A conference to remember
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As Susan Gruber looked down the row at her children, an overwhelming feeling of the Spirit entered her heart. For Sister Gruber, being in the Conference Center for the first time, and to be there with her family, was an unforgettable experience. "I was recording it in my journal as we were sitting there waiting when the prophet first walked out," Sister Gruber said. "My husband picked up our 8-year-old so she could see and I happened to look down the line. Just to see my kids all standing there with the prophet right there was just so overwhelming."
The Gruber family, who are members of the Princeton 2nd Ward, East Brunswick New Jersey Stake, were in town for general conference. It was the first time for their family to attend conference, and for some of them it was their first time in the Conference Center.
"Coming from New Jersey where there are few members and then to be in the Conference Center where all of the people in the large congregation have the same beliefs is really neat," Sister Gruber said.
For the Grubers' 16-year-old son, Alex, attending conference was a great experience. "You walk in from outside being chaotic and stuff going on, and then you walk in and feel this sudden peace," said Alex. "I could definitely feel a difference."
Alex said he enjoyed watching the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles greet and shake hands with each other as they walked onto the podium before the meeting started. He noticed the quiet reverence that struck when the Brethren entered, and realized the importance of preparing for meetings. He said that he would learn from that experience and better prepare for other meetings he attends in the future.
Lizzy Gruber, who is a freshman at BYU-Idaho, also noticed the strong spirit when the President Thomas S. Monson walked into the Conference Center auditorium.
"That many people got that quiet when the prophet walked out," Lizzy said. "It was definitely really cool."
For Sister Gruber, it was an incredible experience to share with her family, and hopes her children had a memorable experience that will strengthen their own testimonies.
"We budgeted for this trip, knowing that this was going to be a lasting point of their life, something that they would hold onto hopefully," Sister Gruber said. "I hope they get the sense of pride for who they are and what a privilege it is to be here and see the prophet live."
Not only was being in the Conference Center near President Thomas S. Monson, and listening to the words of other inspired leaders a great experience for Sister Gruber, experiencing general conference with her family will always be a cherished memory.
"Knowing my children want to be here and they understand the importance was just amazing," said Sister Gruber. "I mean, what more could a mother want?"
