Dear Sisters,
On this beautiful spring day, several topics for the Relief Society message have crossed my mind but one stands out above all others. VISITING TEACHING!
The Lord said, "And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom." (D&C 88:77)
While I have no amazing stories of how my visiting teaching has affected the sisters I have taught. I have many stories of how my visiting teachers have influenced my life. I will not regale you with those stories now but, I will say shoulders only to be joined by a pair of loving sisters who gladly helped me bear the weight long enough to remind me that Heavenly Father was only a prayer away!
Too often our visiting teaching goes undone for reasons including: scheduling, forgetfulness, and fear! Yes fear... fear of rejection! What if the sister I am supposed to teach doesn't want me there? What if I don't know what to say? What if she doesn't like me? What if she is inactive and unwilling to meet with me or to listen to what I have to say? What if she is negative about the Church? What if...? Sisters.... what if? What if you are the only connection that sister has to the truth? What if you are the one who can make the difference? Are you willing to pass that opportunity by?
In a message to a visiting teaching convention of the Salt Lake Monument Park Stake on the 16th of September 1958, the future prophet, President Spencer W. Kimball state: "Whenever I think of visiting teachers, I think your duties in many ways must be like those of the home teachers, which briefly are 'to watch over the church always' - not twenty minutes a month but always - 'and be with and strengthen them' - not a knock at the door, but to be with them and lift them and strengthen them, and empower them, and fortify them - 'and see that there is no iniquity neither hardness... backbiting, nor evil speaking' (D&C 20:53-54)"
In an article entitled "Feed My Sheep" in the November 2007 edition of the Ensign, Sister Silvia H Allred, the First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency had this to say about visiting teaching: "The purposes of visiting teaching are to build caring relationship with each sister and to offer support, comfort, and friendship."
To accomplish those purposes, visiting teachers should:
1. Visit each assigned sister regularly (where feasible, in her home every month).
2. Learn of the spiritual and temporal needs of the sister and her family.
3. Offer appropriate assistance.
4. Give spiritual instruction through a monthly message.
The Lord has blessed women with divine attributes of love, compassion, kindness, and charity. Through our monthly visits as visiting teachers, we have the power to bless each sister as we extend our arms of love and kindness and give the gifts of compassion and charity. No matter what our individual circumstances are, we all have the opportunity to edify and nurture others.
Sisters, our May 6th Relief Society meeting will be our Visiting Teaching Conference. I pray that you will all make the time to attend. Let us all remember that this is Heavenly Father's work we have been asked to do. Let us recommit to being better, more diligent teachers. Let us take the time that is necessary each and every month to nurture and edify the sisters we teach. As we refocus our energy let us keep in mind these words: "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the things which he commanded them." (1 Nep 3:7).
