Youth Conference 2014

Setting up camp out on the ranch.

Friends from all over Austin getting to see each other.

Our Tribe sign.  Thank you Shauna.

Part of our crew.  Pretty much the younger kids as the older ones just run off to be with friends.  They have been doing these youth conferences for a little longer.

Its so great to have these 2 back in the age bracket that they can do these things together.  Jordan loves showing Jackson the ropes.

Shes so excited for him to be at the high school with her.

She may start to rethink her excitement.

(I know she loves it!)

The theme of the conference:

I will go.  I will do.

(In Hebrew)

Some of the men from the Stake Presidency built this tower.  It was pretty amazing.  Although the youth were forbidden to get on it, it was very cool for some of the re enactments that took place.

Practicing for the huge sword fight.

Jordan was last girl standing from them all.  She was so proud and then Jackson told us how that happened.  She never even used her sword, she had a ton of guys protecting her.  I guess thats one way to win.

Not sure what she was doing here.  Maybe her celebratory dance.

Jackson and Jacob

Jacob is a great friend to Jackson.  He will be a sophomore next year, so hes glad that Jackson will be at VHS too.

Jackson certainly was holding his own for a first timer.   I think size always helps because people thinks he is older.

He had a great time at the dance the first night.  He was cool and asked girls from our ward to dance but the coolest thing he did was to ask his Mom to dance one time.  We had a great time and took the opportunity to totally embarrass Jordan while she was dancing with Noah.

So glad that I could weasel my way in to chaperon.  These youth conferences are amazing.  I can not believe how much help we get with raising good faithful kids.

Some of the wards were re enacting stories from the Book of Mormon.

There was a service project for our military. 

 They played games that would include all 400 including the massive sword fight.

They had the food figured out for 400 kids.

Most of them chose to opt out on using sun tan lotion.  I saw a lot of red kids on Saturday night.

This was the coolest part of the weekend.  It was a re enactment of when Jesus Christ will return to this Earth.  The leaders did an incredible job with this.

Then a testimony meeting followed to close out Youth Conference 2014.

Jackson could not believe that that many youth could stand in front of everyone and each of them give about a 1 minute testimony of the gospel for 2 1/2 hours.

He told Jordan that he would have to give his testimony the next time.

She said that she would hold him to that at EFY this summer.

Attending Youth Conferences like this one helps these amazing youth to keep focused on the blessings that come from going to the temple.

I am sure that everyone that attended left with a stronger testimony and tons of great memories.