Sometimes all you need is a good quote to get family home evening going. Here are three of my favorites on kindness, gratitude, and the temple that can be good discussion starters. At the end is one of my favorite quotes about family home evening. Enjoy!

President Monson on Kindness used in FHEasy’s lesson on service, pp. 136-139.

“Many years ago I heard a poem which has stayed with me, by which I have tried to guide my life. It’s one of my favorites:

I have wept in the night
For the shortness of sight
That to somebody’s need made me blind;
But I never have yet
Felt a tinge of regret
For being a little too kind.”

(Thomas S. Monson, “What Have I Done for Someone Today?,” Ensign, Nov. 2009)

President Uchtdorf on Gratitude used in FHEasy’s lesson on gratitude, pp. 104-107.

“Why does God command us to be grateful? All of His commandments are given to make blessings available to us. Commandments are opportunities to exercise our agency and to receive blessings. Our loving Heavenly Father knows that choosing to develop a spirit of gratitude will bring us true joy and great happiness. … Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? In other words, I’m suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances—whatever they may be. . . .  Being grateful in our circumstances is an act of faith in God. It requires that we trust God and hope for things we may not see but which are true. . . . Gratitude is a catalyst to all Christlike attributes!” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Grateful in Any Circumstances,” Ensign, May 2014; italics in original)

President Nelson on the Power of the Temple

“My dear brothers and sisters, construction of these [new] temples may not change your life, but your time in the temple surely will. In that spirit, I bless you to identify those things you can set aside so you can spend more time in the temple. I bless you with greater harmony and love in your homes and a deeper desire to care for your eternal family relationships. I bless you with increased faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and a greater ability to follow Him as His true disciples.” (Russell M. Nelson, “Let Us All Press On,” 2018 April General Conference, final message on Sunday afternoon; bolding added)

My Family Home Evening Testimony

Family Home Evening can be such a blessing and it doesn’t even have to be hard! I love this quote by Elder Scott:

“While you are working to strengthen your family and cultivate peace, remember this … tool: weekly family home evening. Be cautious not to make your family home evening just an afterthought of a busy day. Decide that on Monday night your family will be together at home for the evening. Do not let employment demands, sports, extracurricular activities, homework, or anything else become more important than that time you spend together at home with your family.

The structure of your evening is not as important as the time invested. The gospel should be taught both formally and informally. Make it a meaningful experience for each member of the family. Family home evening is a precious time to bear testimony in a safe environment; to learn teaching, planning, and organizational skills; to strengthen family bonds; to develop family traditions; to talk to each other; and more important, to have a marvelous time together!” (“Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority,” Ensign, Nov. 2014, bolding mine)

As Always…

Happy Home Evenings!