Family Home Evening (FHE) or Family Night, in the context of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, refers to one evening per week, usually Monday, that families are encouraged to spend together in study, prayer and other wholesome activities. According to the LDS Church, the purpose of FHE is to help families strengthen bonds of love with each other as well as provide an atmosphere where parents can teach their children principles of the gospel. The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ... A family in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in 1997 A family consists of a domestic group of people (or a number of domestic groups), typically affiliated by birth or marriage, or by analogous or comparable relationships — including domestic partnership, cohabitation, adoption, surname and (in some cases) ownership (as occurred in the... Mary Magdalene in prayer. ... Love is any of a number of emotions and experiences related to a sense of strong affection or profound oneness. ... Children redirects here. ... For other uses, see Gospel (disambiguation). ...

For most LDS families, Family Home Evening includes a game or fun activity, treats, and a short lesson. The responsibilities for each are often rotated among family members, so that even the youngest may be assisted in presenting a short lesson or devotional on a given topic. Parents often use this night as an opportunity to teach their children how to prepare talks and lessons, as well as how to conduct meetings. Family business for the week may be addressed and the family schedule reviewed.

History

In a letter dated April 27, 1915 and distributed to local leaders of the LDS Church, President Joseph F. Smith encouraged a church-wide practice of a weekly "Family Home Evening". The letter described the event as being a time set apart for "prayer ... hymns ... family topics ... and specific instruction on the principles of the gospel." ^[1] Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. ...

In 1970, President Joseph Fielding Smith, son of Joseph F. Smith, designated Monday night as the preferred time for Family Home Evening, asking local church units not to hold other church related meetings or activities on that night.^[2] That tradition continues today. 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... Joseph Fielding Smith (July 19, 1876 – July 2, 1972) was the tenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1970 to 1972. ...

In the 2003 LDS General Conference, LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley encouraged local businesses and organizations to keep Monday night free of activities and other obstructions, so that members might more easily hold the FHE.^{[citation needed]} 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In Mormonism, General Conferences are church-wide meetings of individual Latter Day Saint denominations. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Church guidance

The Church's official site provides resources to assist in holding Family Home Evening, including:

• Family Home Evening Planner,^[3]
• Gospel Art Picture Kit,^[4]
• Lesson Topics,^[5]
• Activities,^[6]
• Church Music,^[7]
• Church Videos,^[8]
• Making Home Evening Successful,^[9]
• Quick Tips,^[10] and
• Featured Reading.^[11]

Additionally, the site instructs that, "Although family home evening should begin and end with prayer, it is not intended to be a formal class," and quotes the 1915 First Presidency as saying, "formality and stiffness should be studiously avoided, and all the family should participate in the exercises."

Church leadership statements

The leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have made the following statements concerning Family Home Evening:^[12]

"Well-planned family home evenings can be a source of long-lasting joy and influence. These evenings are times for group activity, for organizing, for the expressions of love, for the bearing of testimony, for learning gospel principles, for family fun and recreation, and of all things, for family unity and solidarity." (Joseph Fielding Smith, Harold B. Lee, and N. Eldon Tanner)^[13] Harold Bingham Lee (March 28, 1899 – December 26, 1973) was born in Clifton, Idaho but spent the great bulk of his life in Utah where he rose to head The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... Nathan Eldon Tanner (May 9, 1898-November 27, 1982) was a high-ranking leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ...

"Family home evenings should be scheduled once a week as a time for discussions of gospel principles, recreation, work projects, skits, songs around the piano, games, special refreshments, and family prayers. Like iron links in a chain, this practice will bind a family together, in love, pride, tradition, strength, and loyalty." (Ezra Taft Benson)^[14] Ezra Taft Benson (August 4, 1899 – May 30, 1994) was President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1985 until his death. ...

"Monday evenings should be reserved for family home evening. Local leaders should ensure that Church buildings and facilities are closed, that no ward or stake activities are planned for Monday evenings, and that other interruptions to family home evenings be avoided. The primary emphasis of family home evening should be for families to be together to study the gospel. We remind all that the Lord has admonished parents to teach their children the gospel, to pray, and to observe the Sabbath Day. The scriptures are the most important resource for teaching the gospel." (Howard W. Hunter, Gordon B. Hinckley, and Thomas S. Monson)^[15] Howard William Hunter (November 14, 1907 – March 3, 1995) was the fourteenth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1994-1995), and served the shortest amount of time of any Church president to date (nine months). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... President Thomas S. Monson. ...

Notes and references

1. ^ First Presidency letter, 27 April 1915 — Joseph F. Smith, Anthon H. Lund, Charles W. Penrose
2. ^ Conference Report October 1970 session - Boyd K. Packer
3. ^ http://www.lds.org/hf/fhe/planner/0,16809,4234-1,00.html
4. ^ http://www.lds.org/hf/art/0,16812,4218-1,00.html
5. ^ http://www.lds.org/hf/display/0,16783,4225-1,00.html
6. ^ http://www.lds.org/hf/display/0,16783,4231-1,00.html
7. ^ http://www.lds.org/churchmusic/0,17932,4586,00.html
8. ^ http://www.lds.org/hf/display/0,16783,4427-1,00.html
9. ^ http://www.lds.org/hf/display/0,16783,4233-1,00.html
10. ^ http://www.lds.org/hf/tips/0,16815,4216-1,00.html
11. ^ http://www.lds.org/hf/reading/archive/0,16985,4219-1,00.html
12. ^ First Presidency Statements. Home & Family. LDS.org (December 2006).
13. ^ Family Home Evenings, 1970-71, p. v — Joseph Fielding Smith, Harold B. Lee, and N. Eldon Tanner.
14. ^ "Salvation; A Family Affair," Ensign, July 1992, p. 4 — President Ezra Taft Benson)
15. ^ First Presidency Letter, 30 Aug 94 — Howard W. Hunter, Gordon B. Hinckley, and Thomas S. Monson.

Acting President Boyd K. Packer Boyd Kenneth Packer (born September 10, 1924 in Brigham City, Utah) has been a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1970. ...

External links

• Official Family Home Evening Website