"Family home evening is a special time set aside each week that brings family members together and strengthens their love for each other, helps them draw closer to Heavenly Father, and encourages them to live righteously."
Hola!
(That is my favorite "hello", it reminds me of my missionary, Elder Matt Hill, serving in the Mexico City North mission, which he may be changed as the mission was recently split into 3.)
I decided to create this blog actually to assist my sister in planning Family Home Evening lessons.
We both have had issues with our attention and organizational skills as well as life, "LIFING"!
So here goes. I will make great strides to attempt to add to this blog regularly, however, I am not a blogger, have only done one blog, my missionary's, (http://eldermatthill.blogspot.com/) but hey, maybe I will become one!Unfortunately, I am not a perfect mother, organize our FHE's, but with children that are older, it is almost as challenging as when they are younger. I would say that in my experience it is best when children are young or have attention issues, to have a lesson that includes a variety of things, but that is rather "quick" leaving the rest of the evening, or whatever you may choose, to spend as a family or go about the regular routines.
WHAT IS FAMILY HOME EVENING?
I didn't know that the Church has put out a family home evening page, but, yep they have. Interestingly I have never seen it going to my drypack page or whenever referring weekly to our lds.org site. I have noticed in creating this, that there are plenty already out there...so I may just post a bunch of links to great resources. We shall see...
The Church says of FHE, "Family home evening is a special time set aside each week that brings family members together and strengthens their love for each other, helps them draw closer to Heavenly Father, and encourages them to live righteously."
You don't have to do this "PERFECTLY", as we all strive for, then feel rotten because we fall short. The point is...JUST DO IT! A 10 minute 'lesson' is better than none. In this way, we are following the Prophets' & Apostles counsel and it prepares our children to know the Gospel, therefore be able to be missionaries wherever they may go and eventually wherever they may be 'Called To Serve'.
First Presidency Statements regarding
Family
Home Evening:
"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. . . . '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 obligations of children
to parents, the home, the Church, society and the nation. For the smaller
children appropriate recitations, songs, stories and games may be introduced.
Light refreshments of such a nature as may be largely prepared in the home
might be served."
"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
influence and temptations which beset them."
(First
Presidency letter, 27 April 1915 — Joseph F. Smith, Anthon H. Lund, Charles W.
Penrose)
One of my favorite books for Family Home Evening is, "52 Weeks of Family Night" by Tamara Baggett. I am going to upload pages from it, so I guess I'd better attempt to get her permission..
...more will be revealed....
