President Gordon B. Hinckley related this memory about family home evening:
"In 1915 President Joseph F. Smith asked the people of the Church to have family home evening. My father said we would do so, that we would warm up the parlor where Mother's grand piano stood and do what the President of the Church had asked.
"We were miserable performers as children. We could do all kinds of things together while playing, but for one of us to try to sing a solo before the others was like asking ice cream to stay hard on the kitchen stove. In the beginning, we would laugh and make cute remarks about one another's performance. But our parents persisted. We sang together. We prayed together. We listened quietly while Mother read Bible and Book of Mormon stories. Father told us stories out of his memory. . . .
"Out of those simple little meetings, held in the parlor of our old home, came something indescribable and wonderful. Our love for our parents was strengthened. Our love for brothers and sisters was enhanced. Our love for the Lord was increased. An appreciation for simple goodness grew in our hearts. These wonderful things came about because our parents followed the counsel of the President of the Church" ("Some Lessons I Learned as a Boy," Ensign, May 1993, p. 54).
For the past 91 years, Church presidents and other leaders have counseled members to set aside one evening a week to spend with their families. Although nearly a century has passed since President Joseph F. Smith introduced the concept of family home evening, it is far from being an out-of-date program. In fact, it is as modern and up to date as anything being promoted by "experts" in the field dealing with matters of home and family.
Look through almost any magazine or professional journal that focuses on topics pertaining to building strong families and you will see at least one article that encourages parents to find ways to spend time with their children.
A few years ago, a newspaper article reported that leaders of another faith had voted to introduce to its members a family home evening program patterned after that of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The press reported that the leaders of this other church had said that Mormons aren't the only ones who are concerned about strengthening the family.
And we aren't. People of many faiths love and care about their families and look for ways to improve relationships, build stronger bonds and foster feelings of safety and well being within their homes.
Upon encouragement from Latter-day Saints, some cities and school districts implemented a "family night" initiative. By mayoral decrees, several cities in Missouri launched a campaign to reserve Monday evenings for families. (See Church News, Feb. 8, 2003, p. 11.) In Virginia, mayors of several cities signed proclamations promoting strong families and declared that one night a week should be set aside for family home evening. (See Church News Dec. 2, 2000, p. 5.)
A visit to the Church's web site, lds.org, reveals several ideas and suggestions for family home evening lessons and activities. Also, a manual is available through Church Distribution. Ward or stake meetinghouse libraries have videos and DVDs and other materials that parents can check out for use in family home evening.
In his address during the priesthood session of October 2002 general conference, President Hinckley spoke of family home evening, saying: "We are fearful that this very important program is fading in too many areas. Brethren, there is nothing more important than your families. You know that."
Further, President Hinckley said that family home evening was established to be a time of teaching, of reading the scriptures, of cultivating talents, of discussing family matters. "It was not to be a time to attend athletic events or anything of the kind. Of course, if there is family activity of such a kind occasionally, that may be all right. But in the increasingly frantic rush of our lives it is so important that fathers and mothers sit down with their children, pray together, instruct them in the ways of the Lord, consider their family problems, and let the children express their talents. I am satisfied that this program came under the revelations of the Lord in response to a need among the families of the Church.
"If there was a need 87 years ago (as of 2002), that need is certainly much greater today" ("To Men of the Priesthood," Ensign, November 2002, 58).
Holding family home evening each week is more than a duty; it is a blessing and a privilege.
