Youth Conference - Mighty Miracles

I apologize ahead of time that this post is so long. It was such an amazing weekend, I couldn't cut any more details out!!

The greatest thing about being the Stake Young Women President is working with the "cream of the crop" youth from each ward to plan and execute a stake youth conference. I spend so much time working with these kids, I end up loving them and wanting to just adopt them! They are so amazing!

Our theme this year was based on this year's mutual theme and Pres. Monson's talk, Be Thou an Example. The kids planned a "secret agent" training based on the four codes of conduct found in the talk. "You have a heritage; honor it. You will meet temptation; withstand it. You know the truth; live it. You have a testimony; share it." We spent about 2 1/2 hours on each of these codes of conduct with activities that would allow their testimonies to grow. At the end of each group of activities, the group leader did a little tie together lesson and explained how these activities would apply to their lives.

The heritage group played a laser web game where twine was wrapped around trees to create a "web" and the kids had to get through it without touching the twine, recover the loot (steal the bacon), a grenade throw (water balloon launch w/towels), archery target practice, and pioneer games like stick pull and potato sack races. As the first group, we had to get some of the "basic training" in, too! The "lasers" were set up so one was easy and one was hard, like following Jesus or Satan. Also, to get to the field, it was roped off and a path was laid out for them to follow. They compared this to obedience to Heavenly Father and our earthly parents, who provide us with the most appropriate and safe path to follow through life.

We had dinner after the heritage activities, and then the Truth group did their part. We played a "Family Feud" style gospel quiz game and there was an awesome speaker, Bro. Chris Fawcett, who was a seminary teacher, former EFY speaker, and son of one of our bishops. (We sure lucked out there.) He started by telling us we were all going on an imaginary trip and told us to write down anything we wanted to know about the trip. As we went through the questions (Where are we going? When will we return? How do we prepare? What will it cost? and so on), he answered them by explaining our Father's glorious plan of happiness. He told us we were going to earth, and expounded on our purposes here and what our Heavenly Father's plan is for us. After that, he had mirrors he passed out, and had us stare at ourselves for a whole minute and then write what we saw. That's where the Spirit touched me the most. Sharing my feelings about my relationship with my Father in Heaven and Savior, even just with myself on paper, made me realize and feel their love so strongly. To close, we sang "I Am a Child of God". I think it was a touching and life-changing experience for several of the kids. The kids went back to their wards and had special time with their bishops and leaders to discuss the things they learned and that touched them that day.

The next morning, after breakfast, the Tempatation group did their part. They did a "mine field" game where the kids had to make their way through an obstacle course just by listening to someone they trust. The guides were all yelling at once, so it was hard to hear the one voice they were supposed to listen to (like parents, leaders, or the Holy Ghost). They played an Iron Rod game, where with each question asked (like, Did you read your scriptures yesterday? Did you say your prayers this morning? Did you thank someone today? etc.) they moved forward or farther aside from the point they were at. This demostrated the things they should be doing in order to have a firm grip and move forward on the iron rod. Another game they played was a string game where they talked about temptations they had to face and how they would deal with them. As each person talked, they threw a ball of yarn and made a "web" of temptations and resolutions that they bounced a ball on.

Our Testimony activity was last. We had a testimony meeting in the lodge and all the kids on the youth council, except maybe a couple, bore testimony of the things we taught and felt that weekend. Several adults and many more kids than I expected also bore their testimonies for over an hour. We heard things like, "I was sitting there thinking about...", and "I really liked how ___ made me think about ___", "I wasn't going to come, but now I'm so grateful that I did", and "now I know that God exists and loves me". Aparently, the things the youth council were inspired to do, caused much reflection and strengthening of testimonies. YEA!

The thing that impressed me the most, though, was the mighty miracles that took place. The strengthening of testimonies, the new resolve of kids that were struggling, the examples that were re-committed, the smiles and involvement of the "I'm not going to do this" kids, the friendships that grew, and the mightiest of all—that God watched over it all, with His blessing.

The rain in Southeast Idaho has hit record highs, and we were really worried about how this would affect our plans, since many of the activities had to be outside. We have a beautiful place, Camp Cumorah, where we had the conference. There is an amazing enclosed lodge for shelter, but the great outdoors was our sleeping place and landscape for the majority of the conference. On our way up there, the rain poured so hard, the mud roads were slippery and we had to slow down to hit the curves safely. The youth council set up in the sprinkling rain, hoping (and praying) that the rain would stop. Just a little while before the wards started arriving, there was a beautiful white cloud showing through a miraculous blue hole in the sky. Within a half hour the whole sky was "sealed" and the rain didn't really come down again until it was all over. About the time we were on our way home again, it seemed that the heavens opened again, and all the rain that was held back fell at once. Again, we slowed down, this time to avoid hitting the other cars on the freeway. The wipers weren't keeping up. It was among the most amazing things I've ever seen. I know that Heavenly Father heard and answered many prayers, and knew that there were glorious things to happen at that Conference, and all had to be in order (including the weather) for those things to take place. He is most definitely aware of us, and most definitely knows what we need, and most definitely, without a doubt, blesses us.