What is Family Home Evening?

• Special, regularly designated time each week in which the all family members come
together to pray, read the scriptures, sing, participate in activities together, and teach
the Gospel to each other.

o History:
 1915-FHE initiated by President Joseph F. Smith & his counselors,
stating, “formality and stiffness should be studiously avoided, and all
the family should participate in the exercises.”
o “If you will gather your children around you once a
week and instruct them in the gospel, they will not go
astray.” -Joseph F. Smith
 1970-President Joseph Fielding Smith & his counselors designated
Monday nights aside from all other meetings & activities for FHE.
o “Teach your families in family home evening, teach
them to keep the commandments of God, for therin
is our safety in these days!” -Harold B. Lee
 Present Day-Consistent FHE is still encouraged for all church
members, and Latter-day prophets have promised that dedication to
this program will help protect the family from evils of our day.

o Basic FHE Structure:

Welcome & Family Business
Opening Song
Opening Prayer
Scripture Reading
Lesson
Activity
Closing Song
Closing Prayer
Refreshments

o Notice similar patterns we see in our other church

meetings each week? Heavenly Father teaches us
through patterns.

What is so great about Family Home Evening?

o It is a safe forum or laboratory where young testimonies can take root, be
nourished, grow, and be born.
o It is where the foundation of basic Gospel principles can be laid, in
preparation to support further Gospel knowledge to come.
o It is where a family can learn to trust one another & lean on one another as is
the pattern we are taught.

Where to Start?
 “…preach my gospel by the Spirit, even the Comforter
which was sent forth to teach the truth” (D&C 50:14)
IT’S OK TO BE CREATIVE.
And there are unlimited resources for inspiration, so follow the Spirit:

o Scripture Study-
As a parent it is part of our stewardship to receive revelation to
better lead & guide our family, this comes as you are studying
the scriptures (both personally & as a family).

o Church Website Resources-

www.lds.org Home & Family Family Home Evening
Mormon Messages on youtube, radio.lds.org, youth.lds.org

o Manuals-
Gospel Essentials, For the Strength of Youth, Duty to God,
Personal Progress, Preach My Gospel, Teachings of Presidents
of the Church manuals, Truth to the Faith, Family Home Evening
Manual, General Conference Talks

o Additional Printed Resources-

LDS Hymnal, Primary Songbook, “The Family: A Proclamation to
the World”, “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles”,
Mormonads, Church magazines (Ensign, New Era, The Friend,
Liahona), “All is Safely Gathered In” pamphlets, “3 Simple Ways
to Become a Happier Family” pamphlet, “One for the Money:
Guide to Family Finance” pamphlet, “Cornerstones of a Happy
Home” pamphlet, My Bible Friends books

o Other Websites-
theideadoor.com
ldssplash.com
ldsliving.com
clubfhe.com
family-night.com
lds.about.com
familiesinzion.com
fhenight.com
mormonshare.com
sugardoodle.net

o Various Blogs-
fheplanner.blogspot.com
nataliesfhespot.blogspot.com
myfhelessons.blogspot.com
familyevening.blogspot.com
becominglds.blogspot.com

o Relief Society Meetings & Primary/Primary Activity Days-

Lessons
Handouts
Kits

Favorite/Successful Romm Family FHE’s:

Lesson of the Good Samaritan w/ picnic dinner at bottom of dried-up lake bed
Mega Manners Superhero Academy w/ Mega Maple Bars & Mega Moo Juice
Combined FHE w/ other families
Gardening FHE nights
“If the saints will 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.”
-Harold B. Lee