Today I am still talking about the Talk Mother’s Teaching Children in the Home by Elder Perry. I’m sorry if you are sick of it, but I LOVED the talk so…Sorry! Anyway back to the quote that I loved…
“Parents must bring light and truth into their homes by one family prayer, one scripture study session, one family home evening, one book read aloud, one song, and one family meal at a time. They know that the influence of righteous, conscientious, persistent, daily parenting is among the most powerful and sustaining forces for good in the world. The health of any society, the happiness of its people, theirprosperity, and their peace all find common roots in the teaching of children in the home.”
Family Home Evening
So the next thing to talk about is Family Home Evening. I remember ever since I was little my mom ALWAYS had family home evening. I remember being in charge of some lessons, or the treat, or the prayer. I remember that some family home evenings ended in disaster. I was the baby of the family until my little brother came along 6 years later, and for some reason I was a very emotional child! So, a lot of our Monday nights ended with me crying about something:) I must apologize openly to my mom and dad for that, but not to my mean brothers and sisters!! I was NEVER in the wrong {insert sarcastic roll of my eyes}
Holding family home evening really shouldn’t be hard, {although I will admit there have been some weeks that we have missed, which I think is silly because it really isn’t a hard thing to do}
Elder Perry says,
“The Church has established two special times for families to be together. The first is centered around the proper observance of the Sabbath day. This is the time we are to attend our regular meetings together, study the life and teachings of the Savior and of the prophets. “Other appropriate Sunday activities include (1) writing personal and family journals, (2) holding family councils, (3) establishing and maintaining family organizations for the immediate and extended family, (4) personal interviews between parents and children, (5) writing to relatives and missionaries, (6) genealogy, (7) visiting relatives and those who are ill or lonely, (8) missionary work, (9) reading stories to children, and (10) singing Church hymns.” 6
The second time is Monday night. We are to teach our children in a well-organized, regular family home evening. No other activities should involve our family members on Monday night. This designated time is to be with our families.”
In 1999 a letter was written by the First Presidency about holding family home evening….
The First Presidency letter of October 4, 1999
“To: Members of the Church throughout the World
“Dear Brothers and Sisters:
“Monday nights are reserved throughout the Church for family home evenings. We encourage members to set aside this time to strengthen family ties and teach the gospel in their homes.
“Earlier this year we called on parents to devote their best efforts to the teaching and rearing of their children in gospel principles which will keep them close to the Church. We also counseled parents and children to give highest priority to family prayer, family home evening, gospel study and instruction, and wholesome family activities.
“We urge members, where possible, to avoid holding receptions or other similar activities on Monday evenings. Where practical, members may also want to encourage community and school leaders to avoid scheduling activities on Monday evenings that require children or parents to be away from their homes.
“Church buildings and facilities should be closed on Monday evenings. No ward or stake activities should be planned, and other interruptions to family home evenings should be avoided.” 7
May it be our resolve this year to build a gospel-centered home, a safe harbor from the storms of the adversary. Let us again remember the promises and instructions from the Lord to His children:
“The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.
“Light and truth forsake that evil one. …
“And that wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers.
“But I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth.”
May this be our year for enjoying the light and truth of the gospel in our homes. May our homes truly become places of refuge from the world is my humble prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
We have had to switch days that we did family home evening because of school or work, but it really should not be hard to fit it in once a week for an hour. As we read from this letter, you can tell how important it is to have this for our families to “bring them up in Light and Truth” and to “make our homes safe harbors from the storm”
There are so many great resources for Family Home Evening. We should NEVER run out of stuff to teach our kids. There are a lot of places you can get ideas from for family home evening. Since my kids are little we change it up quite a bit. I know there are places you can buy lessons and they send you a big huge kit with a lesson and activity and treat to make. I think there is so much online for free I don’t bother buying that stuff.
I remember that we had a lot of family home evenings as a child out of
As we grew up we started having lessons from
On the church website if you go the Family Home Evening there are a lot of ideas and even a planing and even some resources including the new Gospel Art Kit, Church Videos, and even church manuals can be taught out of.
We also have gotten a couple fun videos called FHE on DVD
from Deseret Book which my kids really love!
from Deseret Book which my kids really love!Here are also some fun online resources
These are just a few, I am sure if you googled family home evening you could find a whole lot more. These are just some that I have used.
Whether young or old, newlywed or grandparents, we all need to be doing family home evening. I have heard of monthly home evenings that grandparents do for their whole families. If I loved closer to my family I would love to do this. If you aren’t close to your family you can invite friends or even non members over for FHE.
I love this quote..
“Family home evening is for everyone. It is for families with parents and children, for families with just one parent, and for parents who have no children at home. It is for home evening groups of single adults and for those who live alone or with roommates. . . . Regular participation in family home evening will develop increased personal worth, family unity, love for our fellow men, and trust in our Father in heaven.”
(Family Home Evening, 1976 — Spencer W. Kimball, N. Eldon Tanner, and Marion G. Romney)
What are some of your Family Home Evening Traditions??
