“What a wonderful blessing to live in a time of continual revelation from God!” (Jean B. Bingham, April 2018 General Conference)
The home teaching program began in September 1963. The purpose of it was
“to keep in touch with the families, to watch over them, to contact them in whatever manner necessary, in order to watch over them.” (Elder James A. Cullimore, October 1972, General Conference)
The visiting teaching program was first organized by Emma Smith when she began the Relief Society in 1843 and created a “visiting teaching committee”.
The purpose of this program was:
“Assistance spiritual and temporal welfare often begins with home teachers and visiting teachers. In a spirit of kindness and friendship that goes beyond monthly visits, and visiting teachers help individuals and families in need. They report the needs of those they serve to their priesthood leaders or Relief Society leaders” (Handbook 2, 6.2.4).
A few years ago, in 2018 the Church leaders decided to replace the home and visiting teaching programs with a “ministering” program. During the April 2018 General Conference President Russell M. Nelson made the following comments.
“We have made the decision to retire home teaching and visiting teaching as we have known them. Instead, we will implement a newer, holier approach to caring for and ministering to others. We will refer to these efforts simply as “ministering.”.
What is the purpose of referring to their actions as ministering?
He explains –
“Effective ministering efforts are enabled by the innate gifts of the sisters and by the incomparable power of the priesthood. We all need such protection from the cunning wiles of the adversary.”
What does this mean for church members and how are things going to change?
In the same General Conference (April 2018) Elder Jeffery R. Holland and Jean B. Bingham give a few ideas of what this new program is going to look like for the former home and visiting teachers.
From what I’ve learned the main reason for this name change is to minister to the Church members not only inside, but outside their homes as well.
One of the changes I read is that there will no longer be requirements to visit the families and sisters assigned to them each month nor provide a monthly message.
Jefferey R. Holland explain the name change further –
“We will no longer use home teaching and visiting teaching language. That is partly because much of our ministering effort will be in settings other than the home and partly because our contact won’t be defined by teaching a prepared lesson, though a lesson certainly may be shared if there is need for such.”
Home visits can still be a way to stay in touch with families, but they can also use other forms of contact. Holland went on to say –
“In addition to whatever schedule you establish for actual visits, that calendar can be supplemented with telephone calls, written notes, texts, emails, video chats, conversations at Church meetings, shared service projects, social activities, and a host of possibilities in the world of social media.”
This change in the program is also going to allow younger members of the Church to participate in ministering to others.
Jean B. Bingham, Relief Society General President explained this further-
“Another blessing of these inspired announcements is the opportunity for young women ages 14 to 18 to participate in ministering as companions to Relief Society sisters, just as young men their age serve as ministering companions to Melchizedek Priesthood brethren.” (April 18, General Conference)
In her talk she goes on to give some ideas of what “ministering” could look like. The examples she gives are sending someone a card, going for a walk with them, inviting someone over for game night, talking about a quote from General Conference, discussing a gospel question, or just sharing your testimony.
She added that ministering could also be speaking with the church leaders about a serious need and responding to it.
All the ideas they have of what they could do for someone sound like things they should already be doing. I don’t know of any church who assigns you to be friends with someone and then expect you to report back to the church leaders what you’ve done for them.
It’s not a strange thing for Christians send birthday cards to church members, to invite them over for game night, ask to take a walk with them, or share something the Lord has shown them in their bible study.
Ms. Bingham’s quote about “continual revelation from God” is just astounding to me. I remember when Gordon B. Hinckley had the “revelation” about women only having one set of pierced ears. Everyone was excited because they felt it was proof that they were living in a time of continued revelation.
Reminding church members to be kind to one another and help and serve each other isn’t a “revelation”. My former church had a sign up front behind the podium that said, “Know God, Love People, Serve Both”.
As Christians we know these are things we should be doing. I’ll close with some verses God gives us in his Word of how we are to treat others.
Galatians 5:13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
John 13:34-35 – A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.
In Christ,
Melissa Grimes melissa@lifeafter.org
References:
Elder James A Cullimore October 1972, General Conference, Home Teachers- Watchmen over the Church
The Purpose of Visiting Teaching
President Russell M. Nelson – April 2018 General Conference -Ministering
Elder Jeffery R. Holland – Be With and Strengthen Them – General Conference April 2018