Family Home Evening

As I was thinking about this evening I thought about Family Home Evening, also known as FHE. Family Home Evening was instituted by a prophet of God in 1915 and that declaration is as follows: In 1915, the First Presidency of the Church wrote: "We advise and urge the inauguration of a 'Home Evening' throughout the Church, at which time fathers and mothers may gather their boys and girls about them in the home and teach them the word of the Lord…. This "Home Evening' should be devoted to prayer, singing hymns, songs, instrumental music, scripture-reading, family topics and specific instruction on the principles of the Gospel, and on the ethical problems of life, as well as the duties and obligation of children to parents, the home, the Church, society, and the Nation" (IE 18 [June 1915]:733)

I thought I would use this post as an opportunity to share about Family Home Evening, which I just did, and let you know what I will be doing for it.



Growing up in a family of 8, including my parents (the picture attached is a picture of 5 of the 6 siblings), we would divide Family Home Evening into different parts like song, prayer, lesson, activity, closing prayer, refreshments etc. Everyone would get a rotating assignment each week. So one week I would be in charge of the song, and the next week the prayer, and the next the lesson, and so on and so forth. Tonight I'm in charge of the lesson.

Amy and I have this book called "Eternal Marriage". This is the book from which I will draw for help in preparing a lesson. I browse the "contents" page and find "Commitment" as a topic so turn to page 21. Now I really like this book because it contains TONS of quotes from both the scriptures, modern-day prophets who have passed away and living prophets who are on the earth today.

The first quote that the chapter starts with is wonderful. "A beginning to influence our children for good is a secure marriage, where there is a commitment to make the personal adjustments to live together forever." -President Spencer W. Kimball (Who's actually one of the men that my son is named after:)

I realized as I was reading the next quotes and accompanying talk/discourse that I hadn't prayed. I will take a moment to do so. Okay, now I am in even a better state of mind where the Spirit of God can help me as I prepare.

James E. Faust said, "In my opinion, members of the Church have the most effective cure for our decaying family life. It is for men, women, and children to honor and respect the divine roles of both fathers and mothers in the home."

My plan includes the following:

1. I will read the rest of the chapter.
2. Make mental and/or physical note(s) of the quotes/talks/discourses I especially liked.
3. At Family Home Evening tonight we will read some of them together.
4. We will then talk about whatever comes to mind and ways that we can be (better, more) committed.
5. I will seal the lesson with my personal testimony of the importance of commitment.
6. And I will end the lesson by saying "In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

I think I could say that growing up in home that carried out Family Home Evening on a regular basis and in my home where I am the one in charge of carrying it out that Family Home Evening is an inspired mandate from God Himself that has helped and continues to help me (along with others) to run, live and be fearless.