Monday, June 30, 2014

Family Home Evening

I'm so happy the combined Young Women/Young Men lesson I gave at Church yesterday went better than I could have hoped for. I'm so grateful my prayers were answered! Prayer works, oh, yes, it does! Thus, I decided to share the handouts I made for my lesson. I wish I had more time to expound on what we talked about, but this will give you the basic idea. :)

By the by, my fonts are acting weird because I copied/pasted them from a Word doc. Sorry they're all skiwampus! And I have no idea how they'll look on the mobile version of my blog! Also, I created my typographic designs in black and white simply because my laser printer only prints in black ink. If I created them in color, but printed them in black ink, my handouts would have looked ridiculous! ;)

Family Home Evening Material

ü  The Importance of the Family and the Home:

“From the very beginning the Lord has established the importance of the family organization for us.” – Elder L. Tom Perry

“The home is the basis of a righteous life, and no other instrumentality can take its place nor fulfill its essential functions.” – President Gordon B. Hinckley



“President Brigham Young explained that our families are not yet ours. The Lord has committed them to us to see how we will treat them. Only if we are faithful will they be given to us forever. What we do on earth determines whether or not we will be worthy to become heavenly parents.” – Elder L. Tom Perry

“No other success can compensate for failure in the home” – J.E. McCulloch, Home: The Savior of Civilization. (President David O.McKay quoted this in a General Conference address, but it was not his original quote.)

ü  Combating the Adversary:

“Someone has said that our complacency tree has many branches, and each spring more buds come into bloom.

“We cannot afford to be complacent. We live in perilous times; the signs are all around us. We are acutely aware of the negative influences in our society that stalk traditional families. At times television and movies portray worldly and immoral heroes and heroines and attempt to hold up as role models some actors and actresses whose lives are anything but exemplary. Why should we follow a blind guide? Radios blare forth much denigrating music with blatant lyrics, dangerous invitations, and descriptions of almost every type of evil imaginable.

“We, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, must stand up to the dangers which surround us and our families.” – President Thomas S. Monson

“May it be our resolve this year to build a gospel-centered home, a safe harbor from the storms of the adversary.” – Elder L. Tom Perry

“’Your mind is a cupboard, and you stock the shelves.’ Let us make certain that our cupboard shelves, and those of our family members, are stocked with the things which will provide safety to our souls and enable us to return to our Father in Heaven. Such shelves could well be stocked with gospel scholarship, faith, prayer, love, service, obedience, example, and kindness.” – President Thomas S. Monson

ü  The Importance of Family Home Evening:

“We remind you that parents are to preside over their own families.” – Elder L. Tom Perry

 “We cannot afford to neglect this heaven-inspired program [Family Home Evening]. It can bring spiritual growth to each member of the family, helping him or her to withstand the temptations which are everywhere. The lessons learned in the home are those that last the longest.” – President Thomas S. Monson

“As we train a new generation, so will the world be in a few years. If you are worried about the future, then look to the upbringing of your children.” – President Gordon B. Hinckley

ü  The First Presidency letter to all members about Family Home Evening:

“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.”—October 4, 1999

ü  What makes family home evening successful? (taken from LDS.org's Family Home Evening page)

  • Start and end with prayer. This invites the Spirit, increases love, and teaches your family how to pray.
  • Learn from the scriptures and the words of latter-day prophets to help your family live the gospel.
  • Add music, such as hymns and Primary songs, to create an atmosphere of love, peace, and joy.
  • Make it fun by playing games, acting out scripture stories, and making treats. Keep the atmosphere light and loving.
  • Be consistent. Monday nights are set aside by the Church for family home evening. If that doesn’t work, find a night that does.
  • Add variety. Help a neighbor in need, hold a lesson at the park, or go for a walk as a family.
Here are some resources for Family Home Evening I came up with:
Speaking of Pinterest, I found a plethora of Family Home Evening resources! Here are some fun examples to get you excited about FHE:
  • Magazine Monday (Church Magazines)
  • Family Olympics
  • Choosing the Right Board Game
  • Talents Night
  • Six Super Summer Service Projects
  • The Articles of Faith
  • “Who Said it? Prophet or Princess?” game
  • Family Tales
  • Commandments Matching Game
  • FHE for Newlyweds and Empty Nesters
  • Jesus the Christ, A Family Study Project
  • Half Time Games for Family and Friends
  • Family Friendly Family Fued

When all is said and done, the ultimate goal of all these fun family home evening ideas is to bring us closer to our family members. We should be our family members' friends! For, as I tell my children:
If you can’t be nice, kind, and good friends with your siblings, then you shouldn't spend time with your friends. Focus first on becoming friends with your siblings! Friends come and go, but family is FOREVER! :)

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