Scott Lloyd Posted February 3, 2015 Posted February 3, 2015 The moderators will probably think I should have posted this in Social Hall, but I'm doing it here because, frankly, I want it to have the better visibility it will get in this higher-traffic forum. I'm linking to a Church News story I did last week noting 100 years since President Joseph F. Smith introduced family home evening in the Church and 50 years since President David O. McKay gave it renewed impetus and endowed it with the iconic stature that it has today. I'm hoping folks will answer my invitation to send me their FHE memories. If I get enough good ones, I'll do a follow-up article in April to mark the 100th anniversary. 1
Scott Lloyd Posted February 5, 2015 Author Posted February 5, 2015 ...and 11 years since the best FHE ever.This link takes me to a South Park website where I'm required to click on a "terms of use agreement." I'm unwilling to do that, so this will be unwatched by me.
mormonnewb Posted February 5, 2015 Posted February 5, 2015 The moderators will probably think I should have posted this in Social Hall, but I'm doing it here because, frankly, I want it to have the better visibility it will get in this higher-traffic forum. I'm linking to a Church News story I did last week noting 100 years since President Joseph F. Smith introduced family home evening in the Church and 50 years since President David O. McKay gave it renewed impetus and endowed it with the iconic stature that it has today. I'm hoping folks will answer my invitation to send me their FHE memories. If I get enough good ones, I'll do a follow-up article in April to mark the 100th anniversary. Since you posted in this part of the board, you sort of asked for this: Just this weekend, I was talking to a Jewish friend about some things that I think this Church really gets right (e.g., a lay ministry, home and visiting teaching, and FHE). After explaining FHE, he said, "That all sounds great. It's the kind of thing that many Jews do on the Sabbath." He then asked me a question that I can't believe that I never asked before. "So if you have family home evening on Monday night, then how do you spend your sabbath (Sunday) nights?" I thought about it for a while and had to confess that I didn't have a good answer. It would seem that since we aren't supposed to be watching TV, going to sporting events, shopping or otherwise having fun, that Sunday night would be very similar to Monday night, wouldn't it? And I know that these are questions that I should be able to answer but we've never quite adopted the "keep the Sabbath holy" ethic, so I don't think that WWE pay-per-views and Call of Duty tournaments are standard Mormon fare. But for the rest of you, is Monday home evening just another version of Sunday home evening? Or does anyone just combine them and have Sunday FHE? After all, you're already not distracted by TV, the Internet, fun, etc. anyway. Why not kill two birds with one stone? Just a random thought ... 1
Calm Posted February 5, 2015 Posted February 5, 2015 (edited) Nope, we would often go out to places as part of FHE. One Sunday Evening a month was usually getting home taught, another one or two for Dad to goout home teaching. Sundays were often family dinners with grandparents when we lived close as well.We did and do TV, Disney was on Sunday evenings. Edited February 5, 2015 by calmoriah 1
Hamba Tuhan Posted February 5, 2015 Posted February 5, 2015 I wouldn't go ten-pin bowling on the Sabbath. I would do (and have done it) for FHE. 1
readstoomuch Posted February 5, 2015 Posted February 5, 2015 It is an inspired program. We try to make it about family. If we watch a movie, we try to have a moral message that we agree with. We will also do some activities like bike riding. Right now we are reading a Bytheway book How Do You Know What You Know. It has been good for my teenagers still at home. 1
Scott Lloyd Posted February 5, 2015 Author Posted February 5, 2015 (edited) Since you posted in this part of the board, you sort of asked for this: Fine, but if the dialogue here takes an unseemly turn, I'll summarily lock the thread. As thread originator, I have that privilege and will use it. That said, you raise a fair question, so I will endeavor to answer it. Just this weekend, I was talking to a Jewish friend about some things that I think this Church really gets right (e.g., a lay ministry, home and visiting teaching, and FHE). After explaining FHE, he said, "That all sounds great. It's the kind of thing that many Jews do on the Sabbath." He then asked me a question that I can't believe that I never asked before. "So if you have family home evening on Monday night, then how do you spend your sabbath (Sunday) nights?" I thought about it for a while and had to confess that I didn't have a good answer. It would seem that since we aren't supposed to be watching TV, going to sporting events, shopping or otherwise having fun, that Sunday night would be very similar to Monday night, wouldn't it? And I know that these are questions that I should be able to answer but we've never quite adopted the "keep the Sabbath holy" ethic, so I don't think that WWE pay-per-views and Call of Duty tournaments are standard Mormon fare. But for the rest of you, is Monday home evening just another version of Sunday home evening? Or does anyone just combine them and have Sunday FHE? After all, you're