Family Home Evening: Hero of the Month

Our family tried a new approach for preparing family home evenings. At the beginning of the year, we chose twelve “heroes of the month,” usually selected from the scriptures, as monthly themes. Then we assigned family members to prepare family home evenings centered on the hero of their choice. Each month we memorized a scripture and participated in lessons, games, and activities that helped us learn more about each month’s hero and his “powers.”

Our list of heroes for one year:

• King Benjamin and the powers of service and gratitude (see Mosiah 2:17, 19).

• Nephi and the power of obedience (see 1 Ne. 3:7).

• Abinadi and the power of faith in Christ (see Mosiah 16:9).

• Alma and the powers of repentance and baptism (see Mosiah 18:8–10).

• Ammon and the power of missionary work (see Alma 26:22).

• Captain Moroni and the power of example (see Alma 48:17).

• Nephi and the power of prayer (see 3 Ne. 18:18–21).

• Mormon and the powers of hope and charity (see Moro. 7:41–48).

• Moroni and the power of testimony (see Moro. 10:4–5).

• Jesus Christ and the power of doing the Father’s will (see 3 Ne. 27:13–15).

• Isaiah and the power of trusting the Lord (see 2 Ne. 22:2).

• President Gordon B. Hinckley and the power of coming to Christ (see Moro. 10:32–33).

We break each month into four separate topics but allow each person to chose his or her own topic if preferred. One example might be: 1. Nephi followed the prophet, 2. Nephi kept a journal, 3. Nephi learned the plan of salvation, 4. Nephi honored his Heavenly Father through keeping his covenants. We also choose a hymn or Primary song for the month.

Our family home evenings have been interesting, and the children look forward to studying about these heroes and their special powers.—Ruth Ann Cosby, Flower Mound, Texas

Illustrated by Jerry Harston