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Editor’s note: In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, families typically have a family night every Monday night, which we call Family Home Evening — a sort of staple of Mormon family life. Thanks to Jessica for sharing a glimpse of a recent Family Home Evening at their house. (Read more about Mormon Family Home Evening.) Flag FHE [FHE=Family Home Evening] ~by Jessica Poe When we sat down on the living room floor and shouted, “Welcome to Family Home Evening!” at the top of our lungs, it felt like every other FHE. My three wee ones (ages 5, 3 and 1 year old) ate their refreshment first and then plopped on the floor, staring up at Dad, wondering what family activity was on the agenda. Little did they know, this was one of those few shining FHEs that would make an impact. Dad began by giving a brief summarization of the Book of Mormon chapter we had been reading during family scripture study: Alma 46. He asked me to read a few of the verses, while he acted them... Read the rest of this entry »

A while ago, Heather at Women in the Scriptures featured posts from several different Latter-day Saint families in a series called “This is What Family Home Evening Looks Like at My House”. Family Home Evening is an important part of family life for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We typically set aside Monday night each week to spend time together as a family learning about the gospel, working together, eating together, and having fun together. You’ll enjoy a wide variety of experiences and family situations, including a family with eight young children, a newly-married couple, a family with a deployed military father, and more. If you are a Latter-day Saint and have written something about Family Home Evening, let us know in the comments, or submit your own essay to mormonwoman a’ gmail d’ com. Want to start your own weekly family night? Here’s a list of over 100 different fun family activity ideas. Family Home Evening... Read the rest of this entry »

Once a week our church encourages each person/family to have Family Home Evening. It is a special night set aside for families to spend some time together talking about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, singing songs, playing games, eating snacks and growing closer together. The temptation to let this weekly event slide can be strong with the busy schedules of today’s world. It is like anything that is of eternal significance – continually attacked by satan’s firey darts. I’ve noticed that if he can’t talk me out of actually having FHE, then he tries to get me to succumb to my crazy life and just play games and eat snacks thinking that our family just needs some fun time together. I will admit to a few of these arrows making it past my defenses a time or two or five. Gratefully, as I work at keeping other commandments like reading scriptures, praying with more intent etc., the Holy Ghost is able to help me keep my shield up so that I won’t be hit by satan’s... Read the rest of this entry »

ldsclipart.com Family Home Evening can sometimes be a challenge because we don’t know what to do. This is especially true for those of us with only a baby. There are plenty of ideas for single members, couples, and families, but I have yet to find good suggestions for planning a family home evening lesson for a baby (not yet in Nursery). So I compiled my own list: Read gospel-related board books. They are short enough for a baby’s attention span and introduce popular stories in a very simple manner. Read the scriptures. Elder Bednar said, “Youth of all ages, even infants, can and do respond to the distinctive spirit of the Book of Mormon. Children may not understand all of the words and stories, but they certainly can feel the ‘familiar spirit’ described by Isaiah (Isaiah 29:4; see also 2 Nephi 26:16).” Sing Primary songs together. There is no better way to invite the Spirit, teach basic gospel principles, and prepare your... Read the rest of this entry »

“How well are we feeding, nurturing, training, and exercising the spirits of our children? . . . Remember, eternity is now, not a vague, distant future. We prepare each day, right now, for eternal life.” —Elder M. Russell Ballard On Monday nights, we try our best each week to make this our Family Night at home. Or as is more commonly referred to in our faith as “Family Home Evening” (FHE). This is our special night together where we study a gospel topic and do other activities to help strengthen our family. You can learn more about its purpose here and here. And even though it’s just the three of us, we have great fun together and draw closer to one another as we make this a priority each week. In an attempt to “mix it up” each week and make it fun all the while still keeping it spiritual for our Little Man, I usually have to get resourceful and look for ideas online. Thank goodness for the internet! Here are just a few sites I love... Read the rest of this entry »

