Home Teaching

[Duncan]

Amen brother! Of course, I am a sister and so I don't have the assignment of home teaching, but I am a faithful visiting teacher. The reason that I couldn't care less about being home taught though is that I have an amazing husband, and a wonderful support system here. I have a brother nearby, a wonderful father and even more wonderful father-in-law nearby and three able bodied sons. Plus, lots of great neighbors who would help me out in a split second if I needed help. I'm lucky though. For people who don't have a built in support system nearby, faithful home teachers can be a priceless commodity! I have to say though, I don't like NOSY home teachers. I had one of those once, and he seriously bugged the heck out of me in spite of the fact that he was a faithful LDS man who was just trying to do what the manual instructed him to do. While I appreciated his valiant spirit, I don't like people I barely know sticking their noses in to our family business.

reminds me of what the Apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 4:15,

"But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters". Emphasis mine.

[Glenn101]

Amen brother! Of course' date=' I am a sister and so I don't have the assignment of home teaching, but I am a faithful visiting teacher. The reason that I couldn't care less about being home taught though is that I have an amazing husband, and a wonderful support system here. I have a brother nearby, a wonderful father and even more wonderful father-in-law nearby and three able bodied sons. Plus, lots of great neighbors who would help me out in a split second if I needed help. I'm lucky though. For people who don't have a built in support system nearby, faithful home teachers can be a priceless commodity! I have to say though, I don't like NOSY home teachers. I had one of those once, and he seriously bugged the heck out of me in spite of the fact that he was a faithful LDS man who was just trying to do what the manual instructed him to do. While I appreciated his valiant spirit, I don't like people I barely know sticking their noses in to our family business.[/quote']

reminds me of what the Apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 4:15,

"But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters". Emphasis mine.

I do not know what the "nosy" home teacher that Katherine is referring to was prying into. However, home teachers are instructed to ask certain questions that may seem nosy to some. Questions such as on Family Home Evening, personal and family prayers, etc. Those and inquiries into the circumstances of the family in general should not be deemed nosy. Other than that, the family's wishes should be respected as to further inquiries.

My experiences in home teaching have always been positive once I established a rapport with a family and they began to trust me and believe that I really cared about them. It was eye opening the number of families that seemingly were doing fine, yet had some problems or struggles that they were reluctant to talk with a bishop about, but would open up faithful, caring home teachers.

On related note, I realized that I should make my own home teachers feel welcome in my home and that the questions they might ask me were those that they were admonished to ask. I found that some of my home teachers were reluctant to ask even those questions, so I learned to volunteer those types of information very early in the visits. I never had any problems with any of my home teachers becoming too nosy.

Glenn

[Duncan]

I do not know what the "nosy" home teacher that Katherine is referring to was prying into. However, home teachers are instructed to ask certain questions that may seem nosy to some. Questions such as on Family Home Evening, personal and family prayers, etc. Those and inquiries into the circumstances of the family in general should not be deemed nosy. Other than that, the family's wishes should be respected as to further inquiries.

My experiences in home teaching have always been positive once I established a rapport with a family and they began to trust me and believe that I really cared about them. It was eye opening the number of families that seemingly were doing fine, yet had some problems or struggles that they were reluctant to talk with a bishop about, but would open up faithful, caring home teachers.

On related note, I realized that I should make my own home teachers feel welcome in my home and that the questions they might ask me were those that they were admonished to ask. I found that some of my home teachers were reluctant to ask even those questions, so I learned to volunteer those types of information very early in the visits. I never had any problems with any of my home teachers becoming too nosy.

Glenn

I had a Bishop years ago who taught us to say when we went HT that we should say, "I have to go to the washroom" (lie) and then wander around their house looking into rooms and stuff, because "what goes on behind closed doors" like yeah but they should tell us, I absolutley REFUSE to poke around in people's homesand be looking into rooms and all that stuff, I am not a cop looking for drugs and guns or something, like if people have a problem they should tell us, I won't confront them like "AHA! You DO watch Fullhouse and here are the DVD's to prove it!-got you this time sucker!"

[Messenger]

Just ask your quorum leader to assign you to an active hometeacher.

