Family Home Evening - Church Leadership Statements

Church Leadership Statements

The leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have made the following statements concerning Family Home Evening:

"Well-planned family home evenings can be a source of long-lasting joy and influence. These evenings are times for group activity, for organizing, for the expressions of love, for the bearing of testimony, for learning gospel principles, for family fun and recreation, and of all things, for family unity and solidarity." (Joseph Fielding Smith, Harold B. Lee, and N. Eldon Tanner)

"Family home evenings should be scheduled once a week as a time for discussions of gospel principles, recreation, work projects, skits, songs around the piano, games, special refreshments, and family prayers. Like iron links in a chain, this practice will bind a family together, in love, pride, tradition, strength, and loyalty." (Ezra Taft Benson)

"Monday evenings should be reserved for family home evening. Local leaders should ensure that Church buildings and facilities are closed, that no ward or stake activities are planned for Monday evenings, and that other interruptions to family home evenings be avoided. The primary emphasis of family home evening should be for families to be together to study the gospel. We remind all that the Lord has admonished parents to teach their children the gospel, to pray, and to observe the Sabbath Day. The scriptures are the most important resource for teaching the gospel." (Howard W. Hunter, Gordon B. Hinckley, and Thomas S. Monson)