Family Home Evening and Recreation
By C.S. Bezas

Family living can get very serious sometimes. In today's world, many families are challenged just to get by. Some families only have $10 left over each month. Some currently have to choose whether to feed their children or pay the bills. Other families face foreclosure on their homes.

Yet for other families, their struggles come in different categories — perhaps health, marital concerns, or even worries about children's choices. Whew! All of these difficulties can make for difficult, dreary days.

Yet look at the legacy left us from the prophet Brigham Young. From the Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, we read:

Why not plan this week to bring about a Family Home Evening after the Brigham Young tradition? Let's get ready for some FHE Fun!

FHE Fun!

Items Needed:

Opening Song.

Opening Prayer. Prior to prayer, ask for family concerns. Invite the person praying to ask for the Lord's assistance with those concerns.

Devotional. Allow anyone who would like to volunteer to share a scripture verse that helped them in the previous week.

Quote. Brigham Young:

Our work, our everyday labor, our whole lives are within the scope of our religion. This is what we believe and what we try to practice. Yet the Lord permits a great many things that he never commands ... The Lord never commanded me to dance, yet I have danced ... while the Lord has never commanded me to do it, he has permitted it. I do not know that he ever commanded the boys to go and play at ball, yet he permits it. I am not aware that he ever commanded us to build a theater, but he has permitted it, and I can give the reason why. Recreation and diversion are as necessary to our well-being as the more serious pursuits of life (Ibid, emphasis added).

Activity. Read the quote and explore your family's ideas to the following three questions:

Pass out a piece of paper to each person. Ask them to write down three fun ideas for the family to do in the next year. Ask them not to put their names on the paper. When finished, have them turn in their ideas.

Pull out a calendar. Explain that you would like to build a Brigham Young tradition in the family. Share that the Lord desires happiness for all of His children. The way to happiness is through purity and through family recreation. Read through the ideas, without sharing who wrote them. Explain that you will compile all the ideas on a master "Family Fun" list.

Invite the family members to think on Family Fun ideas during the coming week. As they come up with ideas, encourage them to write them on the master sheet. Keep the master sheet posted on the fridge or at some central location.

During the next week's FHE, select at least one activity per month for the family to do and add it to the family calendar. Ask your family for help to make sure the family follows through with these selected activities. One outing a month (whether at a park to swing on the swings or to the beach to watch the sunset) can be just the beginning of great Family Fun. Who knows — maybe it will be so successful you'll want more and more fun times together!

Closing Song.

Closing Prayer.

Refreshments. This week of all weeks really needs refreshments. What better time to explore the joy that comes from laughing over a drippy ice cream cone or spelling out names with tiny chocolate kisses! Thus, even if you don't usually have refreshments for FHE, make sure this week you do. Clear off those kitchen tables and sit around, talking and snacking. This family memory in the minds of your kids will last longer than you might expect.

Summary

By remembering Brigham Young's example and the importance of recreation, we create stronger families that can face nearly anything the world might throw our way. Obedience to gospel principles is essential. But let's not forget the tremendous impact of recreation in a well-functioning family.

We no longer need to droop under the weight of difficult days. If paying the bills is a challenge or we're faced with mounting health issues, increasing time spent with our families through recreational family fun, we can bring joy to otherwise impossible moments.

C.S. Bezas' book is now in LDS bookstores and has been described as perfect for youth leaders and parents of teens. Powerful Tips for Powerful Teachers: Helping Youth Find Their Spiritual Wings is also available by clicking here.