Home Teaching

• M. Russel Ballard, "O Be Wise", General Conference, October 2006, Sunday Morning Session

Elders Quorum President shouldn't do others' home teaching. Isn't really home teaching.

• D&C 20:53-60

Per the Church Handbook of Instructions, 1998, Book 2: Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders, p. 168 and “Priesthood Perspectives,” Ensign, Aug 1998, verse 53 is the foundation of the home teaching program.
"watch over the church always, and be with and strengthen them"
"see that there is no iniquity in the church, neither hardness with each other, neither lying, backbiting, nor evil speaking"
"They are ... to warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite all to come unto Christ."
These verses also make clear that it is teachers, priests, and Melchizedek Priesthood holders who are home teachers.

• Elder L. Tom Perry, "Increasing Our Effectiveness in Home Teaching", Ensign, July 1981

1.) Comments for the home teacher.
2.) Home teachers are the bishop's representatives.
Encourages bishops and other leaders to relay messages to families via the home teachers. Notes benefits to this practice. (I would also note that the first presidency uses the home teachers to the same end and purpose.)
"assigning unreasonable workloads of six, seven, eight or more families has proven not to be ... satisfactory"
"it is wrong to assign to a quorum or a group more than the leadership is capable of controlling"
3.) The role of the home teacher with the father and family

• President Ezra Taft Benson, "To the Home Teachers of the Church", Ensign, May 1987

Among other things, mentions that home teachers should be interviewed monthly (PPI's) and gives suggestions for such meetings.
"Above all, be a genuine friend to the individuals and families you teach."
President David O. McKay cited:
"Home teaching is one of our most urgent and most rewarding opportunities to nurture and inspire, to counsel and direct our Father’s children. … It is a divine service, a divine call. It is our duty as Home Teachers to carry the divine spirit into every home and heart."
Also cited by Thomas S. Monson, "Duty Calls", Ensign, May 1996

• Elder Dale E. Miller, "The Effective Elders Quorum", Ensign, April 2005

"Active home teachers should be assigned according to need, focusing first on new converts. Total coverage may not be achieved for some time."

• Salli Hollenzer, "Home Teaching the Single Sister", Ensign, Jan. 2007

Discusses special issues for those home teaching a single sister. Gives pertinent advice.
Offer blessings.

• First Presidency Letter: Watching Over and Strengthening Members, 10-Dec-2001

"There are some locations in the Church where, for a time, home teaching to every home each month may not be possible because of insufficient numbers of active priesthood brethren and various other local challenges."
Suggestions for Watching Over and Strengthening Members

• Church Website: Serving in the Church > Melchizedek Priesthood > Home Teaching > Duties and Responsibilities > Conducting Effective Interviews

Some advice for PPI's

• “Lesson 17: What Our Home Teachers Can Do for Us,” The Latter-day Saint Woman: Basic Manual for Women, Part B, 135

Responsibilities of Home Teachers
-Contains a good story of a home teacher fellowshipping and watching over a widow.
Helping Home Teachers Fulfill Their Responsibilities
-Make home teachers feel welcome.
-"In times of trouble or emergency, we should call on our home teachers. They can provide a priesthood blessing if there is no Melchizedek Priesthood bearer in the home. We can help them fulfill their callings by seeking their spiritual support in times of trouble."
Home Teachers and the Head of the Household
-"Home teachers should recognize, support, and strengthen the head of the household."
-Contains a good story of how a conscientious home teacher's deferrence to a non-member father had a profound effect.
How Home Teachers Can Help the Family
-Contains a good story of a father making a special lesson request and using his home teacher to help his daughter.

• Charlotte Arnold, “Groceries or Tithing?,” Ensign, Oct. 2006, 65–66

How the advice of a home teacher helped a family to muster the faith to pay tithing during hard times and realize great blessings.

• “Priesthood,” Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders’ Guidebook, 4

Among other things, mentions "Home teachers help members in times of illness, loss, loneliness, unemployment, and at times of other special needs."

• Judy Stone, “A Prayer with My Home Teacher,” Ensign, Oct. 2007, 73

A woman describes how her home teacher brought her hope when she felt hopeless.

• Bishop Vaughn J. Featherstone, "The Role of the Deacon", New Era, May 1974

"A deacon’s duties include ... visiting homes of members ... and home teaching as a junior companion when there are not sufficient priests and teachers."

Cross-References

• Quorums
• Visiting Teaching