LDSTeach.com is the largest collection of Home Teaching and Visiting Teaching resources for Latter-day Saints on the Internet.
The mission of LDSTeach.com is to encourage and inspire every Latter-day Saint to discharge their duty of representing the Lord Jesus Christ in looking after the welfare of each Church member. As Priesthood holders we are commanded to “watch over the church always and be with them and strengthen them” (D&C 20:53). As sisters in the church we are encouraged to “build caring relationships with each sister and to offer support, comfort and friendship” (Church Handbook of Instructions, Pg. 202)
At LDSTeach.com we are dedicated to encourage our visitors to build upon their desire as home teachers and visiting teachers.
Posted by John in General
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New VoIP service sends out automated reminder calls on last Sunday of the month to all Elders/High Priests and Relief Society sisters reminding them to get out and complete their visits. If visits are completed, home teachers or visiting teachers then can press 1 on their phone or 2 to leave a message on when they plan to get out. System generates a detailed PDF report that can be given to bishop at PEC meeting.
We belong to a busy church. A typical Ward makes hundreds of phone calls per month (see below). This service is designed to simplify your life and help you become more effective in your church calling by removing the burden of making phone calls to remind ward members of meetings, activities and assignments. Let our system do all the calling for you. All you do is record your message, and we call all the people you select and play your recorded message to them.
www.LDSReminderCalls.com
Posted by John in General, Home Teaching, Visiting Teaching, HT-Leader Resources, VT-Leader Resources
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Gary Phelps wrote his masters thesis on the history of home teaching. The 175 pdf is available for download from:
Home teaching : Attempts by the Latter-day Saints to establish an effective program during the nineteenth century
UPDATE: The link above appears to be dead. Here is an updated link
http://patriot.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/MTNZ&CISOPTR=10574&REC=16
When you click on the above link, look to the left hand side of the page and click on Printable Copy for a PDF file of the entire program.
Posted by John in Home Teaching, History of HT
1 Comment »
The Wyoming Ward of the Grand Rapids, Michigan Stake found a new program was needed it to lift its home teaching into a more successful mode. This power point program introduces the program. The program consists of a written report form which is completed in the last 10 minutes of the opening exercise on each fast Sunday.
The PPT presentation explains how the “Return and Report” report system works. Reports are reviewed in PEC the following Sunday. The HPG Leaders and EQ Presidency make written comments and initial each report. The Bishop does the same to provide encouragement, suggestions and feedback. On the 3rd Sunday, the reports are handed back to the home teachers for them to use in follow-up.
This provides rapid and specific feedback on each family. It gently requires accountability. It allows the PEC to act in concert to meet the needs identified by the home teachers. It creates a tendency to plan ahead and avoid procrastination of the brethren. This power point presentation was introduced to the entire assembled priesthood. If other units can benefit, feel free to adapt the slides to your specific unit.
The Power Point presentation is available in the downloads section.
Also, you will need the Monthly Home Teaching Report.
Posted by John in HT-Leader Resources, Downloads
1 Comment »
Sister, a moment of your time;
I want to thank you
For caring for my child as your own,
For sharing my secret grief,
For waiting with me
In the last long hour of light.
Your hands fed me in illness
Your words brought comfort in pain
Your knowing erased my doubts
Your gifts came as welcome rain.
You pass off my thanks,
“It was nothing,” you say,
“Anyone would have done as much.”
Yet your deeds are a bond between us
As lasting as sacred spoken vows,
Welding us into a flowing golden chain
With Emma, Eliza and the rest, then and now,
That encircles and warms all of our struggling hearts.
by Judith Curtis( copyright 2004)
Posted by John in Visiting Teaching, VT-Poems & Stories
1 Comment »
I have received so many emails from people looking for the Little Red Hen skit. I searched my email archives and I found a copy, here it is.
Here is the skit that we had for the Visiting Teaching Conference.
Each character was holding the animal they played. The animals were from
Diane Hooks clip art. They were very cute! Then they were enlarged quite
a bit and the centers were cut out so each character held them up in
front of their face so their face showed through the opening. Each
animal was also laminated for durability. Hope that all makes since!
