Blog Post #32: Taam Fong

Dear People Whom I Love and Treasure,

Taam Fong (both mid level tone) is what we call Home Teaching in Chinese. It literally means "to pay a visit" or something very like that, but it is something the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is famous for. Every month we pair up and go visit a few families just to make sure that they're all happy and healthy and well. Starting at age 14, our men-folk are assigned a few families (you can, of course, ask to not have an assignment, but where's the fun in that?) that they and their assigned companion are expected to call, write, or visit once a month. I think it's great fun, and it's a good way to get to know the people in your congregation better. There's even been one of those cheesy Mormon Movies made about it! 

So why is it my topic today?

Because it never gets done.

No matter where you are, it's rare to have 50% of the Home Teaching done in a Ward. Some people are legitimately busy, but most are just too lazy to pick up the phone, dial a number, and have a 5 minute conversation with 2-3 families a month.

It doesn't sound hard, does it? But yet, it's one of the biggest things that doesn't happen, and one of my biggest pet peeves. If the Savior, Jesus Christ, was here, you could bet [be sure] that He would visit

EVERY

SINGLE

FAMILY.

When we are baptized into this Church we promise with God to "take His name upon [us]", which obviously includes visiting the families, just like He would. Sure, it's not the most convenient thing in the world, and it can be a hassle when you're assigned a family that hasn't been to Church in 8 years and threatens to shoot you if you ever come back, but I'm pretty sure Jesus would visit those kinds of people, too.

So, to all you Latter-day Saint Men; get out your phone, call your Home Teaching Companion, and get to work! It's common in Washington to have anywhere from 1/4 to 1/2 of the Ward not coming to Church, and why?

Because they don't remember that Jesus loves them.

Be His representative, be His servant, keep your baptismal covenants, and go make sure that your Home Teaching families are visited. It's a lot more rewarding than facing the Savior at Judgment Day with a solid line of 0's for your Home Teaching record, and a lot more rewarding than the sports you were going to watch instead.

Sisters, this applies to Visiting Teaching, too, but I'm not sure how well that goes because I've never done it. If you're doing 100%, then go encourage the men in your life to do their Home Teaching, and to buy you a little thing of Ben & Jerry's on the way home!

I love you all,
Elder O'Gara