Fun

10 Incredible #HowWeConference Stories Perfect for This Weekend

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Every member has their own way of celebrating general conference. Whether it's eating warm cinnamon rolls with plenty of gooey frosting for breakfast, participating in conference bingo championships, or drawing closer as a ward family as you watch conference together, everyone has something special they love about this semiannual broadcast. 

So how do you celebrate conference?

We asked around with #HowWeConference to find out, and the answers were incredible. If you don't have a way to celebrate conference yet or want to know how others conference, you definitely need to see these:

"One of my most uplifting experiences watching General Conference was April 2016 in Gulu, Northern Uganda with the saints of the small town. General Conference viewing has always been a close family experience for me. I always have watched within my family home, soaking in all the richness it provides. This experience in Uganda felt exactly the same, but with a small building in a dusty town surrounded by wilderness and jungles with my brothers and sisters - my family in Uganda. I was able to see how the talks touched the Saints' hearts and answered questions from a totally different way of life than the one I knew. It opened my eyes to the truly immense love our Heavenly Father has for each and every single one of his children from all cultures and ways of living this mortal life, and how his disciples can speak to all nations for their different needs through the Holy Spirit." - Min Southall (@minsouthall), England #HowWeConference #LDSConf A post shared by LDS Living (@ldsliving) on Sep 27, 2017 at 7:00pm PDT
"I am a nurse. For a lot of my life, I have had to work or be on call conference weekend. I approach conference with a grateful heart for what I am able to listen to. I have found I can listen to it while bathing an unconscious patient, while setting up the lab for our next procedure, while driving to and from work, or through the conversation of friends and family as they highlight what touched them as they watched conference that day. I appreciate that I can listen to conference online and I know I can get the full conference message from the Ensign when it comes out in November. This year is a wonderful year. I have no commitments for work. I can enjoy the entire conference on conference weekend. These are years I cherish." - Lenore Beckstrom, Alpine, Utah #HowWeConference #LDSConf A post shared by LDS Living (@ldsliving) on Sep 28, 2017 at 7:00am PDT
“As a convert and newlywed, I didn’t have any traditions of my own for conference watching. We were a little lazy about it honestly, viewing it as sort of a holiday on which we didn’t have to go to church. When our kids were little, my friend Shannon and I started doing family lunches on Sundays between the morning and afternoon sessions, and then we’d watch afternoon sesh together while the kids colored or did puzzles. As my understanding of the gospel deepened and my kids got older we began devoting our efforts to the Saturday sessions as well. We usually make it a little more special with festive foods, cinnamon rolls or pumpkin muffins and breakfast casseroles.” - Kelly Lee, Seattle Washington #HowWeConference #LDSConf A post shared by LDS Living (@ldsliving) on Sep 26, 2017 at 8:31am PDT
"General conference is something I associate deeply with my father. As members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir he and my uncle were always so excited for us to hear the songs that they had been preparing and to feel the spirit they brought in connection with the words of our dear General Authorities. I came to feel his testimony of Jesus Christ and his gospel in every song. When I was away from home, whether at school or abroad, I found the greatest joy in looking for him during each hymn. Each time I spotted him I was instantly filled with this incredible, comforting sense of home. When he passed away three years ago I was nervous that when General Conference came around I would feel only emptiness when watching the choir, but I was surprised to find comfort instead. While watching for my uncle I began noticing other faces I had come to know while my dad was sick, faces of those who took time to visit him in the hospital or at our home, faces of his friends who sang some of his favorite hymns at his funeral. Even more than that I could still feel my father's testimony with each song, strengthened by the testimonies of all the other choir members, fortifying my own. I still miss him immensely especially during General Conference, but I am grateful for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the spirit they continue to bring into my life." - Karyn Allen (@KarynLeigh89), Salt Lake City, Utah #HowWeConference #LDSConf A post shared by LDS Living (@ldsliving) on Sep 28, 2017 at 7:12pm PDT

