Family Home Evening in Penang, Malaysia

 

Smiles and a feeling of love were in abundance as the Lim family gathered together recently for their regular Monday Family Home Evening in their Penang, Malaysia home. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they have been encouraged to meet one night a week for a short lesson consisting of a spiritual message, music, games and treats.

This year marks the 100th Anniversary of Family Home Evening. In 1915 the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued the following direction. "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. ...This 'Home Evening' should be devoted to prayer, singing hymns, songs, instrumental music, scripture-reading, family topics and specific instruction. Formality and stiffness should be studiously avoided and all the family should participate in the exercises. 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 influences and temptations which beset them". (Home Evening," Improvement Era, June 1915)

On this particular evening, it is Ngee Hsing's (24) turn to give the lesson. She has chosen a hymn for everyone to sing together. Her topic for the lesson is about being grateful for Jesus Christ, their family, and why Family Home Evening has helped their family.  Each family member is given a piece of paper to write their feelings. As each one is shared, a feeling of togetherness is felt in the home. The father, Lim Khain Peng said, "We feel like we are closer to Heavenly Father. We can feel harmony in our family because of Family Home Evening". Ngee Hsing told how at one time she and her older sister had argued and had not spoken to each other for some time. During a Family Home Evening she realized how much she had missed talking to her sister. Problems were solved and hearts were mended. MiMi, (19) a student living with the Lim family added, "one thing I like about the Church is about the family. The Church has brought our family together. Sometimes we have fights but at Family Home Evening we all feel the peace". She laughed as she shared, "my Mother makes the lesson about what we are fighting about. After FHE, the fight ends. My family prayed for me when I had exams. I was scared, but then I could feel my family's arms around me and I wasn't nervous anymore". Son Addy (16) mentioned the changes he had witnessed in their family. "Now we sit together and we eat together. My family changed alot after we joined this Church. Now my father can be fun without smoking and drinking alcohol". Ngee Wen (20) agreed. "We love our grandparents. Knowing that we can all be together again is good. From FHE we have all grown stronger. We love each other more".

Everyone expressed their appreciation for the young missionaries that taught their family. MiMi and Ngee Wen will soon be part of that missionary force. MiMi will be serving in the Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission in Salt Lake City, Utah. She leaves in October. Ngee Wen (20) will serve in the Singapore Mission. She will leave July 1. Both girls will serve 18 months. Ngee Yong(18) will be waiting for their return.

Following a noisy game of "get hit on the head with a pillow if you don't say the right Book of Mormon name", yummy refreshments of fruit were served by mother, Ming Poh Leng.