President David O. McKay speaking at General Conference, 1958
My first memory of General Conference was when I was a very young girl. Our family had journeyed to Salt Lake City from our farm near Sugar City, Idaho so that my mother, a medical technologist, could attend a convention. While she was in her meetings, my father took the children to Temple Square where conference was in session. As we stood in the door at the very back or east side of the Tabernacle, he held each of us up high so that we could see the prophet speaking at the pulpit. It is one of my most treasured childhood memories, one that gave me a testimony that there are present day prophets who guide us.
Other memories:
*Being a TV free family until I was eleven, I would sometimes watch parts of conference on the TV at the Shirley's home. It would be on the radio at my house.
*Good old KPHO, Channel 5, would broadcast conference once we were residents of Arizona.
*My first semester at BYU, rising at 4:30 am to go to Temple Square where we would stand in line for hours to get in the morning session. Then they packed us in the balcony benches so tight it was almost hard to breathe (and stay awake.)
*Raising my arm to the square with tears streaming down my face as I listened alone in my BYU apartment bedroom as Spencer W. Kimball was sustained as prophet, seer, and revelator. My testimony once again confirmed.
*Making packets for my children which included M&M's for conference bingo, so that it might be a good listening experience for all of us.
*The event of cable TV and my sisters coming to our house to watch conference and taking all the good seats while I was fixing them food. I know, me and Martha!
*Standing in line when the Conference Center first opened with two tickets and four possible attendees. How do you handle that? Janae and friend Caroline finally peeled off at the last minute and headed for the Tabernacle. Ryan and I very much enjoyed being there live. As I sat by Ryan, he sketched the speakers in his journal as he listened. One of my best memories, especially in light of the last few years.
*Hearing President Hinckley announce the rebuilding of the Nauvoo Temple. I thought my heart would burst!
*Every time they announce new temples I rejoice for those parts of the world. Prophecy being fulfilled!
*This weekend, just me and my sweet hubby sitting in our favorite spots listening without any interruptions. I had a new responsibility and I listened as one who will help decide the talks to use during the next six months for "Teachings for Our Times." It was wonderful!
Lucy is worried that she will be left behind in grandma's backyard.
Lucy watched as Emelia and Ryan loaded up the last few belongings into cars for the big move to New Mexico. Right after this photo was taken there were tears! Emelia and Laurel tears for another hard adjustment in life. 
Nephew Cory joined us at the gardens. He was careful and did not drive his Segway off the highest man-made waterfall in the western hemisphere.
We watched a bridal shoot at the Italian fountain. It has been great to visit monthly and see how the garden changes.
It was Plein Air Art Festival time and we watched several artists at work.
The secret garden was very quiet, just us and the artist. Cory's wife, Elizabeth, took this picture.
The mountains were beginning to change color. I took this photo from the kitchen balcony as the moon came up.
We kidnapped cousin Jill from the Primary Children's Hospital and took her to lunch at Ruth's Diner. Jill is my hero. Her two year old had just been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and Jill still had a smile on her face. It broke my heart to see her baby in that hospital bed.
2 Nephi 30:15
The sister missionaries and Eric's family came for grilled pizzas last Saturday so I used up those bananas for one pan with nuts and one without. Here is the recipe which I got from the back of a mini-morsels chocolate chip bag years ago.
We stepped onto another important family milestone last night. Three generations of Jensen men attended the Priesthood Session of General Conference together. After grilled pizzas with family members and the sister missionaries, Glen was joined by his son, Eric, and grandson, TJ, at the broadcast at our stake center. As they returned home, I realized that I needed to record this special evening.
On this trip Glen was able to introduce his sons to then Seventy Gardner Russell. Glen served as a missionary and AP under President Russell in Uruguay/Paraguay Mission in the early 1970's.
Julianna was really happy to see them come back. She stayed with me while her mother, Heather, and Toby went to their school Fall festival.
Sometimes I tag along in the car to Yuma with Sally and her girls. We meet up with Glen and Dave after their client meetings. I then hop in the car with Glen for a ride back to Mesa and Dave joins the girls for the remainder of their trip to San Diego and the other grandparents.
And this one who is great with buckling seat belts and running the DVD player. I picked her up from school today, early, the first time anyone has picked her up from school early. It made me a bit homesick for my elementary teaching days. She will have an extra week of Fall break.
Sally was our trusted driver and partial wedding planner.
I love this picture of Tara flanked by her grandmothers. How fortunate she is to still have them both in her life at this special time.
