We had Youth Conference this last weekend, so it was road trip time again. From our Ward, there were 6 YM and 3 YW. The entire stake had about 120 youth in attendance. The theme for this conference was centered in the Book of Mormon.
The Friday evening activities included ice breaker games, like the name game, where each youth took a Book of Mormon name. Joseph was Mohonri Moriancumer (the brother of Jared), and Samuel was Enos. The idea was to call the name of another player before getting smitten with the sword.
They also played the "handshake murder game." This is where people shake hands and introduce themselves. The "murderer" shakes hands and scratches your palm, then you "die" after 2 more people shake your hand. As you can see, some folks died happy. The idea is to try to catch the "murderer" before getting bumped-off.
After the ice breaker games, there was a mass reading of the Book of Mormon. Each youth was assigned a chapter to be read out loud. As soon as you finished your chapter, you could get another assignment. The entire book was read from cover to cover in less than 19 minutes. There was a small tumult, but no murmuring.
Lunch was a special treat - BBQ Curelom! Everyone had a chance to talk about the different events and workshops from the morning, and the lessons learned. Each workshop also had an activity associated with it. And what is Curelom you ask? Delicious is the answer. Moose. Of course there were also salads and fruit, cookies, and hot chocolate to warm up from the outside temps. The weather was really good, no snow, and temps in the mid teens.
Curelom-m-m-m-m.
I actually had missed the Friday night activities due to a business trip to Calgary and Seattle, but was greeted warmly by our sons Saturday morning.
Ever wonder what it would have been like to listen to a Zoramite from the top of a Rameumptom? Well we had our pick from several. Here Joseph quotes the Black-Eyed Peas, and enforces his views with his might.
A Gadianton Robber is chased through the wilderness by a small band of stripling warriors. This variation of Capture the Flag was one of the favorite activities for both Nephites and Lamanites. This is a park near the Stake Centre. It could be any park in Canada though. If you look close at the "waters of Sidon," you might see a little bit of ice.
A small band of Gadianton Robbers lament their recent drubbing at the hands of the stripling warriors.
At the end of the day, they all cast down their weapons of war.
A general feeling of our youth was that the best, the very best, activity was the vision of the Tree of Life. After reviewing the scriptures, the youth were lead to the "Rod of Iron" - which in our case was a couple of hundred feet of rope, snaking around the large and spacious parking lot to the Tree of Life with its fruit that was white and very desirable. As the youth advanced toward the tree, they were enticed by people to take the easy way. If they got off the path, they could "repent" and return to the start of the activity.
The buffetings of the adversary and the temptations of the world pulling him off the path into forbidden paths.
A firm grasp of the "Iron Rod" was the only sure defence. Joseph was the last on the path, and had to endure all the forces of evil by himself. He did not let go. He was steadfast in doing good.
The tree with the exceedingly white fruit which was very desirous. A little milk would have been nice too.
On the way home we stopped a Costco and Samuel saw this little ride. Here is his "Little John" face. I am curious why someone would take a go-cart to Costco. Maybe they were just there for a hot dog.
Sunday morning Samuel takes a few minutes to write a talk about the conference and resisting temptation. His talk was really good, and he quoted 2 scriptures - one in Second Nephi and one in First Corinthians. Today was also the first time that Joseph blessed the Sacrament.
These are just about the last trees in town that have not shed all their leaves. What a lovely family. I am a very blessed man.
Hugs and Kisses,
