“Family Home Evening Milestones,” Ensign, July 2015, 13
Family Home Evening Milestones
Family home evening celebrates two major events in its history in 2015.
One hundred years ago, President Joseph F. Smith (1838–1918) and his counselors urged members of the Church to set aside an evening to grow and learn together. They promised that those who did would witness greater love at home and increased obedience to parents. The concept of home evening was not entirely new, but this encouragement from the First Presidency on April 27, 1915, helped the practice to become more widespread.
Fifty years ago, President David O. McKay (1873–1970) renewed emphasis on family home evening. In January 1965, he commissioned the first family home evening manual, with weekly lessons to be taught in each home. In 1970 Monday night became the suggested night for family home evening.
Today, 100 years after its implementation and 50 years after its importance was emphasized again, family home evening remains important in the lives of Church members.