Home/Visiting Teaching to be discontinued

[Calm]

4 hours ago, Gray said:

Hmm, interesting idea. I'd say actually taking up the assigned person's interests is going too far. That's going to ring false anyway. You can't make friends by assignment. But I do like the idea of setting level of engagement by level of need.

It could work if they matched people with similar interests.  Wouldn't even have to be a hobby, but could be inviting the family over once a month for dinner and a game playing evening.  Don't make alone time with the man the top priority.  Leaders shouldn't only assign men to families, but keep working with them until they have found something that works and if they can't, switch up the assignment within a few months.  Be open with all families about what you are doing, trying to create a social network and support system for everyone in the ward to encourage people to be open about their preferences and needs.  Use the ward councils during church time to evaluate and share ideas.

[Calm]

1 hour ago, rongo said:

I wonder if the changes include eliminating reporting? That, to me, would be a lot more monumental than a name change (in favor of a buzzword-sounding direction) or loosening of "accepted activities" (actual visits with lessons, actual visits period, texting, calling, writing a note, doing activities with, etc.). Eliminating reporting would represent a major shift in the Church's historical direction in favor of "teach correct principles and let them govern themselves."...

Perhaps home/visiting teaching belongs in this boat, but I would be stunned if the current Church administration went in that direction. Hope springs eternal, though.  

How would you know if someone was falling through the cracks then because they were inactive, but their HT made no effort?

Edited March 19, 2018 by Calm

[rockpond]

On 3/16/2018 at 6:05 PM, FearlessFixxer said:

Multiple sources close to the matter have confirmed that the Mormon Church is replacing the Home and Visiting Teaching programs with a program called 'Ministering'. Participants will be referred to as 'Ministering Brothers' and 'Ministering Sisters'.

I am not trying to create drama, I just thought this forum would like to know.

Cheers

Thanks for sharing this.  Seems to align with the announcement that the First Presidency monthly message is also being discontinued.  And, I've heard rumors of a significant announcement in next month's General Conference.

[The Nehor]

14 minutes ago, rockpond said:

Thanks for sharing this.  Seems to align with the announcement that the First Presidency monthly message is also being discontinued.  And, I've heard rumors of a significant announcement in next month's General Conference.

President Nelson stands up and says: “And to be clear absolutely nothing happened on Adam-ondi-Ahman last Tuesday.” *wink*

[Gray]

1 hour ago, Calm said:

It could work if they matched people with similar interests.  Wouldn't even have to be a hobby, but could be inviting the family over once a month for dinner and a game playing evening.  Don't make alone time with the man the top priority.  Leaders shouldn't only assign men to families, but keep working with them until they have found something that works and if they can't, switch up the assignment within a few months.  Be open with all families about what you are doing, trying to create a social network and support system for everyone in the ward to encourage people to be open about their preferences and needs.  Use the ward councils during church time to evaluate and share ideas.

I like that idea. But you'd need a special person or committee of persons in the ward (who know the individual members very well) to match people up appropriately. Sounds fun, though!

[Avatar4321]

On 3/17/2018 at 7:46 PM, Bernard Gui said:

Well, we went from teachers to ward teachers to home teachers. Used up the teacher possibilities.

Bishop's Envoys.

Family Mentors.

Ward Shepherds or Sheepdogs.

Sacred Agents.

Bishopreps.

 

 

Spies for the house of Israel..

Oh wait

[The Nehor]

8 minutes ago, Gray said:

I like that idea. But you'd need a special person or committee of persons in the ward (who know the individual members very well) to match people up appropriately. Sounds fun, though!

I think it would be awful for the boring people who have no interests but their lives look pretty awful anyways so I suppose they are used to it.

[The Nehor]

4 minutes ago, Avatar4321 said:

Spies for the house of Israel..

Oh wait

Last time we tried that it had a 5/6ths apostasy rate.

[bluebell]

3 hours ago, rongo said:

I don't think there is a direct correlation between pilot program success and eventual implementation in the Church. Not in my experience, anyway.

There must be some correlation, otherwise, why bother doing pilot programs?  We had a few in my mission (that a few other missions were doing as well) and they never went any further than that.   I would imagine it was because it was determined that they were not effective at achieving the desired results.

Quote

I wonder if the changes include eliminating reporting? That, to me, would be a lot more monumental than a name change (in favor of a buzzword-sounding direction) or loosening of "accepted activities" (actual visits with lessons, actual visits period, texting, calling, writing a note, doing activities with, etc.). Eliminating reporting would represent a major shift in the Church's historical direction in favor of "teach correct principles and let them govern themselves." 