Each character came to the front of the room when it was their turn to
participate. On the Relief Society table was the book, a large basket
with a green plant, and several very cute darling chickens that people
had. “Little Red Hens’ New Call”
NARRATOR: (was dressed in work overalls, wearing a straw hat, holding a
piece of wheat between fingers, red bandana around her neck freckles on
her checks. She comes walking into the Relief Society Room picks up the
book “Little Red Hens’ New call, opens the book and the following part
is inside the book and she reads the following….)
Once upon a time in a barnyard not too far from here, lived a little red
hen. She served as the ward homemaking leader. (This was way before
this, family, home…no I mean Home Family and Personal Enrichment
leader stuff!) Anyway back to the story. The Little Red Hen tried to
hold a mini class on wheat gardening and bread making. You all remember
what a disaster that was. She ended up doing everything all by herself
!! Well she has just received a new call as the Relief Society
President. Today she has decided to reorganize visiting teaching. Oh
look who’s here, Sister Little Herself.
LITTLE RED HEN:
BOK, BOK, BO, BOK! Who will help me do this visiting teaching?
DUCK: (WALKING FAST)
Quack, Quack! Not I said Sister Duck, My goodness with 8 ducklings to
take care of, I have swim team, quaking lessons and waddling classes for
all 8 of them. I have one ugly duckling and I’m working on his self
esteem. I’m exhausted all the time. Oh and please don’t send Sister Cow
to visit me, I’m afraid she’ll step on one of my children.
LITTLE RED HEN:
Who will help me do this visiting teaching??
COW:
MOOOOOOOO! Not I said Sister Cow. I”Ve been visiting Sister Duck but
with all those ducklings running around everywhere and all that
quacking, my nerves just can’t take it. I don’t want to visit her.
LITTLE RED HEN:
Who will help me do this visiting teaching??
PIG:
OINK, OINK , OINK! Not I said Sister Pig. I’ve been visiting Sister Goat
and she’s always in the dumps. She’s depressed about everything, it’s
not fun to visit her.
LITTLE RED HEN:
Then who will help me do this visiting teaching??
GOAT:
BLAAAAA! Oh not I said Sister Goat. Sister Sheep is my companion. She
takes no initiative to make appointments or give the lesson, she just
follows me around, I need someone with more enthusiasm.
SHEEP:
BAAAAAA! Not I either Little Red Hen. I don’t really think visiting
teaching is that important and besides Sister Sheep so sooooo bossy!
LITTLE RED HEN:
WHO WILL HELP ME DO THIS VISITING TEACHING?????
DOG:
ROOF, ROOF! Not I said Sister Dog. I visit Sister Cat, her immaculate
home intimidates me, why she’s always cleaning, I’m afraid I’ll leave a
paw print somewhere.
CAT:
MEOWWWWWW! Oh not I said Sister Cat. I don’t even want visiting
teachers, especially Sister Dog, she scares me.
LITTLE RED HEN: (Farmer Rich was played by the Bishop, dressed in
overalls, straw hat, holding a piece of wheat between his fingers , and
scriptures, when called he comes slowly walking into the Relief Society
room)
Farmer Rich farmer Rich!!! Whatever shall I do. I just know I can’t do
all this visiting teaching by myself!! ( STARTS TO CRY.)
FARMER RICH:
Now, now Sister Little. Let me talk to the Sisters: Sisters as your
barnyard leader I want to remind you about the time Sister Little asked
you to help her make bread. Remember how you all had some “IMPORTANT”
reason why you couldn’t help her. You all missed out on the blessing of
her delicious baking. Remember how you felt as you watched Sister Little
and her chicks eat all of that warm yummy wheat bread. Why this is the
very same thing, you will all miss out on the blessings of visiting
teaching and you will miss having made some wonderful new friends.
COW:
You’re right Farmer Rich. Perhaps I could watch Sister Ducks’ ducklings
at the pond and give her an hour to herself.
DUCK:
How thoughtful of you Sister Cow. That would be wonderful, I could
really use the break.