already not distracted by TV, the Internet, fun, etc. anyway. Why not kill two birds with one stone? Just a random thought ... There have been some good responses to this already. To them, I will add my thoughts. Growing up in the Church, I always had the understanding that, though home and family gospel study on the Sabbath is encouraged, that is not to be regarded as the same thing as family home evening. It is typically focused on the scriptures and the doctrines of the gospel, discussion and sharing of what was heard that day in sacrament meeting and classes, etc. Family home evening lessons, on the other hand, as reflected in the family home evening manuals over the years, typically take a more practical, application-based approach to family gospel discussion. True, there can be some overlap, and there undoubtedly is. But I see a definite distinction nevertheless. And family home evening as conceived and taught by Church leaders over the years entails more than gospel study and prayer. It is games, activities, family council, sharing of talents; occasional outings to attend entertainment or other kinds of events, museums, art exhibits, etc., some of which might not be appropriate for or in keeping with the spirit and law of the Sabbath. Beyond that, I, for one, disapprove of the sort of attitude that would try to cram everything "churchy" or religion-related into Sunday for the purpose of leaving the rest of the week free for secular pursuits. Latter-day Saints don't believe in compartmentalizing religious faith; rather it pervades and is or should be intertwined with every aspect of our lives. Holding family home evening on a weeknight helps promote and remind us of that understanding. Finally, we are to regard ourselves as the covenant people of the Lord, set apart from the world because of the commitments we have made and the promises we have received. Like Word of Wisdom and Sabbath day observance, keeping Monday nights otherwise unscheduled so we can hold family home evening on that night, as we have been counseled to do by prophets and apostles, is another way we have of distinguishing ourselves as the people of God. Edited February 5, 2015 by Scott Lloyd 1
KevinG Posted February 5, 2015 Posted February 5, 2015 Our Family Home Evenings often break down into giggling, silliness, and mild lightness of mind. This got worse as my children entered young adulthood. And yet, while sometimes my "lessons" end up being derailed, and I sit at the family table shaking my head... There is always a spirit of togetherness. A time for family - undiluted by outside agendas or worries. This is for me the greatest blessing. While my family will pick up doctrine from time to time listening to me preach, they are much more likely to learn humor, patience, love, longsuffering, and kindness from watching their parents and siblings act that way when we are together. I admit to being a terrible organizer and observer of a Monday night Family Home Evening. But I do love to cook the occasional family meal, then sit down to discussions, games or a shared movie or story. If it happens on Wednesday, Sunday or Saturday afternoon, its all good. 1
Scott Lloyd Posted February 6, 2015 Author Posted February 6, 2015 Our Family Home Evenings often break down into giggling, silliness, and mild lightness of mind. This got worse as my children entered young adulthood. And yet, while sometimes my "lessons" end up being derailed, and I sit at the family table shaking my head... There is always a spirit of togetherness. A time for family - undiluted by outside agendas or worries. This is for me the greatest blessing. While my family will pick up doctrine from time to time listening to me preach, they are much more likely to learn humor, patience, love, longsuffering, and kindness from watching their parents and siblings act that way when we are together. I admit to being a terrible organizer and observer of a Monday night Family Home Evening. But I do love to cook the occasional family meal, then sit down to discussions, games or a shared movie or story. If it happens on Wednesday, Sunday or Saturday afternoon, its all good.I think I could use this if you would permit me to attach your identity to it. If so, notify me at the address in the article.
KevinG Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 I think I could use this if you would permit me to attach your identity to it. If so, notify me at the address in the article.Sent.
rpn Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 The big difference is that families don't serve refreshments when they do the daily scriptures and prayer and other things on Sunday. But truthfully, many families started out doing FHE on Sundays: it wasn't until the 1970's that Monday became THE day (and that was also about the time when families had more time anyway since the 3 hr block happened). We played games as a family, we had sing alongs, made theater and talent shows, we visited family and friends, we listened to the radio dramas (this was all pre TV, which in our family arrived only in 1976). (And we lived on a farm, so the animals still has to be taken care of, using up several hours on Sundays.) And sunday was a lot more top down, than everyone taking a turn being in charge for FHE, deciding and giving the lessons, activities, music, and refreshments.
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