Our Family Game

Since it is about General Conference time, I thought I would share this with all of you.

Several years ago, 1999 to be exact, my husband and I decided to publish a game.  We had been using a hand-made version of this game in our family for years.  The idea was to get our children to listen to the messages of the speakers in General Conference (televised talks and instruction given by the Prophet and Apostles who lead the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) instead of day dreaming.  It was so much fun for our family, we decided to make it available to other families also to try to help them.  As you can see, it is called Conference Lingo Bingo.

 The game is comprised of eight different bingo cards made with bright colors.  We found this was fun because someone always wants their favorite color!  It also helps you know which card you have previously used if you want to keep changing cards between speakers.  We listened to many conference talks and chose the words that we felt were used the most (in the 1990's) and put them at random on the eight bingo cards.  Of course, the free center square is for the "heart" of the gospel.

Also included were eight sheets of white plastic squares that you just punched out.  These are used to cover the squares.

The object of the game is to listen to the talks given.  When you hear a word used in a talk and it is on your card, cover it with a white square.  Obviously when you get all the squares covered in a row across or down or vertically, you have a bingo and you win that round.  For the winners, I have always purchased "Conference Treats".  These have consisted of various types and flavors of candies such as chocolate covered nuts, peppermint patties, anything gummie like worms, orange slices, watermelon, sours, etc., white chocolate pretzels, and so on.  You get the picture.  You could choose anything you want to give as the prize for winning.

During the final session of conference (Sunday afternoon) we play blackout.  For that prize, I always make it something special, like a luscious, large Symphony Bar or a bag of Lindt Truffles, or something on that order. It is fun to have everyone actually LISTEN to what is being said!  It has even helped my husband who is notorious for sleeping the second he sits down!  He actually can stay awake through all of Conference!  I have had other women tell me how it has helped their husbands also, not to mention how quietly their children sat and listened.  We are glad it could help them.

Years ago people went to the Stake Centers to hear conference if they didn't live in Utah.  I don't think that is how it is now.  But for those people, we also made little paper pad bingo cards that they could easily take with them to the Stake Center and have their entire family still play there.  All that was required was a pencil and the pad of cards.

As conference approaches again we are anxious to play Conference Lingo Bingo.  Let the Conference (and games) begin!