown "Conference Store" or just handed out some notebooks and pens, the effort you put into making the weekend special really does matter. It shows your family that these words are important enough to plan for, and that makes all the difference.