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FAMILIES? A family h o m e e v e n i n g p r o g r a m suggested b y T h e C h u r c h of J e s u s C h r i s t of Latter-day Saints
LETS GET ORGANIZED Remember, family h o m e evening is m e a n t to be f u n for everybody! Y o u c a n arrange this suggested p r o g r a m so that e v e r y o n e i n y o u r family w i l l enjoy it! F a m i l y h o m e e v e n i n g is most fun w h e n e v e r y o n e is prepared to participate. T h e h e a d of the house s h o u l d preside. Organize n o w by deciding w h o w i l l be responsible for w h a t .
LETS BEGIN WITH SONG Singing is a g o o d w a y to start e v e r y o n e off i n h a r m o n y a n d to build a feeling of family cooperation. T h i s song is s i m p l e , but it h a s a b e a u tiful m e s s a g e .
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P r i n t e d in t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a
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S 91
OPENING PRAYER
DISCUSSION: WHY FAMILIES?
A s y o u h o l d f a m i l y h o m e evening, y o u ' l l find a special feeling o f closeness w i t h m e m b e r s o f y o u r family a n d w i t h o u r F a t h e r i n H e a v e n - p a r t i c u l a r l y i f y o u take t i m e to p r a y at the beginning o f e a c h h o m e evening. T h e h e a d o f the f a m i l y s h o u l d call o n s o m e o n e to offer the opening prayer. A s i m p l e , sincere prayer w i l l invite the Lord's Spirit to attend y o u r activities.
D u r i n g this f a m i l y h o m e e v e n i n g , y o u m a y enjoy talking about the p u r p o s e o f families. P e r h a p s y o u parents c o u l d tell h o w y o u r f a m i l y got together—how y o u met, fell i n love, a n d m a r r i e d . P e r h a p s y o u c o u l d illustrate the story w i t h s n a p s h o t s , a n n o u n c e m e n t s , clippings, a n d other m e m e n t o s . T h e n y o u c a n r e c a l l the c i r c u m s t a n c e s s u r r o u n d i n g the birth o f e a c h child, telling h o w h a p p y y o u w e r e to h a v e a n e w f a m i l y m e m b e r a n d h o w m u c h y o u still love h i m . A n d so y o u r f a m i l y w a s organized. B u t w h y ? W h y families, a n y w a y ?
FAMILY FARTICIPATION
A s k e a c h o n e present w h y h e t h i n k s families exist. Briefly j o t d o w n their a n s w e r s b e l o w :
E n j o y s o m e songs, p o e m s , stories, or m u sical n u m b e r s b y f a m i l y m e m b e r s . T h e y needn't be fancy. R e m e m b e r , y o u ' r e all family!
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THREE GOOD REASONS FOR FAMILIES N o w d i s c u s s three r e a s o n s w h y f a m i l i e s w e r e created: 1. To help each other grow and live h a p p i l y T h e f a m i l y unit p r o v i d e s m a n y necessities for the individual. W e are a l l helpless at birth. F a m i l i e s p r o v i d e the things that babies n e e d to s u t v i v e - f o o d . shelter, a n d protection. T h e f a m i l y unit also p r o v i d e s training i n language, i n responsibility, i n love, a n d i n
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citizenship. A s k the y o u n g e r c h i l d r e n to tell specific w a y s they c a n help their brothers a n d sisters to g r o w and live happily. 2. So people w i l l feel loved and w a n t e d W e l e a r n to love those w e associate with a n d serve. A f a m i l y prov i d e s opportunities for this k i n d of a s s o c i a t i o n a n d service. E x p l a i n that e a c h child i n the f a m i l y is loved a n d wanted. H o w c a n love, service, and unity in your family increase? 3. T o have fan and enjoyment together Vacations, picnics, birthday parties, h o l i d a y s , a n d other activities are u s u a l l y enjoyable i n a m u c h d e e p e r and m o r e satisfying w a y w h e n the f a m i l y participates in t h e m together. W h y ? A s k a f a m i l y m e m b e r to relate his favorite m e m o r y o f a f u n f a m i l y activity a n d tell w h y h e r e m e m b e r s that particular time.
HAVE FUN TOGETHER H o w about doing s o m e t h i n g f u n right n o w ? E x p l a i n that y o u are going to h a v e a little contest. F r o m a standing position w i t h both feet together, j u m p f o r w a r d . M e a s u r e the distance u s i n g the length o f the foot of the o n e j u m p i n g . T h i s w a y , e v e n the y o u n g e r children c a n j u m p a s m a n y "feet" a s father. G i v e e v e r y o n e a n opportunity to j u m p . T r y another idea. G i v e e a c h f a m i l y m e m b e r p a p e r and pencil. C h o o s e a f a m i l y m e m b e r to b e the first "subject." T h e n a s k s o m e s i m p l e questions about that person: W h a t is mother's favorite c o l o r ? W h a t p l e a s e s her m o s t ? W h a t is h e r favorite breakfast, sport, s e a s o n , or t i m e o f d a y ? H a v e everyone, including the subject, w r i t e their a n s w e r s to those questions. S m a l l c h i l d r e n w i l l n e e d help w r i t i n g their a n s w e r s . T h e n h a v e the f a m i l y r e a d their a n s w e r s to e a c h question before the subject reveals the "real" a n s w e r s .
PLAN NEXT WEEK'S FAMILY HOME EVENING P l a n a t i m e n e x t w e e k (preferably M o n d a y night) w h e n the entire f a m i l y c a n get together for another f a m i l y h o m e evening. Better yet, set a regular time each w e e k from n o w on. Organize next week's lesson now.
CLOSING SONG
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N o w that y o u h a v e a broader understanding o f the i m p o r t a n c e o f families, sing " L o v e at H o m e " again a n d notice the s p e c i a l m e a n i n g it carries.
CLOSING PRAYER oc^^ Y o u c a n see the v a l u e of f a m i l y h o m e e v e n i n g in unifying the h o m e a n d family, but the best part is still to c o m e . A favorite t i m e of d a y for m a n y people is w h e n their families k n e e l together i n prayer. K n e e l right n o w and have a family p r a y e r together. We suggest that the h e a d of the family offer the prayer, u s i n g these four basic steps: B o w i n g our h e a d s a n d closing our e y e s in reverence, w e first address the L o r d i n a prayerful attitude: " O u r H e a v e n l y F a t h e r . , . " N o w thank h i m for blessings y o u r f a m i l y enjoys: "We t h a n k t h e e . . . " A s k h i m for blessings y o u need: "We a s k t h e e . . . " C o n c l u d e y o u r prayer as the scriptures direct: " I n the n a m e o f J e s u s Christ, amen."
REFRESHMENTS W h y not h a v e s o m e refreshments n o w ? W e suggest s o m e t h i n g especially fun like p o p c o r n , cookies . p u n c h , or a c a n d y pull.
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