Ready-Made Family Home Evening

One of the reasons our family nights are successful is that we store lesson and activity materials in a handy kit. All you need is a container big enough to store your materials. A few suggestions for kit materials, available through Church distribution centers, are listed below. Or you can simply use items you already have in your home.

1. Scriptures. I keep an additional set in the kit so they are always handy.

2. Family Home Evening Resource Book (item no. 31106; U.S. $5.00). Whether you plan a lesson in advance or on the spur of the moment, this resource book is full of good ideas for all ages.

3. Gospel Principles (31110; U.S. $3.00). Basic explanations of gospel principles are important for the entire family to learn.

4. Hymns (31243; U.S. $5.00) and Children’s Songbook (35395; U.S. $10.00). Since music can bring the Spirit to any lesson, these items are essential.

5. Gospel Art Picture Kit (34730; U.S. $30.00). Children learn especially well when visuals are used, and the stories printed on the backs of these pictures provide instant lessons.

6. Church magazines. The Ensign, Liahona, New Era, and Friend magazines offer many articles that can be used in lessons.

7. New Era posters. These gospel messages can be easily adapted for family discussions. They are available as individual posters or in sets.

8. Church pamphlets and booklets. My kit contains several pamphlets. A few suggestions are For the Strength of Youth (36550; no charge), Our Family: A Practical Guide for Building a Gospel-Centered Home (33405; U.S. $.30), and How to Talk to Your Teenager (32541; U.S. $.35). To see a listing of all Church distribution center materials, log on to www.lds.org or www.ldscatalog.com.

9. Lesson and activity supplies. Include such items as paper, pencils, scissors, and glue to use in lessons. It’s also helpful to keep on hand Church videos, games, and other activities.

Melodie Webb, East Mill Creek First Ward, Salt Lake East Millcreek North Stake

Illustration by Beth Whittaker