Let Him Do It With Simplicity

“Let Him Do It With Simplicity”
ELDER L. TOM PERRY

“In our search to obtain relief from the stresses of life,

may we seek ways to simplify our lives.”

What are stressors or things that complicate our lives?

• Our need to work; maintaining strict work schedules
• Career demands
• Communication and the immersion of media and attachment to the world
• Family
• Studies
• Meetings
• Church callings; priesthood commitments

What can we do to simply our lives? Henry David Thoreau offers four suggestions from his experiences at Walden Pond.
1. Food

• The Word of Wisdom encourages us to eat health foods, and to avoid items that can be harmful to our bodies. The Lord tells us the benefits of following this guidance in D&C 89 -
  And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones; and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; and shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint. And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen. (D&C 89:18-20)
• Even more clear and concise verbiage is found “For the Strength of Youth” section on physical health:
  Eat nutritious food, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. When you do all these things, you remain free from harmful addictions and have control over your life. You gain the blessings of a healthy body, an alert mind, and the guidance of the Holy Ghost. Never let Satan or others lead you to think that breaking the Word of Wisdom will make you happier or more attractive. (For the Strength of Youth, p. 36)

2. Clothing

• Increased portion of the Spirit: “When we are modestly dressed, we also invite the Spirit of the Lord to be a shield and a protection to us.” (Perry, 9)
• Character and attitude: “I believe very casual dress is almost always followed by very casual manners.” (ibid)
• Respect, and not wasteful in spending: “Modesty in dress is a quality of mind and heart, born of respect for oneself, one’s fellowmen and the Creator of us all. Modesty reflects an attitude of humility, decency, and propriety. “(Ibid)

3. Shelter

• Financial Security – Elder Marvin J. Ashton gave us the 12 points to prosperity. (Marvin J. Ashton, “One for the Money,” Ensign, Sep 2007, 36–39)
  1. Teach family members early the importance of working and earning
  2. Teach children to make money decisions in keeping with their capacities to comprehend.
  3. Teach each family member to contribute to the total family welfare.
  4. Teach family members that paying financial obligations promptly is part of integrity and honesty development.
  5. Learn to manage money before it manages you.
  6. Learn self-discipline and self-restraint in money matters.
  7. Use a budget.
  8. Make education a continuing process.
  9. Work toward home ownership.
  10. Appropriately involve yourself in an insurance program.
  11. Strive to understand and cope with existing inflation.
  12. Appropriately involve yourself in a food storage program.

4. Fuel (spiritual)

• Are we gas guzzlers or are we fuel efficient? Does do we have to be pushed and encouraged by others or can we keep going ourselves?

“What is required to maintain a sufficient store of spiritual fuel?” (Perry, 10)

• Scripture study
• Attendance on Sunday
• Daily Prayer: Morning, Evening and Family
• Action: Act upon spiritual promptings

And remember: “In righteousness there is great simplicity.” (William R. Bradford, “Righteousness,” Ensign, Nov 1999, 85)

Anatomy of a Hometeaching Visit

“There is no greater Church calling than that of home teacher.”
(Ezra Taft Benson, General Conference, April 4, 1987)

Home Teaching Administration

Q: “How do I improve the quality of my visit…to the point that my families look
forward to my visits?”

A: “And visit the house of each member, and exhort them to pray vocally and in secret
and attend to all family duties.” (D&C 20:47)

“Verily I say unto you, he that is ordained of me and sent forth to preach the word of
truth by the Comforter, in the Spirit of truth, doth he preach it by the Spirit of truth
or some other way? And if it be by some other way it is not of God. And again, he
that receiveth the word of truth, doth he receive it by the Spirit of truth or some other
way? If it be some other way it is not of God. Therefore, why is it that ye cannot
understand and know, that he that receiveth the word by the Spirit of truth receiveth it
as it is preached by the Spirit of truth? Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that
receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together.” (D&C
50:17-22)

One key to a successful HT visit is ensuring the Spirit is present. The family may not
always look forward to the visit, but when the Spirit is a third companion in the HT
companionship, the greater the likelihood for an enjoyable visit for all.