It would be a huge shift for the church to get rid of the 'return and report' part of serving in the church.

 

[Jeanne]

11 minutes ago, bluebell said:

There must be some correlation, otherwise, why bother doing pilot programs?  We had a few in my mission (that a few other missions were doing as well) and they never went any further than that.   I would imagine it was because it was determined that they were not effective at achieving the desired results.

It would be a huge shift for the church to get rid of the 'return and report' part of serving in the church.

 

bluebell, do they still have ward council meetings?  Won't this change the course for inactives or concerning families that they try to reach?  Personally, IMO...this will make lives easier for ALL members of a ward that are active and inactive and could improve the neighbor aspect of becoming friends.

[HappyJackWagon]

11 minutes ago, bluebell said:

There must be some correlation, otherwise, why bother doing pilot programs?  We had a few in my mission (that a few other missions were doing as well) and they never went any further than that.   I would imagine it was because it was determined that they were not effective at achieving the desired results.

It would be a huge shift for the church to get rid of the 'return and report' part of serving in the church.

 

Wasn't it Elder Holland who downplayed the HT/VT reporting recently, focusing more on doing the right things rather than "reporting the right things". I agree it's a shift, but it seems to be one that is already under way. Since Holland's talk it's been a little awkward because while there seemed to be a de-emphasis on reporting, the reporting mechanisms were still in place, recording visits monthly just as they had before his talk so there was a kind of tension. It's possible this could institutionalize Holland's approach.

 

[Jeanne]

1 hour ago, rockpond said:

Thanks for sharing this.  Seems to align with the announcement that the First Presidency monthly message is also being discontinued.  And, I've heard rumors of a significant announcement in next month's General Conference.

Me too...Actually...I scheduled a day off work to hear something...anything!!

[bluebell]

39 minutes ago, HappyJackWagon said:

Wasn't it Elder Holland who downplayed the HT/VT reporting recently, focusing more on doing the right things rather than "reporting the right things". I agree it's a shift, but it seems to be one that is already under way. Since Holland's talk it's been a little awkward because while there seemed to be a de-emphasis on reporting, the reporting mechanisms were still in place, recording visits monthly just as they had before his talk so there was a kind of tension. It's possible this could institutionalize Holland's approach.

 

I don’t remember him implying that recording doesn’t serve a purpose or needs to be done away with, but I’d have to see the quote again to be sure I’m remembering right. 

[bluebell]

41 minutes ago, Jeanne said:

bluebell, do they still have ward council meetings?  Won't this change the course for inactives or concerning families that they try to reach?  Personally, IMO...this will make lives easier for ALL members of a ward that are active and inactive and could improve the neighbor aspect of becoming friends.

Oh yes, ward council is going strong, at least in my ward. The goal of our council meetings is always “people and not events.”

[Calm]

1 hour ago, Gray said:

I like that idea. But you'd need a special person or committee of persons in the ward (who know the individual members very well) to match people up appropriately. Sounds fun, though!

I was thinking the same thing, it would probably need more than just the usual leaders to keep up on it, an extrovert who doesn't mind asking questions, but who is likeable so people don't take offense if they push a little.

Edited March 19, 2018 by Calm

[Jeanne]

2 minutes ago, bluebell said:

Oh yes, ward council is going strong, at least in my ward. The goal of our council meetings is always “people and not events.”

Thank you.

[Calm]

1 hour ago, The Nehor said:

I think it would be awful for the boring people who have no interests but their lives look pretty awful anyways so I suppose they are used to it.

Maybe it would encourage them to find something.

[rongo]

1 hour ago, bluebell said:

There must be some correlation, otherwise, why bother doing pilot programs?

That would be conventional wisdom, wouldn't it? Sometimes it seems that the decision is already made, regardless of the findings and experience of the pilot program. 

I think at a basic level, the thought is "Let's test drive this, and see how it does," but I don't see any evidence of scrapping the idea due to the pilot program.

We had a few in my mission (that a few other missions were doing as well) and they never went any further than that.   I would imagine it was because it was determined that they were not effective at achieving the desired results.

Do you remember what they were? I would find that very interesting.

It would be a huge shift for the church to get rid of the 'return and report' part of serving in the church.

