As we move into the fall months, preparing for what lies ahead, let's take a break from our hectic pace and experience a few moments of peace. Time for some FHE Fun!
Opening Song: #297 From Homes of Saints Glad Songs Arise
Opening Prayer: By invitation.
Devotional: Devotionals are a great time for individuals in the family to share a spiritual "aha" moment from the past week. You may want to pre-assign this periodically. It can be a beautiful time as family members become accustomed sharing deep spiritual feelings with each other. Over time this brief moment can become more and more spontaneous.
Activity: Read the following quote from President Heber J. Grant, our 7th president of the Church:
"He said that I could never, in this world, learn to sing. Just a little flat. While listening to Brother Horace S. Ensign sing, I remarked that I would gladly give two or three months of my spare time if by so doing it would result in my being able to sing one or two hymns" (Heber J. Grant, “Practice Makes Possible,” New Era, Feb 2004, 37).
Ask the family why President Grant might have wanted to be able to sing hymns. What does including hymns in one's life do?
After hearing their thoughts, read the following from the front of the Church hymnbook:
"Music has boundless powers for moving families toward greater spirituality and devotion to the gospel. Latter-day Saints should fill their homes with the sound of worthy music.
"Ours is a hymnbook for the home as well as for the meetinghouse. We hope the hymnbook will take a prominent place among the scriptures and other religious books in our homes. The hymns can bring families a spirit of beauty and peace and can inspire love and unity among family members.
"Teach your children to love the hymns. Sing them on the Sabbath, in home evening, during scripture study, at prayer time. Sing as you work, as you play, and as you travel together. Sing hymns as lullabies to build faith and testimony in your young ones"(The First Presidency, "First Presidency Preface," Hymns, p x).
Now ask the family again why President Grant may have wanted to learn to sing hymns. What does including hymns in one's life do?
Set a goal as a family to purchase a hymnbook for the home. Set an additional goal to see how many hymns can be sung in their entirety by next week's FHE. Notice the spirit of peace that begins to feel a home as beautiful hymns are incorporated on a daily basis in a family's life.
Hymnbooks are available at wholesale prices online at LDS Catalog.com
Application:
Take a few minutes to sing two favorite hymns all the way through. If you do not yet have a hymnbook, simply visit music.lds.org for online hymns. Enjoy the experience, no matter how un-tuneful the voices may be. The Spirit simply loves songs of the heart and the Lord promises blessings for those who sing in this manner (see D&C 25).
Closing Song: #176 'Tis Sweet to Sing the Matchless Love
Closing Prayer: By invitation.
Refreshments: Here is a link to fun, original Rice Krispie treats. Enjoy munching on these together. You can point out that just as these treats have many, many little pieces to them, so do hymns. And each of those individual notes creates a delicious part of life, if sung!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: For a very encouraging article, read President Grant's entire experience about his awful voice and the improvement he made trusting in the Lord.
