Family Home Evening Quotes
"I wonder if having casual and infrequent family home evening will be enough in the future to fortify our children with sufficient moral strength. In the future, infrequent family scripture study may be inadequate to arm our children with the virtue necessary to withstand the moral decay of the environment in which they will live. Where in the world will the children learn chastity, integrity honesty, and basic human decency if not at home. These values will, of course, be reinforced at church, but parental teaching is more constant."
"I like to compare the home evening, family prayer, and other associated activities of the Church for the saving of the family, when they are conscientiously carried out, with an umbrella. If the umbrella is not opened up, it is little more than a cane and can give little protection from the storms of nature. Likewise, God-given plans are of little value unless they are used."
Spencer W. Kimball, General Conference, October 1969
"I hope, my brothers and sisters, that you are having your family home evenings with your children. You cannot afford to postpone this. The days, the months, and the years pass so quickly, and before long it will be too late. "
President Gordon B. Hinckley - Veracruz, Mexico, January 28, 1996
"Here are the promised blessings for those who will hold a weekly home evening: 'If the Saints obey this counsel, we promise that great blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase. Faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influences and temptations which beset them.'
First Presidency, April 27, 1915, in Improvement Era 18:733-34 Ezra Taft Benson, "God, Family, Country" p. 228
"...the hearts of you fathers and mothers must be turned to your children right now, if you have the true spirit of Elijah, and not think that it applies merely to those who are beyond the veil. Let your hearts be turned to your children ... If you are neglecting your family home evening, you are neglecting the beginning of the mission of Elijah just as certainly as if you were neglecting your genealogy research work."
Harold B. Lee Priesthood genealogy seminar, 1973; Quoted in Leaun G. Otten and C. Max Caldwell, Sacred Truths of the Doctrine and Covenants 2 Vols.
"Some business leaders have also looked at the family home evening program and recommended it to their employees. Employees do better work when things are going well at home."
Repeated by: Loren C. Dunn, "Our Precious Families," Ensign, Nov. 1974, 9
"No other activities should involve our family members on Monday night. This designated time is to be with our families."
Elder L. Tom Perry - Ensign, May 2003, 42
"We are trying to preserve the traditional family—father, mother, and children—working together in love toward a common goal. In large measure we are succeeding against great odds. We advocate a family home evening, for instance, one night a week reserved for family activity together. Lessons from the scriptures are taught. Family business is discussed. Vacations are planned. We sing together. We pray together. It works!"
President Gordon B. Hinckley (media luncheon, Washington, D.C., 2 Dec. 1996)
"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."
President Ezra Taft Benson, "Salvation—A Family Affair," Ensign, July 1992, 4
"The prophets have taught repeatedly that families should teach one another the gospel, preferably in a weekly family home evening. This family practice, if we are not very careful, can slowly drift away from us. We must not lose this special opportunity to "teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom" (D&C 88:77), which will lead families to eternal life."
M. Russell Ballard, Ensign, May 1987
"It often takes a seemingly superhuman effort to get everyone together for family home evening. You may not always feel like praying when you finally do get together, but it will pay great dividends if you persevere."
James E. Faust, "Enriching Our Lives through Family Home Evening," Liahona, June 2003, 4
"Take advantage of the great responsibility and opportunity that you have to teach your children, to rear them in the light of the gospel, to build faith in their hearts. Sit down with them and have family home evening. . . . Let them feel of your love for the Lord. Let them hear you testify of the truth of this work. Let them partake of the good that comes from a father and a mother who seek to do the right thing."
From conference, Salt Lake Granger South Stake, Nov. 10, 2002