Home teachings unwritten rules

[scottie]

I have a close friend who is EQP in his ward and doesn't stress about his quorum's poor HTing numbers. He told me he thinks the HTing program needs to be changed/done away with because its original intent -- making contact with people who had little to no contact with the church due to lack of transportation and/or communication (before cars/phones/internet I guess) -- has run its course; does anyone know if that's true? I just believed him because he's intelligent and a hardcore church guy.

[Moliere]

I have a close friend who is EQP in his ward and doesn't stress about his quorum's poor HTing numbers. He told me he thinks the HTing program needs to be changed/done away with because its original intent -- making contact with people who had little to no contact with the church due to lack of transportation and/or communication (before cars/phones/internet I guess) -- has run its course; does anyone know if that's true? I just believed him because he's intelligent and a hardcore church guy.

No idea if it is true but it follows how most church programs get started. There is usually a need that is addressed. A program is start to cater to that need. The program continues to serve that need for a couple years and soon the program becomes a tradition. The tradition comes under attach because the need is not there any more or the need has become much less of a concern. Doctrinal reasons are invented to support the program, which often includes tying the program to a specific scripture in the D&C. The program is then considered inspired for everything and not just the original need for which it was developed.

I personally like home teaching, although I think the concept of monthly visits is too much. I'd like to see it morph into more an assignment to watch over families instead of insisting or obligating that people visit them in their homes and give a message. The EQP/HPGL can then determine who really needs monthly visits in the home and can then assign those families to the bishops-in-waiting of the ward.

[Sullyute]

Do people really home teach? I thought that was kind of a myth. Since ldc and I have been married we have had less than 5 home teachers come to our house.

I actually really like our home teachers. They come about 80-90% of the time. They are a father and son duo. They keep it to about 10 minutes, they make sure the lesson is simple and on my kids level, then they leave. Before they get to the door, my 5 yr old son tries to tackle and wrestle them to the ground. For Halloween they actually brought glow sticks over for my kids to wear while trick-or-treating.

I am only about a 50% hometeacher. I do drop off a lot of cookies and try to at least make a phone call or send a text. One of the families that I teach is a new ER doctor, so he works at night and is usually sleeping during the day on Sunday. Since my companion works an off schedule too, I usually just go by myself and spend a few moments talking to the wife and kids at their front door and/or bring them some treats. I usually don't count bringing treats as a visit unless it is December when "Cookies Count" as home teaching in our ward.

[KillerDog]

He told me he thinks the HTing program needs to be changed/done away with because its original intent -- making contact with people who had little to no contact with the church due to lack of transportation and/or communication (before cars/phones/internet I guess) -- has run its course; does anyone know if that's true? I just believed him because he's intelligent and a hardcore church guy.

I find it unlikely to be true. Maybe block teaching began for that reason. I served with a guy who was a member of the original stake that test piloted home teaching. It was a Colorado stake. IIRC, he said block teaching was the norm in the church and in block teaching you were called to visit with the various members who lived around you. The home teaching program, according to him, was much more involved and required a lesson to be taught and reporting on the home teaching to the Executive Secretary, who was created for this purpose. This guy was a very young member of the pilot stake's stake presidency and is now in his late 60s or early 70s.

Regardless, I agree with your EQP's position on the subject. The HT program doesn't seem to do what it is intended to do. Maybe, instead of trying to get people to do the program, they should admit the program is flawed and try something else. Personally, I hate being home taught and I don't home teach because I don't want to inflict that irritation on others.

[Paperback Writer]

I'd like to see it morph into more an assignment to watch over families instead of insisting or obligating that people visit them in their homes and give a message. The EQP/HPGL can then determine who really needs monthly visits in the home and can then assign those families to the bishops-in-waiting of the ward.

I'd like to see HT morph into an opt-in program. Let each family decide if they want to be home taught and how often. For example, I might want my family to be home taught once a quarter. That way, I'm not wasting HT's time with a visit that I really don't want and they are not wasting my time. I think too often LDS church leadership has a "good idea" but doesn't tailor it to the individual or family. Rather, it's deemed inspired so the same approach is taken for all. BTW, I think fast offerings should be the same way. Do you want to have Deacons come to your door or pay with tithing? Do you want the home teachers to come every month, every other month, once a quarter, not at all, etc?

But I'm a lot more democratic in my views than the traditional LDS authoritarian way. For example, I think if a ward wants to have a 2-hour block schedule then they can vote on it. If there are those who insist on a 3-hour block schedule, let them go to a ward in the area that goes by that schedule.

[NorthwestUteFan]

A 'good idea' for an area where your ward is at most 1-3 miles across is downright difficult to achieve when the ward is 60+ miles from border to border.

One time in New England we (the EQ) moved a sister 58 miles straight shot, 84 road miles. We packed her up, drove her to the new house, and unloaded her. She didn't move out of the ward. Good for 'providing service', but blew a complete Saturday in the process.

[Paperback Writer]

A 'good idea' for an area where your ward is at most 1-3 miles across is downright difficult to achieve when the ward is 60+ miles from border to border.

One time in New England we (the EQ) moved a sister 58 miles straight shot, 84 road miles. We packed her up, drove her to the new house, and unloaded her. She didn't move out of the ward. Good for 'providing service', but blew a complete Saturday in the process.

I'm very familar with the size of New England wards and branches from my mission. All it would take would be to teach a family that lived an hour or more away from the Elder's apartment to blow the monthly mileage allotment. That's why I think more freedom should be given to wards and familes on adapting church programs. One of the biggest complaints I heard from New England LDS chuch leaders was having to do things the SLC way.

[Portland Ute]

If I saw the guy at the golf course it was a visit so the numbers looked good. The HPGL told me that this guy said he hadn't been getting Home teachers which he was true but I was just following his lead. It's my fault because I just assumed that's what he preferred.

I'm sure that it's just that he thinks it's more important that his family have home teachers than your family.

[creekster]

I'm sure that it's just that he thinks it's more important that his family have home teachers than your family.

Right. Take it as a compliment!

[grapevine]

I remember eqp saying he did not know who his home teachers were. Just after boundary realignment brought him hear. I didn't say anything as I was his home teacher. For all the TSM success stories of do not contact how many get the hell out of here and don't come back stories are there? Or lets get plenty of beer here. I am sure there are more of those than someone coming back.

I don't mind home teaching. Great way to know people. IS there anything we can do for you. I am sure 99.9 percent of the time I am just fine. I have had some longwinded partners. When I was with my dad I would say two words give the lesson he would be there two hours.

Some would say we need to go, Hover at the door, maybe open the door sit in there car forever. Talk and talk and talk. Good people I just had some longwinded ones. It does serve it's purpose. I hope none of my home teachees have a problem imposing on me cause I will help them.