Home Teaching

The Home Teaching program is a program set up by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Those who participate are referred to as Home Teachers. Throughout the Church the program is set up so that two Priesthood holders are assigned to families in their ward (geographical boundaries). They are asked to visit their families on at least a monthly basis and share a message with them from the Church leaders. They are supposed to watch out for the family, be friends with them, and help them when needed.

Home teachers are encouraged to call the families they are supposed to visit and set up a time that will work well for the family. If any of the members of the families they teach are inactive, or if the entire family is inactive the home teachers are encouraged to invite them to Church and provide them with information about events within the ward, as well as anything that has been handed out to the members of the ward throughout the month. When a member of the family is ill, or in need of a blessing, families usually call on their home teachers to help give the blessing. This is especially true in homes where the father is absent or does not hold the priesthood.

President Ezra Taft Benson said the following about home teaching:

Brethren, home teaching is not just another program. It is the priesthood way of watching over the Saints and accomplishing the mission of the Church. Home teaching is not just an assignment. It is a sacred calling.

The Doctrine and Covenants teaches about the program of home teaching:

Watch over the church always, and be with and strengthen them; And see that there is no iniquity in the church. And see that the church meet together often, and also see that all the members do their duty (D