PIG:
Maybe all Sister Goat needs is friend. Someone to listen to her.
GOAT:
Perhaps I was a bit hasty, don’t change Sister Sheep and I yet.
SHEEP:
I’m sure we can work this out. After all I’m sure there is a lot I can
learn from Sister Goat.
GOAT:
I’ll make the appointments one month and you give the lesson and then
the next month you make the appointments and I’ll give the lesson.
DOG:
This is the first time I’ve heard that I scare Sister Cat. All this time
I thought she didn’t like me.
CAT:
Maybe I misjudged Sister Dog.
LITTLE RED HEN:
Oh thank you dear sisters! I know if we all work together we can watch
over each other and not one of our Sisters will be without a friend and
someone to help and love her.
FARMER RICH:
By the way Sister Little. I suggest you leave immediately, I hear
they’re serving chicken soup for lunch.
LITTLE RED HEN:
WHEEEEEEEEEEEEE I’m outta here!!!!!
Posted by John in Visiting Teaching, VT-Leader Resources, VT-Poems & Stories
2 Comments »
Since the holidays are coming up, many home and visiting teachers like to give gifts to the families they teach. Here is a list 200+ very inexpensive gift ideas I’ve compiled
Ideas for Small Gifts
I also have a FHE in a Jar printable PDF that makes a good gift for families you home or visit teach here
FHE in a Jar
I hope they are of some use to some of you! Happy Holidays!
Posted by jenny in HT-Ideas, VT-Ideas
3 Comments »
The LDSTeach website has been on the Internet in one form or another since 1997. At one time, LDSTeach was one of the largest LDS web sites on the Internet. It has always been the largest collection of home and visiting teaching resources anywhere to be found. Our newsletter Shepherds, had close to 10,000 subscribers at one time and featured some of the best ideas and tips for home and visiting teachers.
The time has come to make some changes. I have decided to end the publication of the newsletter Shepherds and create a new LDSTeach website where everyone can participate. I searched for volunteers to take over Shepherds and I received quite a few inquiries. But after further reflection I decided to combine the newsletter and website into an easy to manage format utilizing guest writers.
LDSTeach.com is now a collaborative web site designed to provide fresh ideas by way of individual participants willing to share their experiences and knowledge.
To become a writer for LDSTeach.com first review the tutorial here. Then contact me using the contact form and let me know of your interest. I will get you set up as an author.
Here are some ideas for articles that you could submit to LDSTeach:
- Visiting teaching conference ideas
- Ideas to motivate home and visiting teachers
- Resources for home and visiting teaching leaders
- Poems, stories, and humor relating to home and visiting teaching
- Experiences as a home or visiting teacher or experience with your home or visiting teachers
These are just some of the ideas for future submissions.
We invite you to register and begin submitting today.
Posted by John in General
2 Comments »
“I hope that home teachers and visiting teachers will experience two things: first, the challenge of the responsibility that is in their great calling, and second, the sweetness of results from their work, particularly with those among us who are less active. I hope that these teachers will get on their knees and pray for direction, and then go to work to bring these wandering prodigals back into the fold of the Church. If home and visiting teachers respond to this challenge, I honestly believe that they will taste the sweet and wonderful feeling which comes of being an instrument in the hands of the Lord in leading someone back into activity in His church and kingdom.
“I am making a plea for us to reach out to our brethren and sisters who have known the beauty and the wonder of this restored gospel for a brief season and then for some reason have left it.
“May all home teachers recognize that they have an inescapable responsibility to go into the homes of the people and teach them to live the gospel principles more faithfully, to see that there is no iniquity or backbiting or evil speaking, to build faith, to see that the families are getting along temporally. That is a very serious responsibility; it really is. But it is not a heavy burden—it just takes a little more faith. It is worthy of our very best effort.” (Instruments of the Lord,” Ensign, March 1997.)
Posted by John in Home Teaching, Visiting Teaching
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Visiting Teaching Do It Reminder - Great Handouts for your LDS Relief Society Visiting Teaching Program.
Posted by John in Visiting Teaching, VT-Ideas
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