December 2004 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...

BY JANENE WOLSEY BAADSGAARD
Ithink our experience of not being able to have children
has influenced our feelings about family home
evening,” says Sister Kristi Collins of Oahu, Hawaii.
“Many times I’ve heard other couples say they think family
home evenings are just for families with children. With or
without children, my husband and I are a family. We became
a family when we knelt across from each other in the Portland
Oregon Temple and were sealed together for time and
all eternity. Having children would increase the size of our
family, but even without children, family home evening has
been a great blessing to our marriage.”
“Often our schedules are so busy during
the week that setting aside one evening to
focus on our family is vital and allows us
to do more than just meet in passing,” says
Kristi’s husband, Jeffery Collins. “Family
home evening provides the opportunity to
bear our testimonies to each other. I think
husbands can take the initiative to make sure
it happens. We shouldn’t wait for our wives
to remind us that it is our turn to plan a lesson
or activity. I don’t think family home
evening should be so structured that the
same routine is followed week after week.
We like to have variety.”
It is important to realize that family home evening is
not just for families with children; many couples will
spend all or a large part of their lives together without
children in the home. When couples are obedient and
give family home evening top priority, it can be a means
of spiritual nourishment, growth, and fun at any age or
in any circumstance.
Because each couple is different, husbands and wives
can select the approach that uniquely suits their situation
and best meets their needs. For most families, Monday
night is the best time to hold family home evening because
that night is kept free of Church meetings and activities.
In 1978 the First Presidency promised, “As you faithfully
plan and hold quality family home evenings, you will gain
Everyone
needs the rich
blessings that
flow from
holding
regular
family home
evenings.
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.” 1
Brother and Sister Collins like to use some of their
family home evenings as an opportunity to serve. They
write letters to missionaries, take food to local food banks,
donate blood at the Red Cross center, and take cookies or
treats to less-active members. They also like to clean up
trash along the beach and help others learn English.
Dave and Karene Warby, a young couple from
Anaheim, California, have found their biggest challenge
to holding family home evening is making it official.
“Every night could be family night because
we spend most of our evenings together,”
Sister Warby says. “When we make it official
every Monday night and open with prayer it
seems we have an easier time staying connected
and communicating with each other
that week. I think it’s important to establish
a habit from the beginning.”
Dave and Karene both enjoy reading and
discussing the scriptures and other good
books, as well as riding bikes, followed by
making cookies and ice cream. Brother and
Sister Warby, both returned missionaries,
have also enjoyed discussing their missions in combined
family home evenings with their brothers, sisters,
nieces, and nephews.
Ryan and Kate McFarland of Ann Arbor, Michigan, say
that with school and work, their biggest challenge to holding
family home evening has been time. The McFarlands
like to start with a prayer, sing a song, have a lesson, enjoy
some kind of activity, then close with prayer. Before their
son was born, they regularly invited new couples in their
ward to share family home evening as a way to reach out
and build friendships.
“When we have a prayer and lesson we invite the Spirit
into our home and we’re better able to apply the gospel to
our personal lives,” Sister McFarland says. “I think holding
regular family home evening, even when there were just
ENSIGN DECEMBER 2004 47