"While studying and working as a musician simultaneously, time is a precious commodity. I remember a couple of years ago being in the middle of a recording session that was already scheduled and paid for, but that unfortunately could only take place during conference (due to factors out of my control). I remember rushing around recording guitar and vocal tracks, literally running around the studio in the time between sessions, frantically trying to make sure the other LDS musicians and I wouldn't have to miss any talks. It was the busiest conference weekend of my life, and of course, I wish it could've been a little more peaceful, but i'm so grateful for spirit we felt as we did our imperfect best to make conference a priority." - Colin Rivera (@MrColinRiv), Sussex, England #HowWeConference #LDSConf A post shared by LDS Living (@ldsliving) on Sep 28, 2017 at 11:03am PDT
"When we lived in the US, our conference tradition was to let everyone choose a special treat to share with the family during sessions. The treat tradition has continued since we moved to the Dominican Republic earlier this year, even though it is harder to find conference-worthy treats. As Saturday rolls around, we feast on the words of prophets, apostles, and leaders, albeit only if the Wi-Fi work fast enough! While we try to find joy from that dusty bag of stale gummy worms and the waxy chocolate chips, it is only fleeting. That's why we love conference. It nourishes us like no other treat can." - Marisa Johnson, the Dominican Republic @Living_a_good_story #HowWeConference #LDSConf A post shared by LDS Living (@ldsliving) on Sep 26, 2017 at 7:00pm PDT
“Serving as a missionary in Guatemala, I realized Conference weekend goes a little differently there. Almost no one there has internet. Almost no one there has cars. Members would take long bus rides or walk for hours to and from the chapel in order to hear the word of God. In many regions of my mission, some native dialects besides Spanish were spoken. Local members would translate and record live voiceovers so everyone could participate. I now realize members make similar sacrifices all over the world to watch General Conference. Their faith and devotion inspire me to make Conference weekend something holy. I am incredibly thankful to hear from our latter-day prophets alongside so many dedicated members around the world.” - Ellie Scruggs (@escruggles), Seattle Washington #HowWeConference #LDSConf A post shared by LDS Living (@ldsliving) on Sep 27, 2017 at 10:12am PDT
"I remember while I was on my mission in England, that there was so much excitement among the missionaries about being able to listen to general conference. Some members invited me and my companion to watch the April 2013 conference at their place with an investigator who was about to get baptized a week later. That day was a very uplifting experience for all of us, but especially for the investigator, as he was able to witness with his own eyes how God still speaks to His children through living prophets." - Andrea Mannucci, La Spezia, Italy #HowWeConference #LDSConf A post shared by LDS Living (@ldsliving) on Sep 27, 2017 at 1:14pm PDT
"We always bring food to the stake building and do a potluck. My specialty is homemade ribs and coleslaw. My friend Cheryl normally does fish fritters and lemon drizzle cake. Vida does fried rice and salad w her special dressing. No one knows what's in it but tastes so good! Var will cook chicken. It's a full-on feast at the stake centre. When the building was being refurbished, the whole gathering was done at my flat. It's always amazing to get together with our loved ones. My son used to love it, knowing that after priesthood session he would get some food to share with his friends. It's a grand affair. Totally love General Conference." - Sandra Panton, London, England #HowWeConference #LDSConf A post shared by LDS Living (@ldsliving) on Sep 26, 2017 at 1:00pm PDT
"How do I conference? Conference = Food. Food for thought, a spiritual feast, and yes, actual food! Growing up, conference was about big breakfasts and watching in pajamas. In college, it was putting our couch on our table for "stadium seating" and inviting friends over for food. After I was married, conference was learning traditions from my in-laws of yummy snacks and a meal out in between sessions on Saturday. Conference is feasting upon the words of Christ by listening to latter-day prophets and apostles. Their words are His words. After conference, I am spiritually filled and ready to face whatever may come my way." - Darcy Doxey from Bradenton, Florida #HowWeConference #LDSConf A post shared by LDS Living (@ldsliving) on Sep 29, 2017 at 9:37am PDT

For more about #HowWeConference, check out the video below:

Lead image from Instagram

Bonus

We asked our readers how they conference. Here are a few of our favorite responses:

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Lindsay Walden: We made this last conference, but it is our favorite tradition ever.

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Sarah Goit: Facing our tent like in King Benjamin's time towards the temple to see it and to hear the prophet.

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Chalee Atkinson: We enjoyed conference in the mountains of Arizona! We love leaving distractions at home and concentrating on the beauty of the world and messages of conference!

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Naomi Wimett Hastings: Conference and snuggles.

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Cassia Morais: A Brazilian family on vacation in Rome, Italy. Watching the conference in our hotel room right now. Technology is a blessing!

Images from Facebook
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