General Conference weekend is a special time for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It’s a time for families to come together, listen to inspired messages, and feel the Spirit. As a mom of many, I’m always looking for ways to make General Conference engaging and memorable for my kiddos, from toddlers to teens (and even my young marrieds who come home for the occasion!). This year, because we our studying The Doctrine and Covenants for Come Follow Me, our family decided the theme of “Building Zion” would be fun for the upcoming General Conference. We will have activities and treats all centered around that theme, while we watch our prophet and church leaders share their inspiring messages.

general conference activity

Building Zion ~ General Conference Viewing Party

Before diving into the activities, it’s important to understand what “Zion” means. In the scriptures, Zion can refer to several things: a city built by Enoch, the pure in heart, and the kingdom of God. It represents a place of peace, righteousness, and unity. As we strive to build Zion, we are working to create these qualities in our own lives, our families, and our communities. This can be a great discussion point with your family before conference weekend begins. If you would like to learn more about Zion, this is an excellent talk by Elder Christofferson: Come to Zion.

Preparing for Zion, Pre-Conference Discussion:

Leading up to General Conference, be sure to teach your kids about Zion and the characteristics of those who dwell there (figuratively and literally.) Here are some ideas!

  • “Pure in Heart” Discussion: Explain that Zion also refers to the “pure in heart.” Have a simple discussion about what it means to be pure in heart. Talk about honesty, kindness, and love. You could use examples from everyday life to illustrate these qualities.
  • The City of Enoch Story: Children love stories! Share stories from the scriptures about Enoch and the city of Zion. Talk about how the people there were righteous and lived in peace. Can they picture our world living like that? What would we have to do to get there?
  • “One Heart and One Mind”: Discuss how the people in Zion were of “one heart and one mind.” Talk about what that means in a family context. How can we be more unified in our homes? Perhaps you can do a family activity where you work together towards a common goal, emphasizing the importance of cooperation and unity.

Building Zion General Conference Activity:

For Zion to truly be Zion, certain requirements need to be met. The easiest way to sum up those requirements is to say that the people live as Christ taught. We need to have those Christ-like qualities before we BUILD Zion, so for the first part of our Conference game, we are going to gather Christ-like qualities. We are going to “build Zion in our hearts.”

Phase 1 – Build Zion In Your Heart Activity

Think of a handful of Zion-like (Christ-like) qualities. For each one you choose, provide a specific treat. Give each family member a large plate or something to hold their goodies. As the family listens to General Conference, any time they hear one of the qualities being referenced, they can go take a treat or snack for their plate that corresponds with that quality. Essentially, they are building up their plate with goodies or “Christ-like qualities” (Zion in their heart) to take with them to build actual Zion (um, the Lego Zion that’s coming.) They only need to hear each quality one time. When they have gathered every quality/treat, they can move on to the building phase.

Here are some ideas of Christ-like characteristics to listen for and treats to go with it:

  • Faith (individual bags of popcorn): This is the foundation! It’s believing in Jesus Christ, even when things are hard, and trusting in His promises. It’s like the bedrock of our personal Zion.
  • Repentance (a cookie): We all make mistakes. Repentance is how we get back on track. It’s not about beating ourselves up, but about turning towards Christ and striving to do better. It’s like cleaning our house so it’s fit for the Spirit.
  • Humility (a bottled drink): Being humble means recognizing that we’re all children of God and that He knows best. It’s being willing to learn and grow, and putting others’ needs before our own. It helps us avoid pride, which can keep us from Zion.
  • Charity (a candy bar): This is the pure love of Christ. It’s more than just being nice. It’s about having a genuine concern for others’ well-being and wanting to serve them. It’s the heart of Zion, really.
  • Obedience (cheese and crackers): Keeping God’s commandments shows our love for Him and allows us to receive His blessings. It’s like following the blueprint for building Zion in our lives.
  • Virtue (fruit cups): This encompasses moral purity and righteousness. It’s about keeping our thoughts, words, and actions clean and worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost. It’s essential for having a Zion heart.
  • Integrity (cupcake): Being honest and true in all things, even when it’s hard. It’s about being the same person inside and out. It builds trust, which is important in any community striving to be like Zion.
  • Service (rice krispie treat): Following Jesus’ example by serving others. It’s about giving our time, talents, and resources to help those in need. It’s a tangible way to build Zion here and now.
  • Unity (beef jerky): Working together in harmony and love. It’s about putting aside our differences and focusing on our common goals. A community united in purpose is a powerful force for good, like the city of Enoch.
  • Diligence (ranch cups with carrots): Being persistent and consistent in our efforts to follow Christ. It’s about staying on the path, even when it’s challenging. Building Zion is a marathon, not a sprint!

Phase 2 – Build Zion, The Place

Time to pull out your buckets of building toys. As the family watches General Conference, they can enjoy their treats, and either individually or as a team, create a Zion city with the building toys. If you do it individually, you could even turn it into a friendly competition… you know, in the most Zion-like way. 🙂

  • LEGO Zion: LEGOs are perfect for building walls, towers, and other structures. Kids can create a city with temples, homes, and other important buildings.
  • Magna-Tile Zion: Magna-Tiles are great for building geometric shapes and exploring different architectural designs. They can be used to create beautiful and intricate representations of Zion.
  • Play Dough Zion: Play dough is a fun and tactile way for younger children to get involved. They can mold and shape their own versions of Zion, adding details like trees, people, and animals.
  • Block Zion: Classic building blocks are always a hit. Kids can stack and arrange them to create their own unique Zion.

If you don’t have any of these items on hand, and want to save money, you could make homemade play dough to use for the building. I love this recipe for the yummy smelling Kool-Aid Play Dough.

Keep the Theme Going – “Buildable” Lunch or Dinner

Inevitably, the family is going to want more of a meal later. How about homemade pizzas and ice cream sundaes? Both allow for lots of toppings to be set out, allowing the family to “build” their own. Win! My family loves homemade mini pizzas. I just use Rhodes frozen rolls and it’s so easy! My kids especially love when I get a rotisserie chicken, shred it, and make some quick buffalo chicken to use as a pizza topping. You can find the details of that here: Buffalo Chicken Mini Pizzas. 

Have a wonderful Conference experience with your family!!

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