Renee Hansen is looking forward to the second Single Adult Conference this weekend.She attended last year's event, which she said was outstanding
because of the good classes and fulfilling humanitarian project.This year's conference for single adults 31 and older, titled "O
Remember, Remember," is being sponsored by the Holladay Region of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.The big events at the conference will be an appearance by actor
Rick Schroder and his wife, Andrea, at Saturday morning's keynote
session at 9 and a fireside with Elder M. Russell Ballard of the
Quorum of the Twelve at 7 p.m. Sunday.The Schroders, who are members of the LDS Church, will speak at
the Salt Lake University LDS Institute of Religion east cultural hall, and the fireside with Elder
Ballard will be at the Salt Lake Tabernacle.Hansen, who was executive secretary of the conference and works
in the church's member location department, said one of the highlights
for her will be Endless Summer's concert at 7 p.m. Saturday. The group
plays '60s music, including songs from the Beach Boys and the Beatles."I'm stoked," she said.Scott Brown, a Holladay Stake high councilor with a special
assignment as chairman of the conference, said about 2,200 single
adults attended last year's conference, including people from 30 states
and several other countries."We're hoping for at least that many this year," he said.
Potential conference-goers include the more than 100,000 single adults
in Utah alone.Other activities at the conference will include a semiformal
dinner on Friday night, and Education Week-like seminars, a dance
and speed-dating on Saturday."We've had as many as 800 people (participate) in speed-dating at
other events," Brown said, adding that it's a good chance for people to
meet a lot of potential dates. But "if they're not compatible, they
don't have to see each other again.""The field is white for Mormon men. We always need more men (at these events)," he said.Duane Millard and his wife, Glenda, are co-chairs of the Holladay
Region Single Adult Council under the direction of Elder Dale G.
Renlund of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy. Millard said this conference will
build on the success of last year's event, which featured radio and
television talk-show host Glenn Beck.The aim is to have a "first-class, safe" event where single
adults can meet many others in similar circumstances, Millard said,
where "the purpose is leading people to the Savior.""By the time people are 31, they're married to something," and
many forget to get married, he said. And the church activity level of single
males older than 31 is very low, he said.Brown said, "This conference ... provides something for all LDS
single adults to meet others they have something in common with."Hansen said she hopes people will get past the point of just
trying to meet someone at the conference. "If that happens, that's
fine," she said. But she hopes single adults will realize that "so much
effort has gone into this (conference) on their behalf."There are so many (single adults) in the valley. There's a little bit for everybody (at the conference)," she said."This is one of the activities I will always support."If you go...What: Single Adult ConferenceWhere: Salt Lake University Institute east chapel, TabernacleWhen: Friday-SundayHighlights: Dinner, Rick and Andrea Schroder keynote speakers, workshops, concert by Endless Summer, dance, speed-dating, fireside by Elder M. Russell BallardHow much: Saturday events, $20; Friday dinner, $15Registration: www.slc-sa.org