Did you know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints admonished us to hold "family night" once a week 100 years ago? Family Night or Family Home Evening is a time to gather our little ones around us and teach them of our Savior and the love He has for each of us. It should be a fun evening not something that is dreaded... easier said than done right?! So for tonight's Family Home Evening let's celebrate! In our home we are going to have a little birthday party for FHE. Here is our plan...
Opening Song: Family Night Children's Song Book 195
Introduction: Read a portion of the original letter sent to members of the church encouraging them to begin holding Family Night. It can be found in the April 2015 Ensign Magazine here.
One of my favorite points from this letter is that Family Night should "studiously avoid stiffness and formality". Family Home Evening should be fun.
Questions to Ask: How can we make FHE more fun in our family while still centering it on our Savior?
I also loved this promise that we will discuss: " If the Saints obey this counsel, we promise that great blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase. Faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influences and temptations which beset them."
What great promised blessings are in store if we consistently come together as a family!
Lesson: Continue the discussion on the importance of FHE. Choose a few quotes from some of the prophets to have family members read. They can be found here.
My favorite quote was from President Monson that came from a talk he gave in 2005 called: "Constant Truths for Changing Times". Here's the portion of the talk that focuses on FHE:
I begin with family home evening. We cannot afford to neglect this heaven-inspired program. 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. As President Gordon B. Hinckley and his predecessors have stated, “The home is the basis of a righteous life, and no other instrumentality can take its place nor fulfill its essential functions.” 2
Dr. Glenn J. Doman, noted author and medical authority, wrote: “The newborn child is almost an exact duplicate of an empty … computer, although superior to such a computer in almost every way. … What is placed in the child’s [mind] during the first eight years of life is probably there to stay. … If you put misinformation into his [mind] during [this period], it is extremely difficult to erase it.” Dr. Doman added that the most receptive age in human life is that of two or three years. 3
I like this thought: “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
The full talk can be found here.
Activity:
Favorite Family Home Evenings
You will need:
1 Jar or other container
Popsicle Sticks or Slips of Paper
Markers, Pens
What to do: I thought it would be fun as part of our celebration tonight to create a jar full of our favorite FHE activities. There are some great ideas on the church's website here. Have each family member write down some of their favorite things to do for family night (one per popsicle stick or slip of paper). Read what everyone has written to make sure you don't have any duplicates. Then, drop them in the container and use them to plan future FHE activities. I will post a picture of ours tomorrow after we have made it.
Closing Song: Families Can Be Together Forever C.S.B. (Page 188)
Tonight's Treat:
Black Forest Trifle from "A Baker's Wife"
Recipe Found here.
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