LDS Freedom Forum

PunaGabe wrote:Ok maybe I was overreacting but when I home teach Im doing the lords work so I am in my sunday best.I guess I see the words home and teach I thought there would be a lesson. My bad.

ATL Wake wrote:Rather than have a Pharisaical thread outlining what we "should" and "shouldn't" do as home teachers, let's look to the principle behind home teaching - ministering.

Christ spent His life ministering to others. If we want to become Christ-like we need to learn how to minister to others. Home teaching is an excellent opportunity for us to practice how to minister. And just because we minister to our home teachees doesn't mean we can't minster to others as well.

Since all circumstances are different, I don't really see any "standards" for any particular ministry. Sometimes a person will just need comfort knowing that they have someone who cares, sometimes you can invite the family over for dinner, or go out and do an activity with them, sometimes they have spiritual needs that can be met with a lesson or blessing. One might need help with the yard or help moving. Personally, I can't see the value of putting a fence around what should and shouldn't be done, what should and shouldn't be worn.

Each minister is also at a different level of progression. Sometimes just showing up is where they are at. As long as they keep showing up and attempt to minister to the family's needs they will get better at gauging what is required of them.

But the last thing we should be doing is judging how OTHER people are fulfilling THEIR responsibilities to the Lord.

JulesGP wrote:Honestly, I can't stand it when HT or VT come with their canned lesson in their Sunday attire just so they can report that they "did their visit". I don't like the idea of the whole program(s) anyway! We should be fellowshipping and offering charity and bearing each others burdens - as a people, not just because it's a monthly assignment. I opted out of the VT program a few months ago (not the first time....) because I just did not have time - nor energy to deal with the monthly obligatory, superficial visit.

In the ward I just moved from, I actually had home-teachers who cared about me and went out of their way to check on my boys and me, and actually HELP us when we needed it - which usually meant NOT being dressed in a suit and tie. I don't remember ONE "lesson" (they knew I'll read the Ensign online anyway), and the time I asked for a blessing, they came over in their regular clothing - and I THANKED them for not getting all dressed up and making me feel weird being in my pajamas. I told them that I know the blessing will be heard with or without a tie.

They were representative of what I BELIEVE home teachers should be like, (if we are going to have a "program"). And the reason I feel that way is because they didn't do ANYTHING just to fill a quota, they didn't do things "by the book", they became my friends FOR REAL - not just because they were assigned to me. They still check on me and I live two counties away! THAT is how we should behave as members of the church. I couldn't care less if someone brings me a lesson, dressed up for church, asks "So how-ya-doin....??", and leaves without caring about anything else but fulfilling the visit.

ChelC wrote: You CAN go out of a sense of duty and end up with a true friend over time.

JulesGP wrote:Honestly, I can't stand it when HT or VT come with their canned lesson in their Sunday attire just so they can report that they "did their visit". I don't like the idea of the whole program(s) anyway! We should be fellowshipping and offering charity and bearing each others burdens - as a people, not just because it's a monthly assignment. I opted out of the VT program a few months ago (not the first time....) because I just did not have time - nor energy to deal with the monthly obligatory, superficial visit.

awake wrote: For when people are really carrying heavy burdens that others want to ignore, the superficial visits are more hurtful then just to be left alone.

LateOutOfBed wrote:

PunaGabe wrote:Ok maybe I was overreacting but when I home teach Im doing the lords work so I am in my sunday best.I guess I see the words home and teach I thought there would be a lesson. My bad.

Yea, me too... but at least yours is making attempts to show up. I don't think I've had my home teachers show up to do home teaching in... um... a long time. Last time they were over was when I was in need of a blessing and I asked them to provide me such. That was 3 months ago. Before that they dropped off cookies 1 time, but that was almost a full year prior. I'm grateful though that they've done those two things. I strive to be the best home teacher I can in hope that someday I'll have faithful home teachers in my home.

-- Geoff

PunaGabe wrote:I guess the way I am is I dont want help from anyone.Im a very busy guy and it just seems they just want to come over so they can get there 100% home teaching mark.Its like Ive herd of wards going" we have 95% home teaching",like its some kind of competition. I guess Im like whats the point of coming over if your not bringing a message.I would rather they take me off the list.Now if I can help them thats another story.Now the people on my list wont even return my calls, and if they answer Im like "is there anything I can do for you " ? And the inactive member is like well I do need my yard weedwacked and she has 4 teenage boys, so Im like oooook , YEAH RIGHT! I guess I need to be more Christ like. I better go repent!