The Singles Ward FHE

Family Home Evening. It's a weekly activity members are encouraged to have every Monday night. For the typical family, consisting of mother, father, and children, who attends and what happens for FHE can be easily determined. For single people, this is not always the case. Depending on the ward, you might have the option of attending one of many FHE activities.

There are some which are better than others, of course. There are constraints placed upon those organizing such events due to events in their personal or professional lives. All things considered though, there are usually 10 different types of FHE activities held by singles. The following is a list of them, in order from worst to best.

10. The Free Public Concert

During the warmer months of the year, many free public concerts are held in the city. There are many things wrong with this activity, which makes this less preferable to the activities which are to follow. First, while the announcement may say to meet at a certain place at a certain time, it is almost impossible for everyone who wants to attend to show up at that place at that time. This makes it impossible for everyone wishing to attend to participate as a group. Next, concerts are not very conducive to interaction within the group. You sit down, look at what's being performed on stage, then once it's over, everyone goes home. Even hushed conversations may attract the ire of other concert-goers. Then of course, there's the phone conversation with the latecomer seeking to find the rest of the group.

9. The Dessert Place

Activities like this reek of being thrown together at the last minute just to be included in the Monday afternoon ward e-mail. The announcement is usually takes the form of, "Hey everyone! Let's get together at Miss Moxie's Muffin Mania, Monday at 8!" The location is usually incapable of handling a crowd of more than 12 people, you usually have to pay for your own dessert, and said dessert usually costs twice as much as what you paid for lunch! Also never mind the fact that some people haven't had dinner yet, and don't have time to eat dinner before the announced time! When you get there you have to look around the place like a weirdo, not only to ensure that you're at the right place, but that others from your group are also there. Not only that, there's no spiritual message, and the group has gone home by 8:45.

8. The “Interactive” Movie Night

Movie night is one thing, but adding a layer of cheese on top of a movie that already has a cult following just makes the movie that much cheesier. Honestly I don't care if you're supposed to squeal like a girl at every mention of the name Westley, or count how many times someone says the word rope, or if we're to blow bubbles whenever someone says, "Prepare to die." I just want to sit back and watch the movie! Oh, and if the volume can't be turned up loud enough, turn on the subtitles, please. (For the record, The Princess Bride is a good movie. I just don't want any of the fluff.)

7. The Bishop's House

While it's a step in the right direction, FHE at the bishop's house (or the house of anyone in the ward's bishopric for that matter) can have its drawbacks. For example, if the bishop's family includes young children. Not the best "ask a girl out on a date" environment, unless the kids suggest asking someone out (like that will ever happen). Also, such activities tend to start a bit early, like at 7 PM.

6. Preparing Food for the Homeless

A different step in the right direction, making sandwiches to give out to homeless people can be considered as a kind of service project. The expressions of gratitude can make your day.

Now we're getting into the good ones.

5. The Park

Let's hang out in the park! Unlike most public places, park time is actually fun time, especially when the activity starts just before sunset. Perfect opportunity for some one-on-one time... unless a Frisbee or baseball is being thrown around. If you can find a park that's playing a movie during the summer, that's another bonus. Tell everyone to bring a beach blanket and show up about an hour before the movie is scheduled to start. Bring a few snacks, the relax and enjoy the show.

4. The Ward FHE

What better way is there to get the ward together during the week than at a ward FHE? Develop a fun activity and the night will be a hit. However, if the activity is not as fun, or if it ends too early, it'll likely not be memorable.

3. The Large Group where Dinner is Served

The food served is either pizza or burgers. In fact the only food that can fail at an activity like this is anything with "salad" in the name. There's also someone to give a fireside-like talk. Then eat some kind of dessert. Meanwhile, the clock ticks past 10 PM, and many people are still there!

2. The Game Night

What better way to interact with people than through board games? Or card games, for that matter. Good suggestions are Apples to Apples, Loaded Questions, Phase 10, Monopoly, Scattergories, Connect Four, and UNO. The thing with a large group though is that with some of the games that take longer to play, that group my become isolated from the rest.

Contrasting with the large group is the small group, usually not more than 10 people, the small group play a game together. I would suggest for this a game with a long playing time, like Monopoly. Unlike the large group, the small group game night usually takes place in someone's apartment.

1. The One Where Nobody Wants to Leave!

Finally, there are the FHEs where it doesn't matter how big the group is, it doesn't matter how much fun was had during the activity, heck, it doesn't even matter how late it is, nobody wants to leave! These tend to be the best, as they have a good range of activity and interactivity. There's no pressing desire among the participants to sleep or do homework or anything else that diminishes life here and now. Even if there is, they are willing to hang out all night if it came to that.

In conclusion, if it brings people together in a good setting, if there's a good spiritual element, if there's some kind of food offered to guests gratis, and people are reluctant to leave, then it's a good FHE activity. I've been to some that went for five hours. Those are the best. Then there was the game of Monopoly that was supposed to last fifteen minutes, but ended up being seven times as long. That was great, too. Anyway, if it starts at 7 PM or most people are gone by 8:45 PM, consider it a flop.

[EDIT]: I have to make a special case about doorman buildings, but I think it deserves its own post.