From an early age I have taught my kids to listen to General Conference in creative ways. Our favorite was Conference Bingo. As the kids sat in front of the television, I presented them with a bowl of small candies and a bingo card. If a speaker spoke on a certain topic on the card, the kids hurried and put a candy on it. Once they got Bingo they gobbled up their candies and started over. It was a great motivator to listen, learn, feel the spirit, and inhale sugar all at the same time.
Today as we were sitting in church, I glanced over at all five of my children and was pleased to see how attentive they were to the messages being delivered during testimony meeting. Then I saw them scratching off boxes on some homemade Bingo cards that Makayla had made for everyone. I inspected this activity further and just grinned and left them to their game. Each bingo square held a topic or a detail describing the speaker. For example: wearing a blue tie, crying, balding, a Young Women leader, quoted a scripture, grabbed a kleenex, teenager, old man, told a story, inspiring, a Prophet quote, etc.
The kids were so attentive (even without sugar) that I wanted to play too, but I didn't. My job is to set a good example... so I discreetly maneuvered my iPad to capture the moment.
Rebekah was a true player and bore her testimony so that Makayla could mark off 'family testimony' to get a bingo. Way to go Rebekah! I was half tempted to go up to quote a favorite scripture and grab a tissue off the pulpit to ensure that someone got blackout, but time ran out. Maybe next month I'll be ready.
