In the context of fast offerings, there will probably always be those folks who have to be visited because they never quite make it to church and won’t bother to make a contribution unless there’s a deacon standing on the front porch. On top of that, like was mentioned, some folks can’t get out and the little visit on the front porch is probably a good thing, even if not fuel- or time-efficient.

By the way, Clark, our ward still uses the roving microphone (two, actually). The AP boys sit at the front in chairs waiting for their cue.

If that’s the case, maybe it’s time to replace those outdated duties with some more attuned to the times. Perhaps the deacons could be assigned to help old people (in this case, 40 and over!) with programming their cell phones or hooking up new printers to their computers.

Amen, and amen.

(Obviously, those who may not be able to attend Church and don’t have the ability to mail a check are excluded and should get a visit…)

I have argued for years with a friend about how it’s counterproductive to automatically make the DQP the senior patrol leader, if the DQP is not going to be engaged in Scouting. My friend’s retort has always been that you go in the opposite direction: You find the kid you want to be the senior patrol leader and make him the DQP.

We do have a member of the presidency teach the rest of the quorum on the 1st sunday of the month (same as EQ and RS) which has yielded surprisingly good results.

In our Ward, the AP youth are in charge of manning the sacrament duties each week for a rehab/nursing home that lies within our ward boundaries. They are almost all intent on doing their duty. I’m not sure they always rise to the level of “maturity,” but to do some of the service they do bespeaks a good upbringing.

As an aside, there’s something wonderful about the fact that the writer’s first example of “outside duties” was “cutting wood for widows.” I think it suggests that he’s had some experience with that particular chore.