An Object Lesson for General Conference

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There’s a difference between watching General Conference and coming ready to receive something from it. As adults, we’ve had years to learn how to prepare, listen for what we need, and recognize personal revelation. Our kids are still learning.

So naturally, we’re going to explain it with some Skittles.

This simple General Conference object lesson helps kids actually experience the difference preparation can make, and gives you an easy way to start talking about how your family can come ready to listen to the speakers and to the Spirit this Conference.

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Can you taste it?

Before you begin: Check for food allergies and choose another strongly flavored candy if Skittles aren't a good fit for your group.

Grab a pack of Skittles and some blindfolds. We recommend enough blindfolds for everyone to participate at the same time. You will probably only need one bag of Skittles.

1. Everyone except the monitor puts on their blindfold and holds out their hand. Yes, you can just close your eyes but it’s so tempting to look so it’s better to use blindfolds.

2. The monitor puts one of the same color of Skittles in everyone’s hands.

3. Now everyone plugs their noses and starts to eat their Skittle. Don’t eat it all yet though!

4. Everyone takes a guess as to what flavor/color it is.

5. Next, invite everyone to unplug their noses and guess again.

The difference is very noticeable! Most of the time, they will get the color wrong the first time. Once they unplug their noses though, it’s a burst of flavor. Go ahead, try it again.

We taste with more than the taste buds on our tongues. Our sense of smell has a big impact on how we enjoy our food. That’s why when we are stuffed up, food doesn’t taste as good.

What does this have to do with General Conference?

The flavor was there the whole time, BUT when you plugged your nose, you couldn’t experience it in the same way. General Conference can be like that.

We can turn it on, sit on the couch, and hear every word without really coming prepared to receive what the Lord may want to teach us personally. Preparing helps us come ready to listen, recognize impressions, and pay attention. Ask your family:

• What could we do before Conference to be more ready to listen?

• What question might you bring to Conference?

• What makes it easier for you to feel the Spirit?

• What sometimes distracts you from hearing what you need?

• How can we better support each other in getting more out of General Conference weekend?

Choose one or two things your family wants to try before Conference. It could be including a question in your family prayers, studying a recent Conference message, or simply talking more about why you’re looking forward to the weekend.

Want more ideas for preparing spiritually? Read our 5 Ways to Prepare Yourself to Receive Revelation During General Conference.

And when something stands out, write it down

Preparing to receive revelation is only the beginning. When a thought, answer or impression comes during Conference, encourage your family to record it.

It doesn't need to be pages of notes. A sentence may be enough.

Writing it down gives us something to return to when Conference weekend is over and regular life starts up again. We can remember what we felt, what we wanted to change and what we felt prompted to do.

Before Conference, help everyone decide where they'll record those thoughts. That might be a blank notebook, one of our free printable Conference pages, or a full General Conference Notebook that's already put together for them.

The format matters a lot less than being ready to capture what comes.

We don’t know which talk, scripture, or simple sentence will contain something our family needs to hear this Conference but we can help each other come ready to listen.

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