I wouldn't see it as jettisoning "return and report," so much as it would be getting rid of "calling the district leader and repeating a string of numbers" (I'm assuming you served roughly when I did --- mid 1990s). I never considered that to really be the spirit or the letter of "return and report."

[Hamba Tuhan]

8 hours ago, stemelbow said:

Men HTers lost interest in keeping up with various others in the ward boundaries. They were to focus their attention on the less active, but often were unable in any sensible way to connect with the less active families.

I'm reminded of this Mormon Message:

Men who sit around in priesthood meetings talking about how hard it is to connect with less-active families need to stop whingeing and start connecting.

I've been assigned to visit a certain family for the past seven years. The husband stopped attending church more than 20 years ago, when he was about 14. The wife has no religion in her whatsoever. They have three little kids, two of whom have been born since I've been their home teacher. He's a coarse-mannered, foul-mouted electrician whose hobby is archery. She's a frenetic kindergarten teacher. We have virtually nothing in common.

For the first two years that I stopped by, either she greeted us at the door and told us it wasn't a good time, or he greeted us at the door with a stream of abuse. We just kept going back each month with a printed message that we could pass through the door. After two years, one very cold evening, we got invited in. That's when things started getting better.

Fast-forward five years. Our visits are very welcome. Last month, we caught the wife at home by herself. She apologised and asked us to return on a certain other night, which we did. We had a long, enjoyable talk. They tell me all about their work stresses, family stresses, etc. I get to see the archery trophies too! They take me into the back garden and show me the progress on their various projects back there. The kids love to see us show up and, according to the mum, frequently ask when the 'guys in ties' are coming back. I think they like that we play Nerf and Beyblades with them. The dad and I have become close friends. We don't do things together outside of home teaching visits yet, but I honestly don't think he has any other man that he talks to more intimately.

In addition to just listening to them and playing with the kids, we now are invited to share spiritual messages, and we always end the visit with a prayer. The kids love this part. Usually both parents follow us outside to the car, talking the whole way. 'See you next month!' is the usual parting.

We still have almost nothing in common ... except the friendship that has grown up between us. And that's enough.

I have no idea if he'll come back to church at some point, or if she'll get baptised someday. I have no idea what the kids will make of our monthly visits in future. In the meantime, we're friends. They know without any doubt that I'd be there if they needed me. Someday they might. I don't know. I know that I'm welcome into the kitchen whilst they cook dinner or do the washing up and that I'll be cheerily invited to wait a few minutes as they get the kids out of the bath. And that's enough.

Edited March 19, 2018 by Hamba Tuhan

[bluebell]

1 hour ago, rongo said:

That would be conventional wisdom, wouldn't it? Sometimes it seems that the decision is already made, regardless of the findings and experience of the pilot program. 

I think at a basic level, the thought is "Let's test drive this, and see how it does," but I don't see any evidence of scrapping the idea due to the pilot program.

 

 

Do you remember what they were? I would find that very interesting.

 

 

I wouldn't see it as jettisoning "return and report," so much as it would be getting rid of "calling the district leader and repeating a string of numbers" (I'm assuming you served roughly when I did --- mid 1990s). I never considered that to really be the spirit or the letter of "return and report."

I remember one of the pilot programs.  It was a new thing where they were going to use genealogy to find people to teach.  I think it was called something like "tell me about your family?".  We had to stop seeking out new people to teach and instead concentrate on teaching the new program to every family in the ward where we were serving (talk about a pain in the rear!) so they could then implement it.  It basically revolved around members saying 'tell me about your family?' to their friends and getting the friend interested in genealogical work.  Then, transitioning that into an interest in the church and having the missionaries teach them.

I think the other one had to do with asking people "Do you know why Mormons are called Mormons?" and then launching into a conversation about the BOM.  That one seemed kind of neat and I know some people that had huge success with being able to give out copies.  But I think i went home during that one so I don't remember much about it.

I served in 98-99 in northern California. 

[Bernard Gui]

16 hours ago, jkwilliams said:

... would still get done on the last day of the month. 

And the first. 

[randy]

Man...I've been thinking about Home Teaching all wrong these past 45 yrs.....here I thought Home Teaching was ALWAYS all about "ministering" !   dang it   (slapping my forehead like Chris Farley)

[jpv]

The fixMeister called it.

[The Nehor]

Just now, jpv said:

The fixMeister stole it.

Fixed that for you.

[jpv]

3 minutes ago, The Nehor said:

Fixed that for you.

Hahahaha