3 Fun Family History Ideas for Family Home Evening

”In an article in the March 2013 New York Times entitled “The Stories That Bind Us,” author Bruce Feiler shared psychologists’ findings that the more children knew about their family history, the better they were able to handle stressful situations.  The reasons were that the children realized they were a part of something bigger than themselves, they understood their family overcame many ups and downs, and they believed they could overcome difficulties too.

These family home evening ideas will help your family learn more about your extended family and start building bonds with parents, grandparents, and ancestors. . .

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How to prepare for a family home evening:
The following family home evening ideas take little or no preparation. The ideas can be combined to make a longer family home evening activity. You may want to assign members of your family to prepare a song, scripture, and spiritual thought to go with an activity.


FHE Idea #1: Can You Hear Them?

Watch the Video "Can You Hear Them?" 

 Purpose: Connect with extended family through pictures.
 
Preparation: 

1. You may want to download the video: Preserve Your Photos and Family Memories  (Can You Hear Them?)
2. Make sure you can sign in on www.familysearch.org. You use the same username and password as on LDS.org. If you do not have an LDS Account, at the top right on FamilySearch.org, click Join for Free. You will need your Church membership record number. You can find this number on your temple recommend, or contact your ward clerk.

Activity:
     1.  Watch the video: Preserve Your Photos and Family Memories? (below)

• What were the photos saying to the children?
• What might the people in the photos say to their grand kids or other family members?

1. Using your computer or tablet, look at photos of your family that others may have added to FamilySearch.org. To access the photos, sign in to FamilySearch.org. Under Memories, select People. To view your relationship to a person, click the yellow banner on the photo.2
2. Discuss the photos:
• Who do you see in the photos?
• What are the photos “whispering” to you?
• What do you think your family members or ancestors would tell you?
• What physical traits do you share with your family members?
3. Under Memories, select photos to upload and share your photos on FamilySearch.org.

Purpose: Connect to extended family through stories.

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FHE Idea #2: My Family: Stories That Bring Us Together

Preparation:

1. You may want to download the video: Watching My Grandson Play Ball
   
2. Get a copy of the My Family: Stories That Bring Us Together booklet for each member of your family. You can get copies online at store.lds.org, or your ward family history consultant or bishop may have copies. (Available at the SGFSL)
   
3. Prepare copies of photos to place in the booklet, if desired.  

Activity:
 Watch the video: Watching My Grandson Pla

FHE Idea # 3 - Family Stories help to Unite Families Through Time

Purpose: Connect to extended family through stories.

Preparation:

1. You may want to download the video: He Was a Blacksmith (see it below).
   
2. You may want to select a family story to role play, and gather costumes and props to use.
   
   

Activity:

1. Watch and discuss the video: He Was a Blacksmith
   

1. • Q: How can stories help with family history?
     
   • A: They can help us understand who our ancestors were and in turn help us understand who we are. We create connections to them, which can inspire us to do temple work for our ancestors.
     
     
2. List fun, exciting, or memorable family stories that your family remembers. If you have filled out My Family: Stories That Bring Us Together, you may want to refer to that booklet.
   
3. Choose a story that your family could role play.
   
4. After role playing, discuss your family story:
   
   • How does that story help you better understand your ancestors?
     
   • What character traits did your ancestors have that you see in yourself or other family members?