General Conference is right around the Corner

******* UPDATE - FINAL DRAFT FOR DOWNLOAD BELOW ******

I LOVE GENERAL CONFERENCE!  In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint we have a worldwide General Conference every six months.  On the first weekend of April and October each year members are invited to listen to the words of living prophets and apostles. I look forward to these weekends all year long.  Actually, I am either planning for the upcoming conference or reviewing the information from the last conference every day all year long.  I love to listen to a talk everyday as I get ready for the day.  I review my notes and hang little cards with quotes throughout my house.  I highlight scriptures that were emphasized. I strive to understand the Lord's will for me and my family through the words of those that have been called to speak for Him. You can find more information here: Mormon.org or here Restoration

I am a ferocious note taker. I take notes in every meeting and many conversation.  You can imagine how my note-taking slips in to hyper drive with something as beloved and important as General Conference!  I have stacks of paper and notebooks and Ensigns, not to mention highlights and tags on my LDS Library App. I'm desperate for a better system!

I've used lots of different note taking methods. This time I'd like to create my own with a few specific ideas in mind.

• Several times I have taken notes only to go back and check the transcript of the talk and what I wrote down is nowhere to be found.  Yet, I distinctly remember hearing and writing down something that touched me.  I finally figured out that this was the Holy Ghost prompting or teaching me something specific for me.   
• Over the last few years I have diligently looked for invitations to act from the speakers.  Often, speakers will follow the invitation with a promise or a blessing.   Keeping track of these invitations and  blessings has helped strengthen my testimony and commitment to the gospel.  I can see how my family has been blessed and enriched as we have followed the counsel of our leaders.
• I like to scripture chain.  Some people call it mapping.  I like to mark the first scripture in a talk and list the reference for the next scripture beside it. I go through all the references sited, ending with the reference for the first scripture next to the last one creating a Doctrinal or Topical scripture chain. 
• I like to focus on the doctrine or principle the Lord, through the speaker, is trying to teach me.  Putting the talk in a doctrinal context helps me to remember the talk better and dig deeper than an interesting story or some nice platitudes.  Elder Boyd K. Packer has said: "True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior" The whole point of General Conference is to help change, grow and develop into the person my Heavenly Father created me to be.

With these ideas in mind, I've come up with the note templates below.  Feel Free to download and print as many copies as you like.  The file includes full page and 2 per page templates..

Enjoy!!

The pdf version for a closer look.
General Conference Notes Template

If you would like to use this format for other meetings you may make edits with this Excel File.
Excel General Conference Notes Template