Who sees no value in having hometeachers?

[RockyBalboa]

Originally Posted by Archaea

I've done some hometeaching which I've been glad to have done, but it's been extremely rare that I was happy how I was hometaught. I believe our ward must have a new program where families aren't hometaught, or most hometeachers simply say they're hometeaching.

My Dad has had a pretty good policy of how he handles his home teaching.

He actually will ask the head of the house what they'd like to be taught ahead of time, if there is anything, and then follow up on his wishes.

If the head of the house simply wants a visit to say hi and see how things are going, then that's what he also does.

[Rickomatic]

Originally Posted by Black Diamond Bay

That's idiotic. The point is so that every member or family is personally visited by a member of the ward to make sure that no one is slipping through the cracks, or experiencing difficulties that the church, or a church member can help with if they are made aware of the situation.

For at least 75% of Home Teachers, it is a numbers calling. Make sure the High Priest or the Elders quorum get those percentages up. Lets make ourself look good to the Stake. That is whats idiotic. If I miss church more than two weeks in a row, I know that I will get a call from a quorum leader asking me whats up. That is how it needs to be handled. I think most active members would be happy with that instead of someone looking to pad numbers that justs wants to get in and get out with out much trouble. If I need help with a blessing in my home, I don't call a home teacher, I call someone that I have developed a relationship with.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by RockyBalboa

My Dad has had a pretty good policy of how he handles his home teaching.

He actually will ask the head of the house what they'd like to be taught ahead of time, if there is anything, and then follow up on his wishes.

If the head of the house simply wants a visit to say hi and see how things are going, then that's what he also does.

This is a good policy which I have tried to implement but only received the answer, "well, whatever you feel inspired to bring, Brother Archaea."

[Rickomatic]

Originally Posted by Archaea

This is a good policy which I have tried to implement but only received the answer, "well, whatever you fell inspired to bring, Brother Archaea."

Same thing here. "Just let the spirit guide you Brother RickO"

[Jeff Lebowski]

Like many things, HT and VT can be either great or awful depending on the circumstances. Our current HT's and VT's are interesting. Our HT (the high priest - he has a priest as a companion) is an older guy and he is clearly a numbers guy. Last October he called up on Halloween night and asked if he could come over. I was gone out escorting my daughter with her trick-or-treating and the other kids were off to parties, but that didn't dissuade him. He still insisted on coming. Finally, she just told him that he couldn't come since we were just too busy (she was answering the door every 30 seconds anyway). So she hangs up and about ten minutes later this guy knocks on the door, hands her some candy and says "Well, I guess we can just go ahead and call this a visit!" Argh.....

Another time he left us a copy of the Ward Ball DVD. He said it was hilarious. Last month he shot the breeze for 30 minutes and then handed us a photocopy of the Ensign article ("Here, just read this message when you get a minute"). He's a nice old guy, but he cracks me up.

And my wife has two new VT's. They came by last week and talked for 90 minutes, with one of them mainly carrying on about how awful her husband is. At the end, they said "Well, I guess that's our message for this month: life sucks." Ummm... Thanks for that.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

Like many things, HT and VT can be either great or awful depending on the circumstances. Our current HT's and VT's are interesting. Our HT (the high priest - he has a priest as a companion) is an older guy and he is clearly a numbers guy. Last October he called up on Halloween night and asked if he could come over. I was gone out escorting my daughter with her trick-or-treating and the other kids were off to parties, but that didn't dissuade him. He still insisted on coming. Finally, she just told him that he couldn't come since we were just too busy (she was answering the door every 30 seconds anyway). So she hangs up and about ten minutes later this guy knocks on the door, hands her some candy and says "Well, I guess we can just go ahead and call this a visit!" Argh.....

Another time he left us a copy of the Ward Ball DVD. He said it was hilarious. Last month he shot the breeze for 30 minutes and then handed us a photocopy of the Ensign article ("Here, just read this message when you get a minute"). He's a nice old guy, but he cracks me up.

Reminds me of a story by Marion Romney:

We remember the story President Romney used to tell about the so-called home teacher who once called at the Romney home on a cold night. He kept his hat in his hand and shifted nervously when invited to sit down and give his message. "Well, I'll tell you, Brother Romney," he responded, "it's cold outside, and I left my car engine running so it wouldn't stop. I just stopped in so I could tell the bishop I made my calls."

And if I remember right, it was Christmas Eve too.

http://www.lds.org/pa/library/1,17905,4712-1,00.html

I rarely do HTing on the last days of the month, for that reason. It comes across as too phony. If I get to the end and I haven't done it, I just consider that month a bust, and schedule the appointment for the 1st week of the following month. No way am I coming by at 9:00 PM on the 31st.