Time for Family Home Evening

For members of the Church, Monday night is synonymous with family home evening. But how did it all start? This time line tells the story.

1909  The Granite Utah Stake develops a formal family home evening program.

1915  President Joseph F. Smith and his counselors in the First Presidency call on parents in the Church to gather their children once each week for a "Home Evening."

1935  President David O. McKay reminds parents that "no other success can compensate for failure in the home."

1965  The first official family home evening manual is released; revised versions are released annually until 1984.

1970  The First Presidency designates Monday evening as the time for family home evening.

1985  The Family Home Evening Resource Book is introduced with broader source material and application.

1999  The First Presidency publishes a letter reminding members not to plan ward or stake activities on Monday nights or—where practical—not to have community activities on Monday nights.