Suggested Lesson Development

Family prayer and scripture study and family home evening must be high priorities for every Latter-day Saint family.

Explain that in February 1999 the First Presidency sent a letter to members of the Church throughout the world. The letter included the following instruction:

“We counsel parents and children to give highest priority to family prayer, family home evening, gospel study and instruction, and wholesome family activities. However worthy and appropriate other demands or activities may be, they must not be permitted to displace the divinely-appointed duties that only parents and families can adequately perform” (First Presidency letter, 11 Feb. 1999).

Explain that this lesson discusses what parents can do to hold daily family prayer and scripture study and weekly family home evenings.

Families receive great blessings when they pray together.

Read 3 Nephi 18:21 with participants. Then share the following counsel from President Gordon B. Hinckley, the 15th President of the Church:

“Let every family in this Church have prayer together. Now, it is important to have individual prayer, but it is a wonderful thing to have family prayer. Pray to your Father in Heaven in faith. Pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. You can do nothing better for your children than to have them taking their turn in the family prayer, expressing gratitude for their blessings. If they do that while they are young, they will grow with a spirit of thanksgiving in their hearts” (“Inspirational Thoughts,” Ensign, Aug. 1997, 5).

Family scripture study helps families draw nearer to God.

Write the following phrases on the chalkboard or read them aloud:

Ask participants to ponder the following question without answering aloud:

Explain that President Marion G. Romney of the First Presidency testified that these blessings can come more abundantly into our homes when we study the scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon:

“I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1980, 90; or Ensign, May 1980, 67).

Referring to President Romney’s promises, President Ezra Taft Benson, the 13th President of the Church, said: “These promises—increased love and harmony in the home, greater respect between parent and child, increased spirituality and righteousness—are not idle promises, but exactly what the Prophet Joseph Smith meant when he said the Book of Mormon will help us draw nearer to God” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1986, 6; or Ensign, Nov. 1986, 7).

Invite participants to tell about blessings that have come to their families through family scripture study.

Point out that if it becomes difficult to gather the family together for scripture study, parents should remember that their efforts may have a more lasting effect than they imagine. Sister Susan L. Warner, who served as second counselor in the Primary general presidency, said:

“In our family we have tried to hold early-morning scripture study. But we were often frustrated when one son complained and had to be coaxed out of bed. When he finally came, he would often put his head right down on the table. Years later, while serving his mission, he wrote home in a letter: ‘Thank you for teaching me the scriptures. I want you to know that all those times I acted like I was sleeping, I was really listening with my eyes closed’ ” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1996, 109; or Ensign, May 1996, 79).

Family home evening helps families fortify themselves against worldly influences.

Explain that in 1915, President Joseph F. Smith and his counselors in the First Presidency instructed parents to begin holding a regular “Home Evening.” This was to be a time for parents to teach their families the principles of the gospel. The First Presidency wrote: “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 influence and temptations which beset them” (in James R. Clark, comp., Messages of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6 vols. [1965–75], 4:339).

President Gordon B. Hinckley told of how his parents followed President Smith’s counsel:

“In 1915 President Joseph F. Smith asked the people of the Church to have family home evening. My father said we would do so, and so we would warm up the parlor where Mother’s grand piano stood and do what the President of the Church had asked.

“We were miserable performers as children. We could do all kinds of things together while playing, but for one of us to try to sing a solo before the others was like asking ice cream to stay hard on the kitchen stove. In the beginning, we would laugh and make cute remarks about one another’s performance. But our parents persisted. We sang together. We prayed together. We listened quietly while Mother read Bible and Book of Mormon stories. Father told us stories out of his memory. …

“Out of those simple little meetings, held in the parlor of our old home, came something indescribable and wonderful. Our love for our parents was strengthened. Our love for brothers and sisters was enhanced. Our love for the Lord was increased. An appreciation for simple goodness grew in our hearts. These wonderful things came about because our parents followed the counsel of the President of the Church. I have learned something tremendously significant out of that” (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [1997], 211–12).

Explain that every President of the Church since President Joseph F. Smith has emphasized the importance of family home evening. Today the First Presidency has counseled families to hold family home evening every Monday night.

Point out that family home evening should always include family prayer and a lesson, which can be presented by a parent or one of the children. Parents can help younger children prepare and present lessons.

Explain that the Church has produced materials that can help families conduct successful family home evenings. Display the Church-produced materials that you have brought to class (see “Preparation,” item 3). Give special emphasis to the Family Home Evening Resource Book, which is a valuable tool for parents. This book is the Church’s main resource for helping families plan and conduct family home evenings. It includes lessons and ideas for activities.