1974
Policy Announced on BYU Student Home Evenings
September 1974


“Policy Announced on BYU Student Home Evenings,” Ensign, Sept. 1974, 96

Policy Announced on BYU Student Home Evenings

The primary objective of obtaining an education at Brigham Young University takes precedence over special activities on Monday nights for BYU students, announced the First Presidency recently.

Except for a brief family home evening, “Monday nights … will be regarded by the students as a time for study,” said the First Presidency. Home evenings for students should now include a short discussion “not exceeding one hour” with special activities discouraged.

A previous announcement authorized Church leaders to organize Young Adults (ages 18 to 25) or Special Interests (ages 26 and over) not living with their parents into groups for family home evening activities, with one member of the group appointed as a family home evening group leader if desired. “The group should not be called a family, and the leader should not be designated as a father or family head,” the First Presidency emphasized.

Small group involving both young men and young women may continue as “interest groups” under the direction of the Melchizedek Priesthood MIA. Such groups will be scheduled as part of the Melchizedek Priesthood MIA calendar and will not meet on Monday nights. “This will accomplish much that is desirable for the many members who do not date a great deal or otherwise do not have social opportunities,” said the First Presidency.

A weekly branch-size Melchizedek Priesthood MIA activity is also permissible but not mandatory for the BYU branches, according to the announcement.