Priesthood session is a time for boys and men all throughout the church to gather together for specific instruction from church leaders. Watching the priesthood session at the Marriott Center is even more special.

The Marriott Center is the second biggest venue that the meeting is watched from besides the Conference Center itself.

More than 10,000 men gathered to the Marriott Center Saturday night to watch general priesthood session on the bright yellow seats. Most of them were single BYU and UVSC students with the exception of a few.

Freshman roommates Andy Emory and Scott Hannay from Santa Barbara, Calif. went to the conference center with their fathers Dennis and Rick, who are both converts in the church.

"We came up for parents weekend and spend some time with our boys," Dennis Emory said. "It's an opportunity to be a part of the entire BYU experience."

"With Dennis and I both being converts, we didn't have wonderful opportunities like this in our day to attend priesthood session in such a large building," Rick Hannay said. "It's such an amazing experience to hear all of the voices in unison during the hymns. There is so much synergy in the building."

The sons commented on their experience at BYU and the words uttered during the session.

"The bar has been raised and I need to raise my standards with it," said Andy Emory, a freshman majoring in pre-management.

Another family bonding moment at the Marriott Center included a nephew-and-uncle combo from Orem. Kevin Martin, 20, is preparing to serve in the Tulsa, Oklahoma mission and attended with his uncle, John Starrs, 35, a local video producer.

"Being here is a different experience," Martin said. "Being from a small town, it is neat to be here with such a large body of men."

"The thing I like about being here is that the Marriott Center is always announced at the beginning of the session," said Starrs, who graduated from BYU.

For students, the priesthood session is a good time for roommates and friends to get together and strengthen their spirituality together.

Wes Braithwaite, a recent BYU graduate in information systems, came down from Olympia, Wash. to attend a mission reunion and see old friends, was also in attendance.

"It is great to come back and see some old friends and roommates," he said. "We are all planning on going to Brick Oven afterwards for a 'guys night out' and discuss the talks that were given."

No matter the reason, students and fathers agree that going to the Marriott Center to watch priesthood session can be a special experience and testimony builder for all.

"My only complaint is the people who leave right after the last talk and don't wait for the hymn and closing prayer," said Rhett Weller, a senior from Odgen majoring in business. "It's just so rude."

Copyright Brigham Young University 7 Oct 2002