General Conference. What do those words bring up for you? Excitement, fear, dread, joy? Whatever it is, we know exactly how you feel, and we are so glad you're here.
We created the Conference Care Kit with other faithful feminists in mind. For womxn and other marginalized peoples, conference weekend can be a time of sorrow, hurt, loss, and pain. It can be especially challenging to find yourself the dissenting minority in your family and/or community. And if you have experienced or are in the midst of a faith transition, the difficulty is compounded!
After going through a few conference weekends on our own with little support, we wanted to create a safe space and resources for others who are looking for comfort, peace, and connection beyond what General Conference can offer. In this Conference Care Kit you will find:
- Pre-conference journal sheets
- Personal revelation podcast episode
- Playlist of "Conference Comforts"
- 5 favorite conference talks by women
- Channing's cinnamon roll recipe
- Guided relaxation meditation led by Channing
- Post-conference journal sheets
Pre-Conference Journal Sheets
In the pre-conference journal sheets, you will have opportunity to explore your connection to the Divine, your personal spectrum of emotions about conference, practice setting boundaries, and create your own personal conference self-care plan. You can print these pages and write on them, fill them out online, or simply use them as a guide for your own exploration.
Personal Revelation Podcast Episode
A few months ago we recorded an episode that we feel is relevant and impactful for this weekend. 'Life's Work: Smashing the Patriarchy Through Personal Revelation' is the perfect match for General Conference. You can listen to it RIGHT HERE. In this episode we explore what personal revelation looks like, what to do when your revelation conflicts with current church policies and General Authorities, and how personal revelation can guide and influence your life. This is not your average podcast episode. This is not a personal revelation review. It's a conversation that we hope will encourage you to radically embrace your power.
"Conference Comforts" Playlist
Music and art are a personal passion of ours, and we curated a playlist meant to soothe, encourage, and carry your heart as you move through this weekend. We imagine it playing in the background between sessions, the notes wrapping around you like a warm blanket as you snuggle your family, or turned all the way up for a therapeutic dance session in your kitchen. It's our gift to you, given with our greatest hope of comfort and safety. You can listen to it on Spotify. The link is RIGHT HERE.
5 Favorite Conference Talks by Women
For many of us, we long to hear more women's voices over the pulpit. This is why we've gathered 5 of our favorite General Conference talks given by women over the last 5 years. We invite you to tune-in to these talks at anytime throughout the weekend, but particularly when the live sessions feel unsafe, unwelcoming, and exclusive. With talks from super-star women whose messages center on love, comfort, and Jesus Christ we hope you feel seen, welcome, and held here.
- Christ: The Light That Shines in Darkness by Sharon Eubank, April 2019
- At the heart of Sister Eubank's talk, she reminds us that all are welcome. To those experiencing grief, exhaustion, questions, discomfort, and/or discouragement, Jesus Christ sees us and draws near to us.
- Thru Cloud and Sunshine, Lord, Abide with Me by Reyna I. Aburto, October 2019
- Speaking boldly of mental illness and depression, Sister Aburto calls us to follow the Savior, "increase our compassion, diminish our tendency to judge, and stop being the inspectors of the spirituality of others."
- Divine Discontent by Michelle D. Craig, October 2018
- Sister Craig's talk gives us space to feel discontent within the church. She goes so far as to say that this discontent we feel, the discontent that leads us to action, is divine and calls us to Jesus.
- That Your Joy Might Be Full by Jean B. Bingham, October 2017
- With Jesus at the front and center of her talk, Sister Bingham uplifts Him as healer, peacemaker, and forgiver who wants us to have fullness of joy.
- Certain Women by Linda K. Burton, May 2017
- An entire talk centered on and drawing examples from women? Yes, please. In Sister Burton's talk she turns to biblical and modern-day women and their roles as disciples in God's kingdom.
