Home teaching
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Home 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.
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[edit] Priesthood Quorums
There are two levels of Priesthood Authority: The Aaronic Priesthood and the Melchizedek Priesthood. The Aaronic may be given to a male member who is at least 12 years of age. The minimum age for the Melchizedek priesthood is 18.
In a ward, there may be a total of 5 priesthood quorums:
- Deacons (Aaronic - usually age 12-13)
- Teachers (Aaronic - usually age 14-15)
- Priests (Aaronic - usually age 16 & older)
- Elders (Melchizedek - Advancement from the Aaronic Priesthood. 18 or older)
- High Priests (Melchizedek - Advancement from Elders Quorum - not age specific)
[edit] Home Teaching Assignments
The Elders Quorum and High Priest Quorum leadership have the responsibility of assigning home teaching companionships and families assigned to those companionship. All assignments are approved by the bishop.
A companionship is always 2 home teachers. In special situations a companionship may consist of a Melchizedek Priesthood holder and his wife, but generally a companionship is two priesthood holders. 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 and 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 families 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] Home Teaching
Companionships are responsible for visiting each of their assigned families once per month. Visits are normally 1/2 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.