Although, ask yourself why you really need a hometeacher. When a hometeacher comes to visit you, they are taking time from their own family. One of the reasons that hometeaching stats are often so low is because it takes time and effort beyond the time and effort that we are all putting into our jobs, families, other church meetings, etc.

So make sure you want something more than just companionship.

H.

I already asked the quarum leader. I already posted that - my home teacher met me again on the way to the car. (LOL)

As far as companionship, no not really. Although there are plenty of single elderly ladies that I have home taught that need that, and Im ok with making that part of my visit in a plutonic sense. But, I will say that part of the ward family, in my opinion, is caring for each other. Why do I need a home teacher?.... because when I am home taught I feel closer to the ward in a spiritual sense. I hope that makes sense to you. Why would you not want one when its a commandment? Do you understand the spiritual connection to the ward and how important it is?

[Hayds]

Personally I hate having HT come by. Usually they show up unannounced, so it creates an inconvenience. They waste my time with small talk. They share a message from the Ensign which I already subscribe to and read. I live within 10 minutes from my parents, siblings, in-laws, cousins, friends, and etc. If I ever need help moving, or need a blessing I contact those people.

I don't like doing HT because I feel its busy work and for the same reasons above.

I completely understand that some people may not have friends and family close by and might benefit from a HT. I really think the church should stop making HT/VT mandatory for everyone and just have those members who wish to partake of this program sign up and be visited. My guess is it would only be a handful of people out of every ward who would request this and it would only take 2 or 3 companionships to cover everyone.

[katherine the great]

Personally I hate having HT come by. Usually they show up unannounced, so it creates an inconvenience. They waste my time with small talk. They share a message from the Ensign which I already subscribe to and read. I live within 10 minutes from my parents, siblings, in-laws, cousins, friends, and etc. If I ever need help moving, or need a blessing I contact those people.

I don't like doing HT because I feel its busy work and for the same reasons above.

I completely understand that some people may not have friends and family close by and might benefit from a HT. I really think the church should stop making HT/VT mandatory for everyone and just have those members who wish to partake of this program sign up and be visited. My guess is it would only be a handful of people out of every ward who would request this and it would only take 2 or 3 companionships to cover everyone.

I've thought about that possibility too, but I don't think it will happen. I think home teaching is the way that the Bishop is able to assess the general membership's needs without personally having to visit each family, and I think visiting teaching serves the same function for the sisters. It would be nice if the organizations were more amenable to people to "opt out" at times that they just don't feel that they can fulfill their HT/VT responsibilities. I opted out once when my life was just too chaotic to be a good VT, and the Relief Society President was very angry about it. I even told her that I didn't need to be visited if that would help with rearranging the routes. If the program is that inflexible then it could probably benefit from some revamping. I feel very strongly about doing a good job at the callings I accept and I've gotten good at refusing callings that I know I can't magnify.

[Messenger]

I've thought about that possibility too, but I don't think it will happen. I think home teaching is the way that the Bishop is able to assess the general membership's needs without personally having to visit each family, and I think visiting teaching serves the same function for the sisters. It would be nice if the organizations were more amenable to people to "opt out" at times that they just don't feel that they can fulfill their HT/VT responsibilities. I opted out once when my life was just too chaotic to be a good VT, and the Relief Society President was very angry about it. I even told her that I didn't need to be visited if that would help with rearranging the routes. If the program is that inflexible then it could probably benefit from some revamping. I feel very strongly about doing a good job at the callings I accept and I've gotten good at refusing callings that I know I can't magnify.

I wonder if an 'opt out' option would be something to consider as part of the program, you don’t get home teachers if you don’t want them, aren’t on church welfare of any kind, and hold a temple recommend. Then you don’t have to do any home teaching.

[Avatar4321]

Because people choose to do otherwise.

I think it was Elder McConkie that said something to the effect that Home Teaching is the greatest program ever created in the Church, the members just don't do it.

[JarMan]

Part of the reason HT probably won't be made optional is because it's what justifies the existence of EQP's and HPG's. They exist largely to manage the HT program. At least that's how it's been in my experience.

And here's a personal pet peeve of mine related to HT. It's the PPI to grill you on why you've been less than stellar visiting your families. It's now my policy to decline PPI invites.