why me wrote:Wisdom Seeker wrote:
I agree with you!! I don't have a desire to home teach and not only should I not do it, but the EQ president should not assign me families to home teach. And, yes the EQ president knows that I don't want to be a home teacher.
Of course, today because people are busy trying to survive, home teaching can be far from peoples minds. But in the past, when people had more free time, and less survival worries, it worked quite well. People had more time to open their doors and be more welcoming.
The purpose of home teaching was to care for the families who were assigned to the persons. It was a good principle and it did strengthen the church from within. Now when one looks at home teaching not as a chore but as an act of service for others, it is really not so bad. But...men have a lot of problems servicing their own families today...never mind being service to others.
I would also have to agree with Jon in that families should first help each other and should be a primary source for help when needed. As for being charitable, kind and helpful I have NO problem with that at all. I don't try and avoid to be helpful when someone needs help. When that inner voice (HG?) tells me that I should help someone, I am going to do it. But to tell me that it is this particular family I am going to help I simply don't want to be told who I will or will not help.
But then again, what does this have to do with a program called: Home Teaching? We are asked to go into a home and teach a lesson, which they probably already read or know about for the purpose of getting a foot in the door to see if there is anything wrong going on in that home.
I recall when I was a diligent home teacher teaching a family that ended up in divorce. Do you think when I and some 14 year old Teacher showed up and asked how things were they said they had problems? I never heard of any problems, nor do I think I would ever feel comfortable of discussing any family issues in front of home teachers, especially a 14 year old boy.
Me: So is everything going well at home?
Husband: No, not really, the wife and I have not been intimate for some time, because she is punishing me for purchasing the Sports Illustrated swim suit edition.
Me: Well I am sure you guys can work it out.
Wife: That magazine is pornographic and he has no right to bring it into our home.
Me: Well little 14 year old Johnny home teacher might have some advice for you?
Johnny: I will dispose of the magazine for you.
Me: What an excellent idea, Johnny and I will take that magazine and any other super soft porn from you and your family will be better for it.
Okay, I don't see that happening, what about financial problems? What can little Johnny do to help?