Monday, March 11, 2013

How I Study General Conference

My conference editions of the Ensign used to get pretty worn. This summer I attended Education Week at BYU-Idaho and learned this trick  from an instructor.  Take the Ensign to a store like Office Max or Staples and have them do 2 things: 
1. Spiral bind it. 
2.  Have them put a clear plastic cover on the front and a black cover on the back. 
It's fairly cheep to do. Should be under five dollars.


 
Then I get to the meat of studying.  I pick topic's and assign them colors. This year was just 3.
-When any talk tells us to read our scriptures.  (last year it was ALL over the place)
-When any of the talks give advice about raising families or anything in the vein of families 
-Marking any questions the speakers ask US!

In conferences past I've had put to 5 topic's to focus on and it can be anything you want really, but I pick the themes that are repeated over and over again. 
 
I treat them as I do my scriptures, because they are just that!  I mark them up.  
I always write/bullet point the main points of the talk. 
The one below says this: 
 # Our own lives can be temple standard; no gritty walls or crooked/flawed windows. 
# Our "contractor" hold us to high standards.
# The Lord knows the level of our efforts and if we have done our personal best.
I write in the margin's, I circle words, and I even write my feelings sometimes.  
All of it just like I do with my scriptures. 
The picture does not show my completed study of this talk as it is now. Here is what I wrote up by
*Moral issues addressed in families:
*Repentance only panacea 
*Unkindness 
*Sexual immorality
# Immersion in the scriptures
# Take any necessary action to feel the spirit.
I box whole paragraphs that I feel as super important. Along with the color makers I use a black marker.  This year it's a paper mate flair pen.  Find the ones that don't smear. I used colored permanent markers that also don't smear.  I haven't show it here, but I also will circle the footnote numbers that I particularly liked. The footnotes make is SO like the scriptures.  Being led by Jesus Christ through a prophet of God and his 12 apostles is wonderful.  We get to hear from them twice a year, 2 days strait each time. I always feel the spirit and know what I need to do to make my life better. The time is coming up soon! It's the first Saturday and Sunday of April.  Watch online if you want! 


The link above is to Elder Cook's talk Can Ye Feel So Now?  It's from a scripture right from 
The Book of Mormon:
  • Alma 5:26  And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?
This sister makes graphic message from conference that can be printed like pictures.  Very cool!
But first she takes notes like this: http://fambee.org/blog/category/mormon/



8 comments:

Jocelyn Christensen said...

This is a super cool idea! I am definitely doing this next time around! Thank you so much for sharing it with me! I'm excited to do this! - j

jamieBEE said...

WOW! You take some amazing notes! I love that they have color coordinating highlights!! Great idea binding the magazine! Genius!!

Thanks for sharing my notes!

Christy Jones said...

great idea! I don't always get what I need from GC running after kids so the ensign is like a second chance. I will try this!

Carin said...

This is great Becky!! Amazing! I'm gonna have to try it out :-)

Christy said...

Awesome ideas, Becky!!! Thanks so much!!

Ashley Ziegler said...

Awesome idea!! Thanks so much! :)

Anonymous said...

I have been doing this to my Conference issue for the past 3 conferences. Both my husband and I love having them this way. I have also found that the Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Pens .03mm work great for underlining and making notes in the margins.

Anonymous said...

This is awesome, I’ve been looking for weeks for an easy DIY general conference note book! This is the best thing I’ve ever seen! Thank you so much!