Gospel Q&A is a series from LDS Daily that strives to answer important gospel questions from readers. Today, we answer the question, “How do I get my kids excited and engaged in General Conference?”
Many of us grew up in homes where general conference was not heavily emphasized or even regularly watched. Without past experience to guide us, it can sometimes feel like reinventing the wheel as we try to help our own children connect with conference. The good news is that a few simple ideas can make a meaningful difference.
1. Help Children Recognize Names and Faces
Have you ever attended a musical without knowing the music beforehand? When the audience lights up at a familiar song, you may feel a little left out because you don’t recognize what everyone else is excited about.
That is often how general conference feels for children who see one unfamiliar speaker after another. Helping them learn the names and faces of Church leaders can make the experience much more personal and engaging. Consider printing a chart of General Authorities and Church officers or creating simple flashcards so children can start recognizing who is speaking.
2. Get Physically Ready
Printers have a funny way of sensing when you need them most and refusing to cooperate—usually when you’re trying to print bingo cards during “Music & the Spoken Word.” While that may be a lighthearted exaggeration, preparing your materials ahead of time can make conference weekend much more peaceful.
If you plan to use printables or conference packets, try to have them ready before the Saturday morning session begins. It can also help to take care of household tasks earlier in the week—mowing the lawn, grocery shopping, or finishing laundry—so the weekend feels less rushed and more focused on listening and learning together.
3. Get Spiritually Ready
Preparation for general conference can also begin in the heart. During the week leading up to conference, share favorite quotes from past talks with your children or tell them about moments when conference messages helped guide your life.
If you or your spouse served a mission, you might also share what conference weekends were like in the mission field. As children hear your experiences and see your enthusiasm for the words of living prophets and apostles, they begin to understand that conference is something special and meaningful.
4. Create Traditions Around General Conference
Traditions can help make conference weekend feel distinct and memorable. Some families enjoy cinnamon rolls for a special conference breakfast, while others plan a backyard picnic between sessions or a simple family discussion after the final session.
Other ideas might include homemade pizza between sessions, donuts after the Saturday evening session, or a speaker scavenger hunt where children watch for specific leaders as they speak. The specific activity matters less than the feeling it creates: conference becomes a time your family looks forward to each year.
5. Invite Children to Prepare a Question
One powerful teaching strategy is to give learners a question before they begin studying so they actively search for answers. This same idea can work well with general conference.
During the week beforehand, invite children—especially older ones—to think about a question they would like guidance on. It might be a doctrinal question or simply something they are seeking direction about. As they listen with that question in mind, they may begin to recognize answers that come through the Spirit during conference messages.
Teaching by Example
As is often the case with parenting, “more is caught than taught.” As we experience and share our enthusiasm for listening to the word of the Lord through His prophets and chosen leaders, our children will witness and learn from our example.
More important than any treats, bingo cards, or other traditions is the tradition of coming with a humble heart to hear the word of the Lord.
This article was originally published September 26, 2022 and has been updated.
Disclaimer: While responses draw on scripture and the teachings of modern prophets, LDS Daily is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The answers shared are not intended to be comprehensive but are offered in the spirit of faith and a sincere desire to share hope and gospel-centered perspective with those seeking truth.
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Becca loves audiobooks, dark chocolate, singing, hiking, walking, going out with her husband, and raising their chickens and children. She still wants to meet her hero Sheri Dew, see flowing lava and a blue whale in person, and uplift others with her words.
