Family Home Evening Ideas

This issue contains articles and activities that could be used for family home evening. The following are some examples.

“Discipleship,” page 47. What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? After reading this poem as a family, you might discuss ways you can be disciples of Jesus Christ. You might think of ideas to draw closer to the Savior, like finding opportunities to serve refugees in your community, learning about the Savior’s life during scripture study, babysitting for a couple so that they can attend the temple, or reaching out to a friend in need. You could also watch the new Easter video, “Prince of Peace,” found at mormon.org/easter and ponder the importance of Christ and His Resurrection in our lives (see the poster on page 40).

“The Old Family Album: The Power of Family Stories,” page 56. Before family home evening, consider preparing a few stories about your ancestors or about significant events from your immediate family members’ lives. Together read the story on page 56 about the grandfather who danced at his own funeral. Split into two or more groups, and give each group one of the prepared family history stories. Have each group prepare a short skit based on the story, and then perform for each other. Discuss how these stories can continue to influence the lives of your family. Visit FamilySearch.org to learn how to attach memories and stories to people in your family tree.

Lessons for Young Children

We began holding family home evenings when our girls were one and two years old. The first time, our lesson was too long and complicated. So the next week I brought 10 different pictures of Jesus. We studied each picture briefly and then I asked, “Who is this?” “Jesus,” we all answered. The lesson lasted about three minutes. The following Monday, we had a similar lesson but with temples. “What is this?” “Temple.” Another success! When we went to church, my two-year-old pointed to a picture on the wall and said, “Look, Mommy, temple!” Silently I rejoiced.

Cynthia Green, California, USA