It’s the first Saturday night in April, and all the men and boys are gone. What’s a girl to do?

This is the quandary faced by LDS women across the world. While their husbands, fathers, brothers and boyfriends attend the Priesthood session of General Conference, women have to find other ways to entertain themselves.

“We make it a point to go out and do exciting stuff while the guys are [at the priesthood session],” said Kasia Januszewski, 21, a student from Chicago studying social work.

Like Januszewski, many girls go out with girlfriends during the Priesthood session. Last year, Januszewski said they stayed in Salt Lake City after attending General Conference and found themselves surrounded by other girls doing the same thing.

“The shopping malls were packed, waits in restaurants were long, girls were everywhere,” Januszewski said. “We finally settled for Olive Garden and had to wait. There were only a couple guys out, but other than that it was all girls.”

Other girls find Priesthood session an opportunity for family togetherness — girls only.

Tiana Turner, a freshman from Temecula, Calif., studying pre-elementary education, said her family splits up before the Priesthood session.

“The boys [in our family] go out to dinner before the session, and the girls just eat junk food and watch movies,” she said. “It’s nice to spend time with just the girls and our mom. We can do girly things without the boys making fun of us.”

Deseret Book sponsors a semi-annual “Ladies’ Night Out” during the Priesthood session. The store has drawings for books, calendars, pictures and almost everything Deseret Book sells, says Karen Larsen from Sandy.

“We’ve been going every year — I can’t even remember when we didn’t go,” she said. “My daughters, daughters-in-law, my granddaughters — we all get together. The guys usually go out for ice cream after, but lately they’ve brought it home to share with us.”

Hogi-Yogi is a hot spot for both Priesthood holders and ladies after General Conference.

“Last year I worked the night of Priesthood session and lots of moms and daughters came in,” said Samantha Rollins, a Hogi-Yogi employee. “Then, after, we had a rush of men come in. It was cute to see the little Priesthood bonding time.”

Whatever the activity, Priesthood session provides opportunities for quality time for fathers and sons, as well as mothers and daughters or friends.



Copyright Brigham Young University 31 Mar 2005