In 1915, Joseph F. Smith, then President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints introduced what has now come to be called the Family Home Evening program. The church encouraged every family to set aside Monday nights as a special time when the family would spend that time together in their home, strengthening their relationships and teaching each other.

Today Family Home Evening, or FHE, is an integral part of LDS church members’ lives. The program has been recognized by other churches, governments, and activist organizations the world over as a positive program that helps build strong marriages and raise healthy and happy children.

While FHE is primarily focused on families, FHE can be a strong marriage builder as well. My wife and I don’t have children, but we hold Family Home Evening each week.

How to Hold Family Home Evening.

Usually FHE includes an opening prayer, a song, scripture, lesson, activity, treat & finally a closing prayer. LDS.org has a really useful page for planning and running FHE, so there’s no need to recreate all of that information here, but know that it’s not intended to be a formal activity. You can add, take away, or change any of the steps. The point is for your family to be together and do something that will build relationships.

It’s not necessary for FHE to always be at your house, but the emphasis is on families together. It usually works best if it’s at the same time in the same place, with just a few variations on occasion.

How does Family Home Evening benefit your marriage?

Obviously any marriage benefits from more time together. Time together that is focused on something is even better. Guys, women love it when they know that there is a time set aside every week when you will be together. It’s reassuring and it makes them feel like your relationship is a high priority.

If you run FHE the way that it was originally created, putting God into your marriage will benefit your relationship as well. Any couple that has a strong spiritual life will be closer emotionally as well.

What kind of activities do you do for FHE?

Just about anything that your family would enjoy doing is a good FHE activity. As long as the whole family can participate and it builds rapport (no, watching a movie doesn’t count) you can do it!

There are legions of ideas for Family Home Evening activities. You can try here, here, or here.

My personal favorite FHE activities are Murder in the Dark, Settlers of Catan, or bike riding.

What do you do to engage your family and your marriage on a regular basis?

Do you have any sort of formalized activities that your family does? Do you have questions? Share them in the comments below.

This post goes out to my brother-in-law.  A few months ago he married a girl that he had met only a few months previously.  He was previously married and had two kids.  His new wife was also previously married and had four kids.  Now, together they have six kids.  My brother-in-law is the same age that I am, 28 years old.

Six kids at 28 years old.  Kinda crazy, right?

Yesterday we landed in Utah to visit family for the Christmas vacation.  The brother-in-law picked us up at the airport and we went to his house for the evening, where the craziness ensued.  If you’ve ever been in a confined area with six children under the age of 9, then you can imagine the pandemonium that broke out when all the kids came inside.

Through the maelstrom, my brother-in-law and his new wife were happy, harried, and in love.  Even as they wrangled food for the kids, helped them pack for a winter snowmobiling trip, set up a pen for the two dogs, and got out a board game for them, they found time to kiss, touch, and generally show appreciation and affection for each other.

I hope that when my wife and I have children that we’ll be as capable and loving as they are.