CHANGE IN VISITING TEACHING INTERVIEWS
We had planned to have Visiting Teaching Stewardship Interviews on Wednesday and Thursday, September 25 and 26. Some of you have already signed up for times to meet with a member of the Presidency. However, we just learned that an Area Leadership Meeting has been planned for that night, so we need to reschedule. Please take that event off your calendar for now, but we will let you know as soon as we have new dates set.
Thanks for being dedicated Visiting Teachers. You truly are the Lord's hands in this great and important calling.
September 2103 Visiting Teaching Message:
Self-Reliance
"Self-reliance is the ability, commitment, and effort to provide for the spiritual and temporal well-being of ourselves and of our families." (Handbook 2: Administering the Church, 2010, 6.1.1) Becoming self-reliant temporally includes "getting a postsecondary education or vocational training, learning to work, and living within our means. By avoiding debt and saving money now, we are prepared for full-time Church service in the years to come. The purpose of both temporal and spiritual self-reliance is to get ourselves on higher ground so that we can lift others in need." (Robert D.Hales, "Coming to Ourselves," 36)
May 2013 Visiting Teaching Message:
April General Conference:
Review and share a message from one of the many fine talks given at April General Conference.
Questions Visiting Teachers Can Ask
The following kinds of questions can lead to opportunities for visiting teachers to give comfort, share relevant gospel teaching, and provide meaningful service.
What worries or concerns do you have?
What questions do you have about the gospel or the Church?
Would you allow us to help you with ______?
When asking a question like this, visiting teachers should offer to help in a specific way, such as caring for the children for a brief time, assisting with a homemaking task, or helping to run an errand. It is less helpful to say, “Call us if you need anything.”
To report your visiting teaching please call your Visiting Teaching District Leader. If you don't know who that is or you can't reach them please call Tammy Baker at home - 801-427-5848, work 801-367-7930. Thank you!
Helps in being a successful visiting teacher:
• Know whom you are assigned to visit and who your companion is. The priesthood or Relief Society leaders in your ward or branch should provide you with the name and contact information of each family or individual you are assigned to visit. Introduce yourself to your companion and to the people you visit and start building a relationship.
• Visit. Meet in the person’s home when possible. If that’s not feasible, you might consider meeting near the person’s workplace, taking a walk together, or gathering before or after Sunday meetings. Teach and inspire each other—perhaps by starting with the First Presidency or Visiting Teaching Message. Share your testimony. Share what’s going on in your lives. Develop love by being friendly and caring. Listen sincerely. Keep the confidences others entrust to you. Continue to be a friend, as time often leads to greater trust.
• Pray with and for those you teach. It might be appropriate to ask at the end of your visit, “Can we pray with you?” The head of the household should choose someone to say the prayer. In the days and weeks between visits, continue to pray for those you home or visit teach. Ask Heavenly Father for help to know how to watch over and love them.
• Minister. Observe and anticipate needs. For instance, if a sister you visit has an upcoming test at school, perhaps you could make her dinner sometime during the week so she can have more study time. If the brother you home teach is looking for a job, introduce him to people who might be able to help.
• Ask helpful questions. Questions can lead to opportunities to give comfort, share relevant gospel principles, and provide meaningful service. You might ask: “What worries or concerns you?” “What questions do you have about the gospel?” Or you could be specific: “Could we help you with a household task?” “Would you like a ride to the store or a doctor’s appointment?” Questions will often bring better results than simply saying, “Call us if you need anything.”
• Seek inspiration. The Spirit can help you know how to help those you are assigned to teach. You might be prompted about topics to discuss or assistance to offer. As you get to know them better, you may even be prompted to encourage those you visit to receive further ordinances and covenants of the gospel or to further participate in all the blessings the gospel offers.
• Report the right information. Report on the temporal and spiritual well-being of those you visit, any service you have given, and any needs. Report confidential concerns directly to the Relief Society or quorum president.
• Coordinate with your partner. With your partner, divide assignments as necessary to make contact and to provide watchcare. You might need to take turns visiting, providing service, and reporting the well-being of those you teach.
• Remember. Keep track of important events in the lives of those you teach, such as birthdays and even day-to-day happenings that might be important to them.
