“How important is my calling as a home teacher?” New Era, June 1980, 14–16
“How important is my calling as a home teacher, and how can I magnify this calling more fully?”
Answer/Brother Elden Clark Olsen
I don’t believe one calling in the Church is more important than another. Whatever our assignment, our goal should be the salvation and exaltation of those for whom we are responsible—the stake president for all living within the boundaries of the stake; the home teacher for all members of the families under his care. And I can have more influence on the lives of individuals as a home teacher than as a stake president. The reason is simple. The most effective teaching is done on a person-to-person basis, and during my calling as a stake president, I cannot hope to interview each of the thousands of members of the stake more than once or twice. Even then I cannot know as much about them as I would like in order to properly prepare for a discussion. As a home teacher, however, I can learn intimately the hopes, problems, and special needs of each of those in my families; and I can see them as often as necessary, at least once a month, to meet those needs.
The Lord has said, “The teacher’s duty is to watch over the church always, and be with and strengthen them; And see that there is no iniquity in the church, neither hardness with each other, neither lying, back-biting, nor evil speaking; And see that the church meet together often, and also see that all the members do their duty.” (D&C 20:53–55).
This is what you are supposed to accomplish. Surely no assignment could be greater or more challenging. If every priesthood home teacher responded anxiously to this call, everyone would live righteously, attend their meetings, participate in the welfare program, do genealogy and temple work, and be missionaries by inviting nonmember friends to join in family and ward activities. The Church would really grow and prosper.
How are you supposed to do it? A stake president has many meetings and interviews, with a specific objective to be accomplished in each. I get all the information available about each person involved, then prayerfully plan how best to achieve the objective of each interview. During the meeting I use my best skills, and afterwards I review the results to determine how I can do better the next time. Thus I can continue to improve and eventually become very effective. This is truly magnifying my calling in the priesthood—it is the Lord’s plan of progression. I need to use the same procedures as a home teacher.
The Lord has placed on fathers and mothers the prime responsibility of the eternal welfare of their children. The home teacher’s role is to encourage fathers, who preside over the home, to establish short- and long-range goals for each family member. This is best done in a private interview. Then the home teacher should assist in every way possible in attaining these goals. A few examples may illustrate some ways in which members can be strengthened and encouraged to do their duty.
On learning that we were his home teachers, one father who understood this relationship came to me with a planning and report form listing challenges given by previous home teachers. Six-year-old Michael had been given a dollar to start a mission fund and had been asked to find a hobby. Eight-year-old Dianne was to learn the names of her grandparents and fill out a family group sheet. Both children were encouraged to play the piano. Father and mother were challenged to develop some common interests in preparation for the future. “Just something to workust something to work on,” he wrote.
These we followed up on, and new goals were established. We showed filmstrips from the meetinghouse library on books of remembrance and temple marriage. Once we asked permission to bring a girl investigator to our next visit so she could feel the spirit of an ideal Latter-day Saint family—indirectly teaching both missionary responsibilities and the importance of good family relationships. Dianne and Michael were reading the Book of Mormon. Every time they saw us, at home or at the chapel, they would report on their progress. If there was time, we would ask about some story or the meaning of a verse, and we would always say, “That’s wonderful! We’re proud of you.”
Once when reading the New Testament, Dianne had not read very much and said she just hadn’t found the time. We replied that you never find time for worthwhile things, you have to make time by planning a definite schedule for each day. The father said, “We’ll all spend a period together each morning reading the scriptures.”
You too can experience the thrill of success enjoyed by these home teachers by following these six steps.
1. Be convinced that you have an important divine calling and are in a better position than any other Church officer to help families attain salvation and exaltation.
2. Become well acquainted with each family member, discovering his talents, aspirations, and concerns.
3. Ask the head of the family about goals for each family member and how he would like you to help in achieving them.
4. For each visit select with your companion a specific objective for some member of the family and prayerfully plan how to achieve this objective. Feel free to use all the resources of the community and the Church, including scheduled meetings, people with special abilities, and the audiovisual aids in the ward meetinghouse library.
5. In the presentation use all your personal powers. Bear your testimony on the importance of the points discussed. Observe and sincerely commend every evidence of progress.
6. After the visit, evaluate your success and determine where improvements can be made. Discuss your progress in oral evaluation with your priesthood leader.