Planning Family Home Evening Together

Lisa H. Fernelius of the Chamberburg First Ward, York Pennsylvania Stake, reports how her family learned to prevent those last-minute panic attacks when someone assigned to give the lesson comes to family home evening unprepared. They decided to regularly set aside one family home evening to prepare their lessons in advance. They begin with prayer, asking for the Holy Ghost to help in the preparation. Then everyone is given the following sample lesson plan:

1. Topic: Decide what you want the family to learn.

2. Attention-getter: Choose an object lesson, quiz, word search, picture, or puzzle to introduce the topic.

3. Story: Choose a story to illustrate the lesson’s topic.

4. Scripture for the week: Select a verse that supports the lesson. The family will study this verse during the week following the lesson.

5. Testimony: Express your feelings about what you have taught.

6. Activity: Choose a game or art project that will reinforce the lesson.

Church magazines, scriptures, hymnbooks, and other materials are placed nearby for the family to use in preparing their lessons. Older children work independently. Parents help younger children. By the end of the evening, each member of the family has a lesson prepared, complete with visual aids.