Over the years I have been able to observe that when a stake has its stake conference, there are actually two different stake conferences going on at the same time, and now I have participated in both of them!
Stake Conference #1: This is the stake conference most families with small children experience. If they remember at all about the Saturday night session and are lucky enough to have arranged a babysitter, they are in for a very pleasant evening. This can be a real highlight for a couple. But if they have a nursing baby, sick children or other situations, only one adult is able to go and sometimes no one from the family is able to attend. Then on Sunday morning after preparing all week various games and snacks to keep little ones happy for over 2 hours in a Cultural Hall or some other room, they try to arrive at church early but still have to park far away and figure out where they are going to plant themselves. They will not get their regular pew and the kids are getting worked up. With no Sacrament time and sitting so far back, there is no way the kids are able to pay attention. There are distractions right and left and all kinds of new noises and issues. It is a very long 2 hours with the parents trying hard to grasp a sentence or two of inspiration. Then it is crazy time getting everyone out to the car, fighting the traffic jam out of the parking lot, and wondering if next stake conference might not be a good weekend to take that out of town trip--to Grandma's??!!
Stake Conference #2: Weeks and even months before stake conference, the stake presidency begins preparing for the next stake conference. They fast and pray about who the speakers should be and what should be the subjects of every talk. They spend many hours preparing themselves and their talks so that inspired messages on important topics pertaining to the needs of the people in the stake will be given. Far in advance assignments are given so that parking helpers and ushers will be organized, that extra chairs will be set up and taken down, and a dinner is usually planned. Special flowers are arranged for along with other building cleaning and sprucing concerns. Many hours are spent by talented people arranging the audio/visual needs of the conference. If general authorities are visiting, there are additional meetings to be organized and housing and food needs. It is a huge undertaking to plan and carry out and very stressful for the stake presidency. After the final meeting there are usually people to be set apart and other details to check on to make sure everything is completed. Finally they head out to the parking lot where there are only a half dozen or so cars left and as they head home they might be wondering if the next stake conference might not be a good weekend to take that out of town trip--to see the grandchildren??!!
