Wholesome Family Recreation

Wholesome Family Recreation is MORE THAN JUST FUN

It’s no secret that Latter-day Saint families have long been counseled to pray together—even more so with the rollout in recent years of the “Come Follow Me” home-based study programs.

But did you know that setting aside time for wholesome family recreation is also sacred?

In fact, according to The Family: A Proclamation to the World, “wholesome recreational activities” are just as essential to establishing a successful home as the principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion and work.

While how to teach and implement the principles more closely tied to the scriptures is clearly outlined in numerous church publications and reinforced through Sunday and weekday church-sponsored programs, what constitutes family fun is far more open to interpretation and can vary widely based on personal preferences.

Whatever it entails, “Families need to have fun together,” Lesson 26 in The Latter-day Saint Woman manual, states that “We should recognize that one of the most important things in life is the family, because it is eternal. No matter what our circumstances, we should find time to spend with our families.”

Furthermore, Latter-day Saint families have been advised that “music, literature, art, dance, drama, athletics” and more are all wholesome ways for families to seek entertainment.

For families who have been cooped up for much of the past two years, finding ways to be active outdoors or outside the home might be a welcome change—regardless of whether you are playing on the swings at a local park or doing a hike through the Grand Canyon.

Bear in mind that not everyone in every household has the same interests, physical abilities, or level of maturity. Consider holding a family council to brainstorm ideas that will work for all, and one-off activities for smaller groups.

Here are some ideas to get things going:

In February, Family Destinations Guide published a list of 19 Fun Things to Do in Phoenix with Kids: The Best Family-Friendly Attractions with information on zoos, museums, water parks, botanical gardens and more.

For families with older kids, Family Destinations Guide published 11 Fun Things to Do in Phoenix with Teenagers: Best Family Attractions. Highlights include Salt River rafting, escape games, go-karts

Photo by Kadyn Pierce (unsplash.com) Making time for wholesome recreation is an essential principle of establishing a strong family.

Continued on pg. 19

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