Home teaching

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Home teaching (formerly called ward teaching) is a responsibility of priesthood holders in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Home teaching is a church program designed to allow families to be taught in their own homes, in addition to weekly church services. Typically, two members of the priesthood, of whom at least one must be an adult, visit the home of approximately one to three assigned families once a month. Home teaching is organized at the ward level.

1 Assignments
2 Visits
3 Visiting Teaching
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Assignments

The Elders and High Priests quorum leadership have the responsibility of assigning home teaching companionships and families assigned to those companionship. All assignments are approved by the Bishop or Branch President.

A companionship usually consists of two priesthood holders. In special situations a companionship may consist of a Melchizedek priesthood holder and his wife. Generally, Elders quorum members are assigned as companions with other elders quorum members and high priests are assigned with other high priests. Additionally, members of the Teachers and Priests quorums are assigned as home teachers with either an elder or high priest companion. There may also be unique situations where a high priest is a companion with an elder.

The bishop assigns a family to either the elders quorum or high priest quorum. The leadership of the respective quorums assign companionships to home teach these families assigned to their quorums. Families assigned to a companionship may vary, each companionship is usually assigned 2-5 families.

[edit] Visits

Companionships are responsible for visiting each of their assigned families once per month. Visits are normally ½ hour. Home teachers may share a lesson or spiritual thought and inquire concerning the needs and concerns of the family.

[edit] Visiting Teaching

LDS women have a similar system called Visiting Teaching. Women are assigned other women that they are to visit on a monthly basis. While the home teacher is responsible for the entire family, the visiting teacher concentrates on the needs of the women being visited, although this often involves the welfare of other family members.

[edit] References

LDS Church, Gospel Topics: Home Teaching

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