Saturday, I went to Salt Lake Single Adult Conference for the 5th time. The annual conference is sponsored by Holladay Region of LDS Church and held at University of Utah Institute of Religion. This year it was condensed and scaled down from previous years. The keynote speaker,Kevin Eubank of KSL spoke after lunch, followed by three workshop sessions. In previous years, the keynote speaker spoke at nine in the morning, with two workshop sessions following in the morning. A break for lunch, then one last workshop session. Then attendees would participate in a humanitarian project. There was usually an afternoon break, when attendees would leave, but most would come back for a concert and a dance. I would say the first single conference in 2007 was the biggest. Glenn Beck was the keynote speaker and even married people bought a ticket to hear him. Next year, the keynote speakers were Ricky Schoeder and his wife. They spoke about his conversion. Yes, a former star on NYPD Blue is a Mormon. There was less of a crowd in 2008, probably because married people didn't buy tickets. Peter Vidmar, a former Olympian spoke the next year and then 2010, Gerald Lund, who wrote the LDS historical series "The Work & The Glory". Two years ago, Peter was still doing public speaking and Gerald Lund is probably known nationally in LDS literary circle. His books could be found in library in Kitsap County, Washington. I doubt Kevin Eubank is known outside Utah; he is just a local celebrity who predicts the weather.
As the years have went by, the selection of the workshops has gone down. This year, attendees have a choice of three out five to attend. Last year it was eight or nine. The first three years was probably fifteen or twenty. Maybe it was economy or maybe not. The Provo single conference seems to attract a big crowd each year. But the humanitarian projects have been a staple, although the projects have changed over the years. Right after lunch, the first year, it was tying quilts for the humanitarian center. Even the men got involved with the project. The second year was a walk the Saturday before to raise funds for the American Red Cross. For the third year, it was moved back to the Saturday afternoon of the conference. People put on their work clothes and did yard work at Primary Children's hospital. For the fourth year (and this year), it was kept in house like the first year and soup packets were made for the refugees in the valley.
Starting the second year, a formal dinner was held the night before conference. This year, it was moved to Saturday. No one got an afternoon break or had to leave the conference to enjoy dinner. I have to admit, I liked not having that lull in activities. The usual Saturday night concert replaced the after-dinner Friday nightentertainment. Peter Breinholt entertained conference goers twice. Charley Jenkins came last year and last night, the concert was provided by the Voodoo Orchestra. And of course, a dance and speed dating have followed the concerts. What would a single conference be without those two events.
The single adult conference will always end with a fireside the following Sunday with a General Authority speaking, usually a Seventy. One year, M. Russell Ballard of the Twelve spoke at the Salt Lake Tabernacle. Usually the firesides are at the institute with refreshments following. Refreshments are usually cookies and water to drink, sometime leftover snacks from the dance the night before. This year, the speaker was Kent Richards of the Seventy. If my memory serves me right, he was a bishop in one of the student wards in the 1980's. Elder Richards isn't exactly having a homecoming. The buildings he knew as a bishop have been torn down and replaced with a larger multi-level building with two chapels, a lobby, two gyms and several class rooms.
If there are any misspellings of names, I apologize. If you know the correct spelling, please let me know and I will get the mistake corrected. General Authority in the LDS church are basically the governing body, somewhat like CEO's or board of directors.
