Shepherds of the Flock: Elevating Home and Visiting Teachers to Home Ministers

by Stephen N. Webber

Shepherds of the Flock is a life-changing novel that helps the reader better understand an important doctrine and principle that has been overlooked and underemphasized for a long time - Home and Visiting Teaching. Following Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's recent mandate to be "God's emissaries," the book shifts our emphasis from simply teaching a 10-minute lesson to actually ministering to the needs of the Good Shepherd's flock. The book tells the story of a newly called LDS bishop as he is taught by a wise mentor the role that home and visiting teaching should play as we "watch over the Church always" and "bear one another's burdens." Along his journey, he discovers that by magnifying this calling, the lives of those that teach and those that are taught are blessed, as love and trust between the shepherd and the lamb are natural consequences. President Joseph F. Smith said the following about Home and Visiting Teaching: "I don't know of any duty that is more sacred, or more necessary if it is carried out as it should be, than the duties of the teachers who visit the homes of the people, who pray with them, who admonish them to virtue and honor, to unity, to love, and to faith in and fidelity to the cause of Zion." Shepherds of the Flock - Elevating Home and Visiting Teachers to Home Ministers will help the reader better understand how to become "Ammon-like shepherds" that will feed and protect the the Good Shepherd's flock. As you read and implement the principles in this book, you will come to know the Savior better as you minister the way He would minister, serve the way He would serve, and care the way He would care.

130 pages, Paperback

Published May 10, 2016

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our ward ordered a boxful of these books and gave them to various leadership in the ward, and I'm so glad they did, and so sad that it took me a few months to "get around" to reading it! The timing of me reading this was providential, with the new changes to home and visiting teaching that have just been announced by the church. This author was inspired and ahead of his time.

You know how there are some books you wish you could just make everyone read because you know the world would be such a better place if we were all on the same page? This is one of those books for me. The writing is in an easy-t0-follow, simple style, which perfectly fits the message - how to minister to each other. Please, I'm begging you, get yourself a copy of this book (it's on Amazon) - it's quick, but life-changing read!

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's the relevance of a book about home and visiting teaching given the recent "phasing out" of those programs? The subtitle indicates how relevant it is, since "elevating home and visiting teachers to home ministers" is the very shift we're being asked to make.

The book is written in story form, though it is a bit short on plot (and generally short). It is essentially a series of fictional interviews with people in a ward that are successfully ministering to show what the ideal would look like.

The overall thesis is that ministering is the way to keep the two great commandments: loving God and loving our neighbor.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing that this was written a couple years before the revelation from home teaching to ministering. The idea is to create a tighter fit with the scriptures and handbook with the way we watch over families individually. As we all focus on becoming more engaged and loving the families we minister to, it raises the ward to a new level.

I loved the chosen writing format to integrate all the ideas into a story about a newly called bishop with notes at the end of each chapter. Makes the reading so quick and future reference much easier.

[NaDell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to use to explain or learn how important it is to be kind to those around you, especially those who you are 'assigned' to visit and minister to as a part of Church duties. Although this was written before the announcement to retire Home and Visiting Teacher titles, it does a fantastic job of showing how to minister to others.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but very insightful look at Home and visiting teaching in the LDS Church. It is told in a story format but it can really change how you think about visiting teaching (and Home teaching), giving very simple but powerful suggestions on how to love your sisters and minister to them.

[Heidi Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous. I'll never look at visiting teaching the same way again. Stories and principles teach a higher level of making a REAL difference in our ministering.