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Show V Father: Home Teaching Key r ij nnn-i- rrrr r "What greater purpose can we have than to teach another priesthood holder to become a better husband and father? For that the priesthood quorum has to take the responsi- bility ." BY DAVID CROFT Church News Staff Writer It begins with a knock on the door and the two priesthood holders being inviteJ Inside. Their entrance is frequently accompanied by a family member saying, casually, The home teachers are here. Everyone shakes hands, the children are gathered and the television is turned off as all find comfortable seats. The home teaching visit begins. Well, hows your family doing? Any problems? asks one home teacher. Fine, says the father. repeated two, that evening,-dependinof home teach-- ' the luck of the' While this may be a common occurrence in some parts of the church it isnt in the 11th Quorum of Elders, Butler 21st Ward, Salt Lake Butler West Stake. quorum president Richard C. Landerman put it, In our quorum weve As abolished the end of the month. Although noting that he still prepares the necessary statistical reports. Brother Landerman said the emphasis is changed to really caring about each family. Before contacting a family, the home teachers meet with their priesthood leader, who has familiarized himself with the familys needs. The home teachers also meet with the father to discuss his familys needs in the gospel and ways the home teachers might help the father in his family leadership role. Brother Landerman said the home teacher is assigned by his priesthood leader to work with the family in a specific area, such as family home evening, according to the needs of the family as seen by the father, home teacher and priesthood leader. "The priesthood leader then interviews the home teacher on how it went, Its an said Brother Landerman. assignment and a report." greater purpose can we have than to teach another priesthood holder to become a better husband and father, What CHURCH He said of the father, He now knows you love him and you want to help him be a good father. Youre not just chalking up another statistical mark on a that Individual involvement of quorum members is the goal Brother Landerman and his two counselors, Ron West and Louis Sylvester, have set far themselves. ' g After they complete their visits, the home teachers call up their priesthood leader and say, Weve got our home teaching done. We saw' everyone but the Jones family; we couldn't catch them at home. 6 He noted that the home teachers realbecome the priesthood representatives ly of the quorum president to the father. We dont do anything in that home' without th. permission of the father, he said. Brother Landerman said the emphasis is, An individual taking an interest in another individual and going to visit with a purpose in mind. Some 15 or 20 minutes later, possibly half an hour, the home teachers rise from their seats. Well, we need to catch our other families." the incident is three or more times on the number ing families assigned and home teachers. , For-that- report." The discussion moves to other subjects weather, the upcoming or just completed professional or college game, family hobbies, pets and children. And said Brother Landerman, adding, the priesthood quorum has to take the responsibility. WEEK ENDING MARCH We try to make sure every member of the quorum has a job in the church, he said, noting that this would help each quorum member feel comfortable in the, kingdom of God. This involvement takes many forms. The Uth Quorum of Elders has regu- ech month, and encourages all recommend holders in the quorum to go to the temple regularly. lar socials and firesides To do this, the quorum presidency called committee chairmen in these three areas. Firesides and socials arent just to get quorum members together, according to Brother Landerman. Were trying to design our firesides and socials to involve individuals, said the quorum president. Were planning firesides just to reach that one prospective elder. He said home teachers will personally invite a family and arrange to pick them up and take them to a social or fireside. The mother in the family may also be asked to bring part of the refreshments. Thats the idea, to get everybody involved," said Brother Landerman. "Even if the only person that comes to that fireside is the one we planned it for, weve accomplished our purpose. The responsibility of the quorum to teach its members how to be better fathers and husbands has prompted the 11th Quorum to become closely associated with the ward Sunday School. With permission of the bishop and Sunday School president, the elders! 1 presidency occasionally discusses topics with Neil Sabin, an elder from the quorum who has been called as the 23, 1974 Important personal interview for Ralph S. Walker is given by quorum presidency, Louis Sylvester and Richard Landerman. teacher of the family relations class in Sunday School. The quorum presidency also consults with the elders quorum instructor, Clint Stocking, on topics which they feel need emphasis. The problem of having the best possible instniction in the quorum has the quorum presidency studying the idea of It having more than one instructor. would involve another individual, give different viewpoints and involve more in the discussion, said Brother Landerman. One prospective elder in the quorum began attending the family relations class, although for several weeks he contributed little. Then, one Sunday he made a brief, but comment. The teacher appropriate for his comment, and man the praised other comments followed in future weeks. The man began attending priesthood meeting and contributing to the discussions there. The quorum emphasis on involving its members has shown success in other ways, too. One inactive elder, called to a quorum leadership position, became very active and involved in the quorums role of helping its members. Someone recognized his leadership abilities," said Brother Landermaiv i;, ' - - Home teachers and the quorum lead- ers were the means used to encourage one quorum member, on the verge of di vorce with his wife, into attending Sunday School, sacarament meeting and later priesthood meeting. He also accepted the calling to be a home teacher. Brother Landerman takes no credit for the success of the quorum. He points out that successful ideas have come through suggestions from stake priesthood leaders, quorum members and as an answer to prayer. An elders presidents job is totally unmanageable if that man tries to do it said Brother Landerman. himself, Weve delegated the responsibility. He pointed out that he and his counselors have divided areas of quorum responsibility, such as finances, instruction, young adults, special interests, athletics, welfare, firesides, socials, temple attendance, genealogy and missionary work. Each member of the quorum presidency directly oversees a home teaching district, and reports flow through personal priesthood interviews back to Brother Landerman. The quorum presidency is helped by quorum secretary and another elder they call an executive secretary. The latters duties are to coordinate quorum activities and to help coordinate home teaching. About once every three months, we have our own little leadership meeting, said Brother Landerman, noting that the meeting involves the quorum presidency, secretaries and the committee chairmen. |