Today is definitely a very productive and busy day. Cleaning up after Megan is always a constant chore. My wife uses the analogy of trying to shovel away snow in a blizzard – you are not going to get very far. While there is still much to do around the house, the fact of the [...]  Read More →

This week, I’m giving away one Famous Family Nights T-shirt. See below for the rules. The shirt can be a great incentive as children participate in family night. It can be used to encourage good behavior, or worn by whomever gives the lesson, leads the music, or any other activity of your choosing. For information about the book, Famous Family Nights, please click on www.annebradshaw.com. GIVE-AWAY RULES: Blog about the giveaway and leave me a link = 2 entries Add the Famous Family Nights video (get code from YouTube) to your blog or sidebar = 3 entries Add my Famous Family Nights collage button (scroll down sidebar for html code) to your blog or sidebar = 3 entries Tweet or Facebook about this = 2 entries Please leave a comment for each entry. Contest ends Wednesday February 10th 2010  Read More →

Rebecca Irvine, author of Adventures with the Word of God (Horizon/CFI 2008), has a new family home evening book released by Cedar Fort, Inc. this month. Family Home Evening Adventures is filled with twelve fun seasonal activities, puzzles, questions, and lessons based soundly in the scriptures. This book lets parents effectively plan for the entire year with a theme for each month. Rebecca, a resident of Mesa, Arizona, is married to adventurous husband, Steve, and is the mother of three children. Most of their family night experiences are par for the course, but we thought you all might enjoy reading one fun evening Rebecca shared with me. Family home evening is often an enjoyable occurrence in the Irvine household. We have fun singing, playing games, and having a gospel-oriented lesson. Not many of our family home evenings, are very memorable — except for one lesson we had a year or so ago, which will always burn brightly in the history of our experiences. The lesson that night... Read the rest of this entry »

Summary First Aid FHE Family Home Evening First Aid Activity This Family Home Evening Activity is meant to encourage individuals and family members to discuss potential emergencies, refresh skills and review basic first aid knowledge. We hope that each participant will seek to obtain a working fundamental understanding of basic first aid. We also hope that each family will work together in gathering first aid supplies in preparation for various potential emergencies. Some preparation or advance planning may be required to secure first aid supplies. We encourage families to review, assemble, and store basic first aid supplies for your family’s benefit. · Prior to Home Evening: It may be a fun activity to have family members shop together for supplies prior to assembling family first aid kits. Some additional supplies should be made available for demonstrative purposes in preparing, practicing and role playing during your family home evening activity. Remember... Read the rest of this entry »

Family Home Evening Preparedness Activity Lesson B. Summary Earthquake Drill Feeling the effects of an earthquake is truly an unsettling experience. As we carefully prepare for this possibility, it will help to relieve stress and uncertainty for our families. When we practice safe behaviors for an earthquake beforehand, we increase the odds that we and our children will act appropriately when the real quake strikes. · Prior to Family Home Evening There is much excellent material in this lesson which should be taught. Select those that are most crucial according to the ages of your family members. You might need to purchase extra batteries, a tool for shutting off the gas, or supplies if you will be demonstrating how to set up an emergency toilet. · Activity 1. After dinner, turn off the lights and tell the family you are having an earthquake drill. Talk each other through the “quake”, moving to safe areas, and reassuring each other as you would do... Read the rest of this entry »

Family Home Evening Preparedness Activity/ Earthquakes Lesson A Summary Home Safety – During an Earthquake There is no preparation plan that can eliminate all earthquake danger. You can, however, greatly reduce damage and injury by securing your home beforehand. · Prior to Family Home Evening Adult family members should be familiar with the lesson. Prior preparation might include gathering necessary tools to complete tasks or other items such as storage containers for toxic chemicals or medications. Parents should select those things they will do on the list which are age appropriate to their children. · Activity 1. Discuss with family what happens in an earthquake. Describe the shaking motion and the damage it can cause. Reassure them that this lesson is to help your home and family members avoid the accidents this type of disaster can cause. 2. Give each family member a paper and pencil and tell them they are now safety detectives... Read the rest of this entry »