"Early in 19l5 the First Presidency of the Church advised the parents of Zion as follows:
"We advise and urge the inauguration of a Home Evening throughout the Church, at which time fathers and mothers may gather their boys and girls about them in the home, and teach them the words of God...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.'"
1966, Pres. McKay:
"Great blessings come to those who carry out this responsibility. Last year's lessons have brought many families closer to one another, and have brought a great measure of peace and harmony in many homes.
We feel to say to you again, with our love and earnest assurances, that the Lord will grant rich blessings to all who will prayerfully and sincerely carry out this program."
"No other success can compensate for failure in the home."
1967, Pres. McKay:
"Most earnestly and urgently we call upon parents to assume their full responsibility for teaching and living the gospel in the home.
"Families will be blessed. There will be better feelings between husband and wife, between parents and children, and among children. In such homes the Spirit of the Lord will be made manifest."
1970, Pres. Joseph Fielding Smith:
"The importance of family unity--love and consideration for one another in the family--cannot be overemphasized. Spiritual solidarity in family relationships is the sure foundation upon which the Church and society itself will flourish. This fact is well known and appreciated by the adversary, and as never before, he is using every clever device, influence, and power within his control to undermine and destroy this eternal institution. Only the gospel of Jesus Christ applied in family relationships will thwart this devilish destructiveness."
197l, Pres. Jos. Fielding Smith:
"Couples whose children are grown can receive strength by setting aside one night a week to be with each other and engage in activities of an eternal importance. Young couples awaiting the joy of their own family can be drawn ever closer together by having regular home evenings. In so doing, they prepare for the great challenges of parenthood."
1973, Pres. Harold B. Lee:
"Do you spend as much time making your family and home successful as you do in pursuing social and professional success? Are you devoting your best creative energy to the most important unit in society--the family.
1974, Pres. Spencer W. Kimball:
"We cannot impress too much the importance of having family home evenings once a week.
"...that you may be rewarded by a fulfillment of the promise that if fathers and mothers will discharge this responsibility, not one in a hundred of your family, as has been said by the leaders who have preceded us, would ever go astray."
1976, Pres. Spencer W. Kimball:
"Family home evening is for everyone. It is for families with parents and children, for families with just one parent, and for parents who have no children at home. It is for home evening groups of single adults and for those who live alone or with roommates.
"Regular participation in family home evening will develop increased, personal worth, family unity, love for our fellowmen, and trust in our Father in heaven. It is our PROMISE that great blessings will come to all who conscientiously plan and hold weekly family home evenings."
1978, Pres. Kimball:
"We promise again that as you faithfully plan and hold quality family home evenings, you will gain strength to withstand the temptations of the world and will receive many blessings which will help qualify you to enjoy your families through eternity in the Celestial Kingdom."
Promises for holding Family Home Evening
| Lord's Promise To You | What you must do | Reference |
| 1. Great blessings will
result. 2. Love at home will increase. 3. Obedience to parents will increase. 4. Faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth. 5. They will gain power to combat the evil influences and temptations which beset them. |
Fathers and mothers gather their boys and girls about them in the home, and teach them the words of God. | First Presidency of the Church in
the 1965 Family Home Evening Manual (quoting the First Presidency of the Church in 1915) |
| 1. Great blessings
come to those
who carry out this responsibility. 2. A great measure of peace and harmony in the home. 3. The Lord will grant rich blessings. 4. Will bring families closer to one another. |
Prayerfully and sincerely carry out the Family Home Evening program. | President David O. McKay 1966 Family Home Evening Manual |
| 1. Families will be
blessed. 2. There will be better feelings between husband and wife, between parents and children, and among children. 3. The Spirit of the Lord will be made manifest. |
Parents must assume their full responsibility for teaching and living the gospel in the home. Family Home Evening. | President David O. McKay 1967 Family Home Evening Manual |
| 1. Couples receive
strength. 2. Couples can be drawn ever closer together. 3. Young couples will prepare for the great challenges of parenthood. |
Couples whose children are grown
should set
aside one night a week to be with each other and engage in activities
of
an eternal importance. Young couples awaiting children should have regular home evenings. |
President Joseph Fielding Smith 1971 Family Home Evening Manual |
| 1. Not one in a hundred of your family would ever go astray. | Have Family Home Evenings once a week. Fathers and Mothers should discharge this responsibility. | President Spencer W. Kimball 1974 Family Home Evening Manual (quoting previous church leaders) |
| 1. Develop increased
personal worth. 2. Family Unity. 3. Love for our fellowmen. 4. Trust in our Father in Heaven. 5. Great blessings. |
Conscientiously plan and hold
weekly family
home evenings. FHE is for everyone--families with parents and children, families with just one parent, parents who have no children at home, single adult groups and those who live alone or with roommates. |
President Spencer W. Kimball 1976 Family Home Evening Manual |
| 1. You will gain
strength to withstand
the temptations of the world. 2. Will receive many blessings which will help qualify you to enjoy your families through eternity in the Celestial Kingdom. |
Faithfully plan and hold quality family home evenings. | President Spencer W. Kimball 1978 Family Home Evening Manual |
| “We have a family home evening
program once a week [Monday night]
across the Church in which parents sit down with their children. They
study the scriptures. They talk about family problems. They plan family
activities and things of that kind. I don’t
hesitate to say if every
family in the world practiced that one thing, you’d see a very great
difference in the solidarity of the families of the world.” |
Hold
Family Home Evening |
President Gordon B. Hinckley, “Family Home Evening,” Liahona and Ensign, Mar. 2003, p. 3. |