We had soooo much fun this past weekend at my youth conference. It was one of those magical times that brings so much happiness.

 

 

I loved having friends there to help me and seeing so many youth learning about the importance of the classics, Locke, self-government, family, and virtue. Here’s what I learned…

 

• homeschooled youth can easily organize themselves into impromptu games
• at least one of these youth is so eager to play outdoor games instead of electronic ones he said he offers his friends a dollar if they will come toss a football with him.

• these youth have amazing talents, from the martial arts to yo-yo tricks to music to drama to creating beautiful flowers to decorate hair

 

• virtue is anything that establishes or maintains a family
• vice is anything that keeps a family from being formed or destroys a family
• gambling is now legal in all the 50 states but Hawaii and Utah
• all the vices used to be illegal
• John Locke was really smart. He recognized that three restraints keep people from committing vice: public, private, and religious.
• It’s probably not a coincidence that after Bill Bennett (author of The Book of Virtues) publicly admitted he had a gambling habit, gambling increased.
• Our nation has seen these three restraints disappear from society for the most part. We are embarking on a grand experiment to see if we can be self-governing and vicious (full of vice) at the same time. Locke didn’t think a people could.

•  John Locke had a mission from God to tell people about self-government
• the difference between conservatives and libertarians is that although they both believe in freedom, conservatives believe in caring for the family unit and libertarians don’t necessarily

 

• when you act in accordance to God’s will, you have protection
• next time I do a conference I want to make sure I have a podium for the speakers
• Aneladee Milne is terrific at changing her speech

 

 

• leadership education should help you focus on being the best leader (father or mother) of your family
• the reason the LDS Church spends so much money on educating youth is to help them be the best father or mother, husband and wife
• some kids don’t like to admit that they didn’t do the readings
• Julie Beck is really cool.
• I want to learn more about Locke from Aneladee Milne
• I want to plan things better so I am not gone buying batteries and film when Aneladee is speaking

 

 

• Frances Hodgson Burnett had a fabulous talent of describing the role of a whole or proper son, a prince, and a whole or proper daughter, a princess
• Emily Black is great at writing simulations

 

 

 

• the tower in fairy tales that protects princesses is symbolic of the home and family. Thank you Stephanie Servoss for sharing that with us!

• A well-designed simulation can be transformational as well as hilarious to take part in and watch. Thank you Emily Black!

 

 

• women and men are different on purpose, as designed by God. We are not supposed to compete with each other but help each other. Husbands and wives each have different pieces of the puzzle and can benefit each other if asked and listened to.

 

 

• Tricia Leslie of Silhouette Ballroom (http://silhouetteballroom.com) is great at using metaphors kids can understand to teach ballroom dancing.

 

 

 

• Youth really do like to ballroom dance if given instruction and time to do it!
• You can find lots of clean songs out there for a delightful evening of only ballroom dance songs, plus a little Veggie Tales thrown in! Click on the “Playlist for dances” tab on this site for a playlist.
• You can use old-fashioned dance cards in a way that doesn’t make anyone feel left out.
• You can see lots more photos of the conference at the “May Youth Conference” tab
• I want to do a youth conference every year! It was so heartwarming, refreshing, and helped me get to know my community of mentor moms better.