Young Single Adults

About 93 years ago, the First Presidency of the Church, had a growing concern about the degeneration of families across the world. So, in a formal letter to the church, they instituted Family Home Evenings (FHE)

"We advise and urge the inauguration of a 'Home Evening' throughout the church, at which time fathers and mothers may gather their boys and girls about them in the home and teach them the word of the Lord. . . . 'Home Evening' should be devoted to prayer, singing hymns, songs, instrumental music, scripture-reading, family topics and specific instruction on the principles of the gospel, and on the ethical problems of life, as well as the duties and obligations of children to parents, the home, the Church, society and the nation. For the smaller children appropriate recitations, songs, stories and games may be introduced. Light refreshments of such a nature as may be largely prepared in the home might be served.

If the Saints obey this counsel, we promise that great blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase. Faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influence and temptations which beset them." (First Presidency letter, 27 April 1915 — Joseph F. Smith, Anthon H. Lund, Charles W. Penrose)

Growing up, I always knew that Sunday meant attending church, and Monday night meant Family Home Evening. Come 6:00 P.M. on Monday night it was officially family time. My father always presided, and conducted over Family Home Evening (FHE.) We would take turns choosing the opening and closing songs. My father always chose someone to pray, and then the time was turned over to whoever was giving that week's lesson. Afterwards, we sometimes had an activity and almost always had a dessert (which often was homemade pop corn.)

Looking back, I am so thankful for the institution of family home evening. I learned so much through those weekly lessons, but even more, I can see how much stronger my family is because of the time spent together. I know this is something I will continue someday with my husband and children. For, I want my future family to be strong and untied.

What about right now? I have noticed that too often, Single Adults are seemingly in between worlds. We are no longer a small child or youth to be governed, and cared for by our parents. More often than not, we do not even live under our parent's roof, anymore. And yet, we have not married and begun a family of our own. Where does family home evening fit in with us?

There are two really good talks given which I recommend reading on the subject. One is written by a single adult and the other by a widow living alone. Both talks from the Ensign show how Family Home Evening can be done even if you are alone.

Family Home Evening for One - Judyth F. Barton

Family Home Evening for One - Bette J. Theriot

Right now, as my current calling, I have the privilege of being a member of my Singles Ward's Family Home Evening Committee. Since some of the singles in our ward live at home and attend FHE with their families, and some choose to have a private FHE with their roommates, the number who attends the ward FHE varies from week to week. We get on average anywhere from 7-25 people who come. Yet, even if we only had three or five people attending, it would still be worth it. It is not the number of people who attend, the perfection of the lesson, or even the grandness of the activities which matter. What matters is that we do it. That we come together in the eyes of God, to teach, learn, enjoy, and come closer to each other and to our Lord.

The same blessings, I received in my family, through participation in a weekly Family Home Evening, I have seen wrought in my Singles Ward. This is because the promised blessings of God are real and are available to all of us no matter our circumstance as long as we are obedient to the commandment upon which the blessing is predicated (D&C 130:20-21).

"Family home evening is for everyone. It is for families with parents and children, for families with just one parent, and for parents who have no children at home. It is for home evening groups of single adults and for those who live alone or with roommates. . . . Regular participation in family home evening will develop increased personal worth, family unity, love for our fellow men, and trust in our Father in heaven." (Family Home Evening, 1976 — Spencer W. Kimball, N. Eldon Tanner, and Marion G. Romney)

From the time that the Prophet Lehi and his family left Jerusalem, to the final Battle at Cumorah, which marked the formal end of the Nephite people, records were kept. These records were passed down, to be read and then continued, from prophet to prophet, and from ruler to ruler. Of these records one Nephite prophet Helaman said,

"But behold, a hundredth part of the proceedings of this people, yea, the account of the Lamanites and of the Nephites, and their wars, and contentions, and dissensions, and their preaching, and their prophecies, and their shipping and their building of ships, and their building of temples, and of synagogues and their sanctuaries, and their righteousness, and their wickedness, and their murders, and their robbings, and their plundering, and all manner of abominations and whoredoms, cannot be contained in this work." Helaman 3:4

There was so much that could not be recorded because of the difficulties of doing so, and yet enough was recorded (that which was considered most precious) that, later at the end of their civilization, the Prophet/Historians Mormon and his son Moroni, had to compile and condense the record even further. All this was done in the wisdom of God that we in these last days would be blessed with another testament of Jesus Christ.(The Book of Mormon)

Likewise, in our day, as in the days of the Ancient Nephites, we too have been commanded to keep records. I have been taught this since I was a child. And because of this, I have created such an eclectic assortment of journal entries, which span from my childhood to the present. For, even though I do not have to deal with the difficulty of engraving my record like those ancient Nephites, it is still not easy for me to keep a consistent record. I cannot count the number of times that I have started a journal and been faithful for a few days, only to stop. Often I tell myself that I am just too busy. The life of a single adult often is. It is true that often I just don't' have the time in the morning, and by evening I am ready to drop in exhaustion.

Yet, where I think that chaos of life and tiredness may have a part to play in my not keeping a consistent journal, I think that there is a deeper reason. I think that the reason we, (or at least I) do not try harder to keep a consistent journal, is because we think that is it of no use. No one could ever want to read what is written, and even if someone did, what good would it do them?

When I think of how much The Book of Mormon, has influenced my life I am humbled. For me this record is more than a history. It is more then a bunch of really cool stories. The Book of Mormon is filled with wisdom, guidance, and warning that is totally applicable in my life. It is also full of comfort, strength, and understanding. Most importantly I know my Heavenly Father, and Savior Jesus Christ so much more because of it. I understand who I am, why I am here, where I am going, and how to get there.

I see the value in the ancient record known as The Book of Mormon, yet that record was made by Prophets and great leaders. Of course their record would be influential. I, however, am not a Prophet. I am not a great leader. I am not even married yet. How could anything I write be of any influence to future generations?

The Lord knew that we would have these fears, and difficulties, and so He spoke to us through his Prophet, President Spencer W. Kimball, the Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, saying,

"You should continue on in this important work of recording the things you do, the things you say, the things you think, to be in accordance with the instructions of the Lord. Your story should be written now while it is fresh and while the true details are available.

Your private journal should record the way you face up to challenges that beset you. Do not suppose life changes so much that your experiences will not be interesting to your posterity. Experiences of work, relations with people, and an awareness of the rightness and wrongness of actions will always be relevant. Your journal, like most others, will tell of problems as old as the world and how you dealt with them…

Your journal is your autobiography, so it should be kept carefully. You are unique, and there may be incidents in your experience that are more noble and praiseworthy in their way than those recorded in any other life.

What could you do better for your children and your children's children than to record the story of your life, your triumphs over adversity, your recovery after a fall, your progress when all seemed black, your rejoicing when you had finally achieved? Some of what you write may be humdrum dates and places, but there will also be rich passages that will be quoted by your posterity." New Era, December 1980 President Kimball Speaks Out on Personal Journals

Here is a promise that if I keep working at writing in my journal that no matter how insignificant the entries may seem to me that they will be of great worth to my future posterity. There will be rich passages which will be counted as of great worth to them. With this in mind how can I not do my best, even though it is difficult to write even a hundredth part of my story, to record what I can.