California YSA Conference 2009

This past weekend, was my first YSA conference. It was the statewide California conference, where all 7 temples hosted for their respective zones. 7 temples all simultaneously taught the same lessons and ran the same programs at the same time. It was the fun challenge planned. This has been a well planned, over planned project to boost temple ordinances and such. Leading up to the conference in the last 8 months, collective between 7 temples, 65,000+ temple ordinances were performed by the YSA between the ages of 18-31 in California. It was a challenge, and the YSA of California ran with it. 2days of conference dedication to temple time paid off with lots of fun. We had 4 workshops, speed dating, 3 great meals, the biggest sacrament meeting ever and a new use of technology.

We had some great speakers, touching on the atonement, convenances, temple ordinances, financial planning and many other church topics that they usually touch on. It was overall a lot of fun. I even had my first speed dating event. Which was interesting. I think between the 7 temples and 157 stakes, there was an outcome goal of 10,000 YSA to be in attendance of the conference, but I think it might have gone over that number because the goal for the Oakland Temple was 1,700 and we surpassed that to 21oo on Saturday and 2300 on Sunday. Our multi-stake center however, only holds 1500 by itself, so it was a fun challenge on Sunday to see the guys have to walk around the building to all the other places to pass sacrament. Passing the sacrament to 2300 people is an extremely long and tedious process. They said it would take 250 men to do it between the 7 temples, but Oakland had at least 42 on their own. The statistics posted in the commercial I think were goals that were surpassed. 60,000 bottles for instance, we used roughly 2200 bottles of water every 3 hours. Temple ordinances were also performed Saturday morning starting at 6am. Which means people were getting ready for the conference at the crack of dawn. It was crazy, some of the things we did, but it was also fun with others. Here are some picture highlights.

Here we have our Graffiti wall where everyone had a chance to put up a message to the world. It was fun. This is at registration. Which went on for 2+ hours.

Emily and I in front of the temple right after dinner as we changed clothes for the evening activities and dance. The burgundy lanyards mean we were in the second age group. 18-31 was split into 5 age groups. And lanyards signified which age group we would be speed dating in.

Speed dating, my first time... it was interesting... lesson learned.... don't have any expectations.

They had a new technological advancement that came with this conference, text message polling and quick post, where we text message our questions, answer polls and make comments during talks, workshops and any time in between. It started at 8am with punch lines, polls, and pick up lines from everyone in the audience, and by the end of the night it was personal ads with phone numbers for you to call to find a date. I personally had a blast with it, posting messages for friends on the board and challenging other wards to the quilt tie off.

"I want a Hansen but I will settle for a Garret...."

"Time to stop ruling the world and find a man..."

"Berkeley Ward challenges Washington Square to a tie off..."

Here we are right before the dance. Emily, Rachel, Jody and I.

Tying quilts for charity. Every temple was assigned 150 quilts to tie to donate to families in need. Our fingers were beyond soar and red by the time the dance rolled around. Humanitarian work is both rewarding and painful.

One line: "When Mormons dance..."

It was a blast!