Friday, October 9, 2009

Thoughts on Visiting Teaching

When I asked Sister DeMoux if she had a favorite quote to share from Conference she replied,
"Some talks "pinch" me and cause me to ponder my dedication. This one did. I've renewed my commitment to be a visiting teacher that tries more faithfully to reach my sisters and to rely more on the Lord's guidance in what I do and say. May we watch over one another carefully."

She was referring to a quote from Sister Julie Beck's talk at the General Relief Society Meeting.


Much of the essential Relief Society work we do doesn’t happen in meetings. Let’s focus now on learning about visiting teaching. Because we follow the example and teachings of Jesus Christ, we value this sacred assignment to love, know, serve, understand, teach, and minister in His behalf. This is one duty we have in the Church where we are certain to have the help of the Lord if we ask for it. This is one responsibility that is certain to increase our faith and personal righteousness and strengthen our own homes and families as we become partners with the Lord. A sister in this Church has no other responsibility outside of her family that has the potential to do as much good as does visiting teaching.

Visiting teaching becomes the Lord’s work when our focus is on people rather than percentages. In reality, visiting teaching is never finished. It is more a way of life than a task. Faithfully serving as a visiting teacher is evidence of our discipleship. We demonstrate our faith and follow a pattern established by the Lord as we report on our assignment every month. If our watchcare were primarily about reporting that every sister in the ward heard the Visiting Teaching Message printed each month in the Ensign and Liahona, it would be much more efficient to read it aloud to everyone in a sacrament meeting. Our reports are most helpful to the bishop and the Relief Society president when we inform them of the spiritual and temporal well-being of sisters and how we have been able to serve and love them.

How truly blessed we are to have such wonderful leaders, to guide us and help in our journey, as we strive to come unto Christ.

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