Home Teaching In More Inspired Ways

On August 31, 2014, we had a presidency lesson based on a 30-minute Q&A webcast with former Relief Society general president, Sister Julie B. Beck.

It's really a fantastic interview, and is eye-opening to anyone (particularly visiting-teaching women or home-teaching men) who wants to take their ministry up a notch and better follow the example of the Savior.

Sister Beck.  Doesn't mince words.

Below are some of the highlights I extracted from the interview, and which I relayed to the quorum during the lesson.  (Note that I replace most references to visiting teaching with home teaching.)

• The Lord is not going to ask if your home teaching is 100%; but did you care. [5:00]
• This is a ministry He cares about.  this is the one place he asks us to minister one-on-one.  This is a test.  Are we willing to "come follow me?" [5:30]
• Why is it so hard? Because the adversary.  It's our responsibility to get over the "issues".  Go to the Lord and ask to get over the barrier.  He'll help you.  He is mightier than all the earth. [7:40)
• Pres. Eyring has said "the only system that would work on this scale is this system." [10:30]
• Instead of ending our visits with, "If there's anything need...", let us rather ask, "What concerns do you have?", "What gospel questions do you have?", "Would you allow me to help you with...?" [11:50]
• Be like Mormon who was "quick to observe."  Pray for this gift
• 3 key questions to measure our effectiveness: [14:00]
1. Does my home teacher help me grow spiritually?
2. Does my home teacher care deeply about my family?
3. Will my home teacher take action without needing to be invited?
• Matt 5:44 - Love thine enemies -- this can mean loving people that don't want to be loved.  If we home teach only those families that we're buddies with, "do not even the publicans the same?" [Ouch!]  You have the opportunity to pray for them.  You are a disciple of Jesus Christ, and promise to remember him.  What better way to keep our covenants? [19:00]
• What about home teaching alone?  Serve in more inspired ways.  You don't have to occupy the same space to minister to others. [27:00]
• One sister said she didn't need a friend to be her visiting teacher, she needed a grandmother.  Someone to share wisdom, watch her kids so she could go to the temple, etc. [33:00]
• "I'm a disciple, and I'm up for this.  And it will be fun." [35:00]