thoughts on conference -- part one

Twice every year in April and October, our church holds General Conference where the leaders speak to the people (both church members and non church members alike). There are five sessions in total, two general sessions on both Saturday and Sunday, and a Priesthood session for the men Saturday night. Here are a few of my thoughts, both intellectual and not-so-intellectual on today's proceedings.

Live from the Mother Ship, it's General Conference!

• Conference always makes me want to be a better person, even if my efforts don't always suggest such things.
• October conference will forever and always be special to me, since, seven years ago this weekend I was baptized between the morning and afternoon sessions of conference.
• I am seriously beginning to think that if one is to perform musically in the Conference Center, one is required to wear something hideous, you know, like House Rules. The MoTab has heinous outfits (basically, a large potato sack-y cut dress in a hue only your great aunt would wear), and when there are guest choirs (like this afternoon's), the women wear putrid colored tops. Even the Primary choirs who sing there have the same shirt in random pastel colors. Is there some closet in the underground of Temple Square where these shirts, all in various colors and sizes, are stored for a guest choir? Because I can't even begin to think of where I would find a goldenrod colored button down shirt -- only in Utah?? [The exception to this was during the Relief Society broadcast last week, where the women wore white button downs and had on beautiful flower corsages -- good job on that one, folks!]
• Clearly I understand the circle of life, but it still saddens me to see our aging leaders. How sad was it to see Elder Packer sitting, instead of standing at the pulpit?
• I've only been to Temple Square at the Conference Center during non-Conference times, but is 2 hours between sessions really ample time to get everyone out of the parking lots and get everyone into the parking lots for the following session? Tender mercies.
• It is deeply symbolic to me that Conference is held during the times of year that promote the greatest desire to change. In April, after we've all woken from our long winter's nap, Conference is a nice reminder to dust off our selves, and do a little "spring cleaning" of our souls. In October, how can one not look at the changing scenery and be reminded of the chances we have to turn our lives around and get on a good path?
• President Uchtdorf will always be a long-standing favorite of mine, but it seems like each time I see him, he's even more tan. When have you ever seen a tan, elderly German man? And was it just me, or is his English getting worse?
• Who knew that Elder Bednar was funny??