As I have served in leadership functions in the church there has been on my mind the eternal principle of "Return and Report". I especially want to talk about this principle as it pertains to Home Teaching.Being in the quorum presidencies and now in the High Priest group leadership, I have had the opportunity to also be a Home Teaching District Supervisor. At the end of each month each companionship in my district should report their Home teaching results via email or phone call. There are some that are real good at this , but I would guess based on my experience that for the most part most priesthood holders in the church wait to be called or emailed to get their reports to their supervisor. I have even had to email people 4 or 5 times before they respond.
Why the lack of "Returning & Reporting" in regards to Home Teaching? I imagine that this does not go on in our secular jobs. When a work task is complete, usually an email or some sort of verbal report goes out to the boss saying that the task is done. So why is it so much less important when it comes to the Lord's work? It is my opinion that if something is important then it usually gets accomplished. An example is; it is important to be to work on time, so we do everything we can to be on time. Why do we not do this with the Lord's work? I suspect that there might be some forgetfulness, some procrastination , and maybe some fear in reporting a goose egg. Again, I believe that this goes back to the importance factor. If it was important, it would be done.
We learn the principle of " Return and Report " in the Temple. Without going into much detail, we learn that Heavenly Father gives Jesus an assignment, and then that assignment is delegated to others. When the assignment is completed the others "Return" to Jesus and "Report" with exactness what they did and this in turn is reported exactly to Heavenly Father. Heaven Father does not have to search out the Savior to get the answers he needs, nor does Jesus have to put out an APB on the others to get the info he needs to report to his father.President Marion G. Romney taught, "Remember, brethren, to return and report is the final act of the faithful and wise steward. "
So how should it be done?
When reporting Home Teaching results, the Home Teacher is responsible to contact the District Supervisor and report and not the other way around. The Lord taught , "For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward…But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned." (D&C 58:26,28)
What should be Reported?
I once emailed someone in my Home Teaching district 4 times with the return email not even answering the question I asked, a Home Teaching report. Some respond with brief messages such as "got 'em all" , "nothing", "doing well" and most recently "zero". These statements do not tell a District Leader anything about the families in his district. I believe that the following things should first be found out by the Home Teachers and then reported:
1) Any spiritual concerns.
2) Any welfare concerns such as sickness or financial difficulties.
3) What is the house like (Messy, Clean, No Furniture, etc.)
4) What lesson you gave and how it was received.
5) How are the children if any.
6) Other concerns as discerned by the Spirit.
If home teaching has not been done that month, one should report that with a commitment to do better next month.
Home Teaching is the most important calling that a priesthood holder has outside of being a father and husband. We should be diligent every month to care for the families we have stewardship over, and we should "Return & Report" what and how our families are doing.
Just a thought...
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3 comments:
I definitely enjoyed reading this Shawn.
Personally, I think that the very nature of "returning and reporting" is showing forth accountability for your stewardship. It is an opportunity to make one's "calling" and "election" sure. It is the very act of being able to stand with integrity and say "yea" or "nay".
The final question is this: How can the Church help those who may stand in need, if that need is not expressed in some way? Even if there is a hint of "I think the Statlers need help with food, but they won't say, they are very proud and have expressed themselves of not wanting to receive help because they view it as a sign of weakness".
Very intriguing and true.
Now that I found you on Facebook, I'm reading your blog. Very interesting commentary on R & R. I'm in the R.S. presidency & we're dealing w/ families on welfare. Some of them come to the bishop long past the point of no return (like they've been out of work for months). But as you've said, this shouldn't happen if the HTers or VTers are doing their jobs. Hmm, sound like a R.S. lesson idea....mind if I use this?
Uh, do you REALLY need to know if my house is messy? Okay, if there is filth, grime, and cockroaches, that's one thing, but an otherwise unorderly house, I'd rather not be included in an HT report! Especially if said HT's wait until the last day of the month, and I don't have the opportunity to clean the house before they come.
Just my opinion. :)
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