Home Ministering | An Interview with Steve Webber

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Mar 11, 2026

Steve Webber, author and longtime Church leader who served as a bishop and in many priesthood callings, shares his perspective on transforming home teaching into compassionate ministering. He discusses the shift to personalized, flexible visits. He highlights practical tactics like asking “What can I pray for?” and the importance of showing up, serving like Jesus, and using technology to stay connected.

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ADVICE

Ask What I Can Pray For

Ask families What can I be praying for this month rather than What can I do for you.
Steve Webber used this question in his ward and sacrament attendance rose from 60% to 85% within months because people felt noticed and loved.

INSIGHT

Ministering Is A Higher Form Of Home Teaching

Ministering is home teaching and visiting teaching in a higher and holier way, refocusing on service over scripted lessons.
Church committees had been studying this shift for a decade before official rollout; Steve wrote and promoted the idea locally beginning 2005.

ADVICE

Personalize Visits Not Lessons

De-emphasize scripted lessons; personalize visits based on the family's needs and spiritual receptivity.
Steve shifted his ward away from the First Presidency message to relationship-focused visits starting in 2005.

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Steve Webber served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Spain Barcelona Mission and later graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Business Management. Professionally, he owns and manages an advertising agency.

Steve has served in various leadership capacities, including bishop, high counselor, Young Men president, elders quorum president, and high priest group leader. These experiences, along with his time as a home minister, have given him a unique perspective on how valiant ministering can bless the flock of the Good Shepherd. He currently hosts the Home Ministering Podcast on YouTube.

Steve lives in Cedar Hills, Utah, with his wife, Jana. They are the parents of five children and five grandchildren.

Steve and Jana Webber

Links

HomeMinistering.com
Home Ministering: The Process of Perfecting the Saints
Watch the video and share your thoughts in the Zion Lab community
Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community

Highlights

Steve discusses the evolution of ministering within the Church, emphasizing the shift from home teaching to a more holistic approach to ministering. He shares insights from his book and offers practical advice for leaders to enhance their ministering efforts.

00:03:22 – Background on Steve’s Book
00:04:04 – The Shift from Home Teaching to Ministering
00:05:13 – Early Experiences as a Bishop
00:06:43 – The Importance of Personal Connection
00:08:28 – The Role of Personalization in Ministering
00:09:06 – The Need for Flexibility in Ministering
00:10:00 – Addressing Safety Concerns in Ministering
00:10:31 – The Evolution of Ministering Terminology
00:12:01 – The Church’s Long-Term Vision for Ministering
00:14:25 – The Impact of Ministering on Church Attendance
00:15:40 – The Power of Asking the Right Questions
00:18:43 – Encouraging Open Communication in Ministering
00:20:37 – Serving Like Jesus
00:22:47 – Developing Christlike Attributes through Ministering
00:25:54 – The Importance of Prayer in Ministering
00:28:20 – The Role of Ministering in Building Community
00:30:40 – The Need for Humility in Receiving Help
00:32:54 – The Importance of Ministering Relationships
00:35:02 – Historical Context of Ministering Changes
00:37:21 – The Higher Law of Ministering
00:39:40 – The Role of Family Support in Ministering
00:41:06 – Building Authentic Relationships in Ministering

Key Insights

Ministering as a Higher Law: The transition from home teaching to ministering represents a return to the original purpose of caring for one another, focusing on service rather than just teaching lessons.

Personal Connection: Effective ministering involves building genuine relationships, where ministering brothers and sisters are seen as trusted friends who can provide support and encouragement.

The Power of Prayer: Asking families what they need prayer for can open doors for deeper connections and help ministering brothers and sisters understand how to serve effectively.

Flexibility in Approach: There is no one-size-fits-all method for ministering; leaders should encourage creativity and adaptability based on the unique needs of families.

Importance of Presence: Simply showing up and expressing love can have a profound impact, even if there are no specific tasks to perform. This presence fosters trust and openness.

Leadership Applications

Encourage Open Communication: Leaders can promote a culture where members feel comfortable sharing their needs, making it easier for ministering brothers and sisters to provide support.

Focus on Relationships: Leaders should emphasize the importance of building relationships over merely fulfilling assignments, encouraging members to engage with those they serve on a personal level.

Model Humility and Service: By demonstrating a willingness to receive help and support, leaders can set an example for their congregations, showing that vulnerability and openness are strengths in the ministering process.

The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org.

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