As home and visiting teachers we have been given a wonderful opportunity to teach the gospel. Sometimes we can teach openly and freely and other times we must just teach by example. One of our first responsibilities as home and visiting teachers is to assess our family’s needs and desires and determine the best way to approach our calling as teachers…

“We are so grateful to all who teach. We love you and appreciate you more than we can say. We have great confidence in you. To teach effectively and to feel you are succeeding is demanding work indeed. But it is worth it. We can receive ‘no greater call.’ For each of us to ‘come unto Christ,’ to keep His commandments and follow His example back to the Father is surely the highest and holiest purpose of human existence. To help others do that as well-to teach, persuade, and prayerfully lead them to walk that path of redemption also-surely that must be the second most significant task in our lives. Perhaps that is why President David O. McKay once said, ‘No greater responsibility can rest upon any man [or woman] than to be a teacher of God’s children’” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1998, 30-31).

As home and visiting teachers we have been given a wonderful opportunity to teach the gospel. Sometimes we can teach openly and freely and other times we must just teach by example.

One of our first responsibilities as home and visiting teachers is to assess our family’s needs and desires and determine the best way to approach our calling as teachers. Here’s how I approach a new family I have been assigned to home teach.

The first meeting is a get-to-know-you visit. I like to use the FORM method because sometimes it’s hard for me to keep a conversation going especially when the family is quite and shy like I am. FORM is an acronym for Family, Occupation, Recreation, and Message. First I ask about the family. I get to know each of the family members. I try to find out if they have extended family members in the area. Then I ask about occupations. Who works, what kind of work do they do, and where do they work? Then I ask about what types of recreation they like to participate in. Because this is my first visit I won’t have a specific message except to say that I am grateful to have the opportunity to get to know them better and look forward to visiting with them often.

Richard Marshall, author of Home Teaching with Purpose and Power suggests seven things home teachers should never do.

1. Never just drop in unannounced.
2. Never use the family as a captive audience for your ego.
3. Never talk of things that interest only you.
4. Never ask embarrassing questions.
5. Never dominate the discussion.
6. Never stay too long.
7. Never encourage negative remarks.

Marshall, Richard J. (1990). Home Teaching with Purpose and Power (p. 105). Deseret Book Company.

Whether this family is active or not I will ask if I can bring a gospel message each month. Let me emphasize that I always pray before I visit my families. I pray that I will be an instrument in God’s hands and that I will have the faith to say and do all that I’m prompted to say and do. I ask for the ability to discern the needs of my family.

At the conclusion of the first visit I ask if I can end the visit with prayer. Even if the family is not active I still ask to leave with a prayer and of course leave it to the head of household to decide who will offer the prayer.

Hopefully I have received enough information to help me determine how I can be the best home teacher to this family. I should have a glimpse into the needs of this family and can now begin to develop a relationship that will help bring them closer to the Lord.

Posted by John in Feature Articles