Worst. Stake Conference. Ever.

We just got home from the worst Stake Conference ever. Harsh, you say, hear me out. A few weeks ago a couple friends and I decided we should join the choir singing at Stake Conference. For them, it was about a love of singing and hymns being praises and such, for me it was a way to sit and listen to Stake Conference, from my cushy seat, for 2 hours, while Derek had the kids. Genius I'd say.
So today I was enjoying Stake Conference while watching Derek and the kids. Halfway through, I saw Derek take Logan out and leave the other 3 kids on the bench. Not too concerned at this point. Our last speaker was Cecil O. Samuelson - as in President of BYU and General Authority. Derek and I were at our Stake Center, becuase I was in the choir and all, but it was also being broadcast to 2 other buildings and 2 nursing homes (do we live in Utah?). He was in the middle of his talk when all of the sudden the fire alarm goes off. Ear piercing fire alarm. People covering their ears fire alarm. Babies crying fire alarm. It is so loud that he had no choice but to stop his talk. Through the siren he did manage to say, "kids are cute, but there are things they shouldn't touch".
Emmy and her friend were out getting a drink from the water fountain when the alarm went off, and they both sprinted outside.
The fire alarm is going and going and High Councilmen and the Stake Presidency have gone out to the halls to figure out what is going on. My friend Kim and I start asking ourselves if there's any way it's either of our 2 year olds, since they were both out of the chapel at the time. No way we convinced ourselves, they're 2 - they couldn't reach the fire alarm. It's definitely not either of our boys.
Finally, after several minutes, like 5 ear-splitting minutes, while Elder Samuelson can't do anything but stand there, the siren goes off. The strobe lights on each alarm, however, are still going strong. A counselor in the Stake Presidency comes back and assures Elder Samuelson that it was accidental, and we don't need to start evacuating, to which Elder Samuelson says to everyone, "It was an accident, we'll have a disciplinary council after the meeting. If you need surgery repairing your ear drums, send your bills to your Stake Presidency." And the meeting proceeeds.
Here's the unbeknowst to me part . . . Derek had Logan, and his friend (partner in crime I'd suggest) in the Relief Society room listening to the talk. Derek saw the boys looking at the fire alarm lever and he distracted them away from it. Ten minutes later Derek saw Logan beelining for the fire alarm - despite Derek's chase, the alarm was pulled. When it started Derek was hoping it was just in the Relief Society room, when he heard Elder Samuelson say, "Everyone stay calm" Derek knew he was cooked. Derek ran out of the room to see the High Councilmen looking to see what alarm was pulled. Derek told them where it was, and they told him to stay put. They had a key to turn off the alarm, but not the strobe lights. So the alarm was off, lights still going, and Derek and Logan had to wait otuside for the fire department to come.


After they got the lights off, they had to have a talk with Logan. I'm sure that went well. The firemen said since he had called them, he might as well get a tour of the fire truck. So Logan got a tour of the fire truck and met his first fireman.

Right after the alarm got turned off, Derek's friend - who was another building - text him and said, "It was your kid wasn't it?" Other favorite texts have asked if we think the fire alarm will make the report that Elder Samuelson gives when he gets back to Utah, the fact it was Logan who pulled it "was no shocker", and when will his disciplinary council be. My brother thinks we should print the picture of Logan and the fireman and mail it to Elder Samuelson with a note that says, "It was me".

When I first saw Logan after the meeting all he could say was "loud, loud". After we went into the Relief Society room to see just how low this fire alarm lever was. Logan was so scared he didn't even want to go in the room. Maybe the fireman's talk did sink in . .. . Needless to say, I will not be singing in the Stake Conference choir again - we need all hands on deck.