Emissaries to the Church - talk by Elder Holland given during the Priesthood session

LINK TO TALK on lds.org

I'm a very recently returned missionary and hearing this talk, even more so while on the mission, really struck a chord with me. Elder Holland's powerful words really push a focus on what's important - the people, and not the statistics. I see the church leaders in general putting a large focus on this in many different areas, and so this talk was a great example of how we should go about doing the Lord's work. And although during the priesthood session, this of course applies to all members of the church in their respective duties of service in the church.

After an amusing story about how some home teachers left a poor Molly and her friend alone to mop up a flooded basement, Elder Holland began by saying:

Brethren, may we briefly examine the priesthood duty that has been described as “the Church’s first source of help” to its individuals and families. Entire forests have been sacrificed providing the paper to organize it and then reorganize it.... Yet still we struggle to achieve anywhere near an acceptable standard of performance regarding the Lord’s commandment “to watch over the church always” through priesthood home teaching.

And he describes some difficulties we all have with fulfilling the one visit a month standard.

Realizing that in many locations around the world achieving such an ideal is not possible and that we cause those brethren to feel like failures when we ask them to do what cannot realistically be done, the First Presidency wrote to the priesthood leaders of the Church in December 2001, giving this inspired, very helpful counsel: “There are some locations in the Church,” they wrote, “where … home teaching to every home each month may not be possible because of insufficient numbers of active priesthood brethren and various other local challenges.” We’ve mentioned some of them. “When such circumstances prevail,” they go on, “leaders should do their best to use the resources they have available to watch over and strengthen each member.”

Here he points out the overarching theme of his talk - we should do all that's possible according to our circumstances, especially focusing on the needs of our assigned families. To watch for them, not just visit them every month. A constant care and trust built between the families.

Now, as for what “counts” as home teaching, every good thing you do “counts,” so report it all! Indeed, the report that matters most is how you have blessed and cared for those within your stewardship, which has virtually nothing to do with a specific calendar or a particular location. What matters is that you love your people and are fulfilling the commandment “to watch over the church always.”

That really struck me as I heard it. So many times we may become frustrated because we can't do a perfect job in many of our different callings in the church. But we're not expected to work to perfection, at least not yet anyway. And if we focus on caring and watching for others, rather than just that one visit a month, we can relieve that stress and focus on what's important for them (and us even!)

He concluded his talk exemplifying this important focus on the work with a rather sad but then uplifting story about a man who unfortunately ran over his son. This man was helped greatly by his home teacher, who forgot the visit standard and focused on what the man needed - even playing basketball early in the morning. (I encourage you to just read it, not this much too short summary of the story).

And so, with that example he left us with an invitation. As he said,

Brethren, the appeal I am making tonight is for you to lift your vision of home teaching.

And let me extend that to all. As we focus on taking care of others and their families, even in simple ways, they and we will all be blessed immensely.

So, did any of you feel so impressed as me in the invitation from this talk? What are some great ways he mentioned or maybe didn't mention that we can care for others?