In 1985, Joanna Marie Horne was tending her garden in Leicester, England when two sister missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints greeted her and shared thoughts about the purpose of life and the importance of family in God's plan. Joanna wanted the best for her three year old son, Duncan and her future children, so she began her gospel study. After being baptized a member of the Church, Joanna and her husband David formed a habit of using the Family Home Evening Resource Manual to teach their children weekly. Since 1985, on Monday night Joanna still brings her family together in song, prayer, teaching, and activity.
- Horne Family
- Grandma and Grandpa Horne
- Resource Manual
- Lauren and Leah
- Kuantan Group
- Resource Manual
- Lauren coloring
- Leah and friend
- Family in the shade
- Home Evening Chart
- Family Adventure
- Dad and girls
- Red Bird
- Duncan and Lorikeet
- Wall Painting
- Ring the bell
- Family Celebration
- Full Moon
- tropical blossom
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
From those childhood times, Duncan made a commitment to follow his mother's habit. Each week he gathers his wife and children for Family Home Evening. He said "we struggle sometimes, but when we get discouraged, I remember my sweet mother setting the Home Evening Habit. That memory helps us work harder to follow her example."
Fidelia grew up near Kuching, East Malaysia. She met Duncan while attending university. As a young woman, her father taught the importance of gathering his children for religious instruction and family time. "Whenever we visit my Dad in Kuching, we have family prayer with him. The lessons from Family Home Evening have stuck with me. As a child I felt great security when we sang and prayed together."
Duncan and Fidelia, with their daughters, Lauren, 7 and Leah, age 4, are members of the Kuantan Group of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their family, along with two other members of the church live in Kuantan, Malaysia. Worship services called Sacrament Meeting, along with Sunday School, and Primary are held in their home each Sunday.
The Horne's teach English as a second language from a classroom in their home. Duncan is the Head Teacher and Fidelia is the Office Administrator. That means their family is "together pretty much 24 hours every day. As parents, we look for times which get us out of the house and allow us to have spiritual experiences in this beautiful World. Our Home Evening lessons are often not traditional, but always start with a song and prayer. We add a lesson, and then share time together" says Duncan. Fidelia said "we are following the habits we learned from our parents. It is a sacred time for us every week".
One can see the habits these parents were taught in their homes has helped them live the counsel shared by Elder Tad R Callister, Sunday School General President when he said, "As parents we are to be the prime gospel teachers and examples for our children... When all is said and done, the home is the ideal forum for teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ."