General Conference

Years ago we had talked about taking all the girls to General Conference one time after we had taken each of them separately after turning 8. We even talked about how we needed to go for October 2024 Conference because we knew Rebekah would be home in between missions. Then we kinda forgot about it until just a month or two before Conference. So when Seth reached out to the stake to see if there would be six tickets available for one of the Sunday sessions, we weren't holding our breath. But maybe because this was the first year since 2019 and COVID that the Conference Center was filled to capacity, there were tickets to be had.

We knew we'd be busy the Saturday of Conference with a marching band competition. So it worked out well for us to leave home about 7 (Miriam's call time was a bright and early 4:30 a.m.) on Saturday morning (October 5), drive down to Logan, watch Miriam and the High Desert Marching Band perform, then carry on to Salt Lake and spend the night. 

Miriam following her performance. The drumline bought this unworldly combination of a shark and a horse to share. The kids took turns taking it home and caring for it. Miriam got it at the Logan competition. 

Miriam watching the other bands performing. We waited around to see the awards for her division. We had been sitting on the west side of the stadium for Miriam's performance, but pretty soon we felt baked and moved to the one spot of shade in the south bleachers. Some of us listened to parts of the Saturday morning session of Conference while watching the other bands perform.

Eating Aggie ice cream after the award ceremony.

Watching the Saturday afternoon session in our hotel room.

We had packed a lunch to eat while at the stadium. For dinner we had everyone vote and ended up ordering Apollo burgers with mozzarella sticks, onion rings, battered mushrooms and fries for dinner. We ate them in the hotel room while we watched the Saturday evening session.

Sunday morning we slept in a while (except Rebekah who woke up at something like 5:30 so she could go down to the lobby and have a phone call with her not-official boyfriend in Delaware), then ate breakfast, got dressed, packed up and checked out of the hotel. We drove to a parking lot downtown with easy access to a park and TRAX. We walked to the park, listened to the morning session of Conference, ate another picnic lunch, then put the cooler back in the van before riding TRAX to the Conference Center. 

The family sitting on the picnic blanket outside the Salt Lake City and County Building listening to Conference on a Bluetooth speaker. 

The girls laughing at the prank Miriam and Winnie were playing on Rebekah. Rebekah had a water bottle that was almost completely frozen. Miriam pretended to melt the ice and hand it back to Rebekah so she could dump the water into her water bottle. In reality, Miriam was simply pouring water from another water bottle into the one with the frozen core. Rebekah was astounded time and time again as Miriam gave her more melted ice. Winnie helped to distract Rebekah as Miriam played the trick. In the end, Rebekah admitted to knowing exactly what they were doing and just playing along with it.

Winnie applying some of her lavender mascara to Rebekah's eyelashes while the family waits for TRAX.

The whole family outside the Conference Center.

We found our seats on the mezzanine (the second level, which is one whole level lower than I've ever sat before), then enjoyed listening to the speakers and taking notes. President Nelson was not in attendance at every session (bless him, the man is 100 years old after all), but he was there for this last session. The last talk was a prerecorded message from the prophet which included the announcements of 17 new temples. After the session, we walked back to TRAX, rode it back to our van, and drove home. This will be our last family trip with all of us before Rebekah goes on her mission.

The family inside the Conference Center.

Seth and Andrea before the Sunday afternoon session.

Walking back to TRAX after the session.

Rebekah and Sister Frei, her companion in Nauvoo. We were walking back to TRAX when a girl in front of us glanced behind her and then did a double take. It was Sister Frei! She and her boyfriend were at the same session we had just been to. Neither of the former Nauvoo brass bandmates knew the other was going to be there. What are the chances we would see each other?! It was a fun and unexpected reunion.