“Really know them.” – President Benson

“Each pair of home teachers should become [personally] acquainted with every child, youth and adult in the family to whom they are assigned. …” – Marion G. Romney

Q: “I feel I take a lot of responsibility in setting up appointments, but I feel I want my
companion to help organize, plan, and schedule, but if I do it’ll likely fall through.
Any suggestions on depending on your companion?”

“It helps to have a home teaching partner who wants to go home teaching.
Companionships aren’t successful when only one person is active or wants to
participate.”

A: “And if any man among you be strong in the Spirit, let him take with him him that is
weak, that he may be edified in all meekness, that he may become strong also.”
(D&C 84:106)

Ideally, everyone would be at the same (high) level of commitment to his priesthood
responsibilities. The fact that we are at different levels, however, affords some of us
the opportunity to be an embodiment of D&C 84:106. It also allows those of us that
may be struggling in this area to be strengthened by strong HTers. Sometimes all we
need to fortify our testimony of a principle or practice, is a good example provided by
another.

“Before visiting the home, companions meet together to pray, review requests from
the head of the household, review instructions form leaders, review their message, and
discuss how to help meet members’ needs.” (Church Handbook of Instructions, p. 169)

Q: “Is it alright to call up the missionaries to help with home teaching?”

“What things should the missionaries help with?”

“What things might be inappropriate for the missionaries to help with?”

A: Perhaps the simplest answer to the first is to use the missionaries moderately. If we
are using the missionaries in place of our assigned companion simply out of
convenience, then we are missing out on an important facet of the HT experience.
However, if we occasionally request the assistance of the missionaries when a last
minute appointment was able to be arranged, when one of the HTers is unexpectedly
unable to keep the appointment, etc., this would be appropriate. (or visits to part-
member families, less-active families, etc.)

Q: “Does your companion need to be with you during the visit?”

A: “And ye shall go forth in the power of my Spirit, preaching my gospel, two by two,
in my name, lifting up your voices as with the sound of a trump, declaring my word
like unto angels of God.” (D&C 42:6)

Avoid being the only priesthood holder present. For example, if you are visiting a
part-member family, in which the husband is not a member, etc.

Are we doing everything we can to fulfill our responsibilities as outlined by the
Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, p. 169? Go together, pray, discuss, ponder
as a companionship.

Q: “Some of my families seem to avoid me or are opposed to me coming over. Can I
count talking to them in Church or talking to them over the phone?”

A: Avoidance and opposition are two different things. If a family is avoiding you – be
persisent. If a family is telling you they don’t want you to visit, then that should be
communicated to the EQ presidency. A “visit” should consist of a spiritual thought or
lesson and a prayer with the family. “Contact” with a family may be different than a
“HT visit.”

In general, if you are able to have a prayer, spiritual thought and ascertain the needs of a family all over the phone, then count it, if not, let us know that you contacted, but not home taught.

Q: “[Do I] visit [each] family once per month?”

A: “Home teachers make at least monthly visits to the homes of assigned members.
Each month home teachers report to quorum or group leaders on the spiritual and
temporal welfare of the members they visit.” (Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, p.
169)

“Home teachers represent the Lord…” (Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, p. 169)

** However, let’s respect the wishes of the family. Some may only want to be seen
quarterly, or twice a year, or only annually. In that case, we will certainly honor the
family’s request.

If your family has requested less than monthly visits, inform a member of the Elders
Quorum presidency so this can be documented, discussed with the bishop and honored if home teachers change (though, we probably want to encourage the new home teachers to go monthly to see if the family has softened their heart to the home teachers.

Q: “Can I count a family [as visited] if I only teach a portion of the family?”

A: The short answer is “sure,” although, this would be the exception and not the rule.
Try to at least include the head of the family, to convey any special message from the
Bishop, offer encouragement or instruction, and to be advised of any needs the family
has.

Q: “[It’s] hard to get teachers’ and families’ schedules to click.”

A: Be flexible with your schedule! It’s the only way to get the schedules to click. If that means missing a Sunday nap, be open to that. You can’t control anyone’s schedule but your own. If you show that you are flexible, they may become more flexible as you continue teaching/setting up appointments. There are about 43,200 minutes in a month, surely we can find time for a 30 minute home teaching visit.

“You can’t magnify your priesthood and reject your call to do home teaching.” (Marion G. Romney, Church News, April 22, 1967)