One easy fix to the lack of ministering

[MacGyver]

2 hours ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

It sounds like you have at least three levels of failure in your stake: you, your elders quorum presidency, and the stake presidency member/ward adviser who oversee your elders quorum presidency. I'm glad you determined to fix the first level!

I would suspect that what is happening in my ward and stake since the switch to ministering is not abnormal. Even  when I did have those two ministering interviews over two years ago, it was obvious that the expectation had been lowered, not raised. I have heard similar things from people outside my ward and stake since the home teaching and visiting teaching were retired. 

 

[Rain]

I am really grateful for the change as both a visitor and as a visitee.  

I like the idea of visiting/ministering. HOW you do it didn't really change much.  All the things they said you could do now they always talked about doing in conference before. The only thing different was a visit to the house was  required (and later it was required once a quarter with a letter or call once a month. ) 

So I might take my sister out for lunch, pick up her children from school, and visit her mom in the hospital, but the computer did not have a checkbox for any of those things so I was fine that my visits didn't get "done" that month.   Heavenly Father and I knew I was helping the best way I could so I couldn't care less about that box It did bother others over me!

And as the person getting visited I REALLY hate to be visited out of duty. Now I don't have a bunch of awkward conversations with people who didn't really want to come see me anyway.   And if they do come to see me I know it's not because they are afraid of getting the call at the end of the month.

But mostly, I like it because I'm a christian and adult.  I can decide when I want to care for my fellow woman.  I don't need someone checking up on me.  I am LOVING how much more the church is letting things be between me and God and not another imperfect person.   

Assigning the people is a practical thing to make sure "everyone" is covered so I'm still good with that. But whether people are visiting or not just really goes back to what Elder Packer says - if you want someone to minister well, help them understand doctrine better - not teach how to behave in ministering.  

Edited December 26, 2021 by Rain

[Hamba Tuhan]

3 hours ago, MacGyver said:

I would suspect that what is happening in my ward and stake since the switch to ministering is not abnormal.

And yet Saints in other wards and stakes have taken up the challenge to engage in 'higher and holier' approaches to ministering. It really is a time of sifting.

[MacGyver]

7 hours ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

It really is a time of sifting.

You may be right here.

The Lord is definitly aware of who is still fulfilling his command to "visit the house of each member, and exhort them to pray vocally and in secret and attend to all family duties," even after the church has retired home and visiting teaching, and who isn't.