“Lou’s Conference Question,” Friend, September 2025, 4–5.

Lou’s Conference Question

By Lucy Stevenson Ewell

“Should I go to Alice’s party?” Lou wrote.

A true story from Belgium.

Frowning girl looking at a party invitation

Lou felt excited as she tore open the blue envelope. Her best friend Alice was having a birthday party, and she was invited!

But as Lou read the invitation, her heart sank. Not another party on Sunday, she thought.

Lou’s family didn’t go to parties on Sundays. Instead, they spent time together, went to church, and did other things to remember the Savior.

But this party was harder to say no to. How could she miss her best friend’s birthday?

“Can’t I just go this once?” Lou asked her parents that night. “I know Sundays are important. But I don’t want to miss out.”

“It’s a hard choice,” Dad said. “Heavenly Father asks us to make Sunday a holy day. But it’s up to you to decide how you’ll do that.”

Mom gave Lou a hug. “General conference is this weekend. Maybe this can be the question you ask.”

Lou’s family had a tradition to write down a question they had before conference. Then during conference, they listened for answers.

Lou sighed. “OK.”

Girl kneeling by her bed and praying; a notebook and pencil are on her bed

At bedtime, Lou wrote down her question. Then she prayed. “Heavenly Father, I really want to go to this party, and I don’t know what to do. Will you please help me find answers as I watch general conference?”

Children sitting on a couch and looking at a laptop computer on a table in front of them

A few days later, Lou and her brothers piled onto the couch. It was time for conference! Lou drew in her notebook during the opening song. Then the first speaker began.

Lou looked up. The speaker was talking about the Sabbath day! He said that God blessed those who keep His commandments, even if the blessing didn’t come right away.

“I think Heavenly Father already answered my question,” Lou said. “That was fast!”

The next day at school, Lou found Alice at recess. “Thanks for inviting me to your party,” Lou said. She took a deep breath. “Sundays are a special day for me and my family. So I won’t be able to come.”

“OK,” Alice said. “I’m sad you’ll miss it.”

“Me too,” said Lou. “But on Saturday, would you like to go with me to the trampoline park? Then we can still play together and celebrate your birthday.”

“I’d love to!” Alice grinned.

Lou smiled back. Not going to the party was a hard choice to make. But she knew it was the right thing. And she was grateful that Heavenly Father answered her important question.