Last Tuesday we had a Relief Society activity all about Visiting Teaching and it was awesome! For those who could not make it, here are some notes/thoughts from it!
What is the Purpose of Visiting Teaching?
Visiting teaching gives women the opportunity to watch over, strengthen, and teach one another. Through visiting teaching, the Relief Society president helps the bishop identify and resolve short-term and long-term needs of sisters and their families. (Church Handbook 9.5)
What are the Responsibilities of Visiting Teachers?
Visiting teachers sincerely come to know and love each sister, help her strengthen her faith, and give service. They seek personal inspiration to know how to respond to the spiritual and temporal needs of each sister they are assigned to visit.
Taking into account each sister’s individual needs and circumstances, visiting teachers have regular contact (monthly if possible) with those they are assigned. When a personal visit is not possible, visiting teachers may use phone calls, letters, e-mail, or other means to watch over and strengthen sisters.
When appropriate, visiting teachers share a gospel message. These messages may be from the monthly visiting teaching message printed in the Ensign or Liahona magazine and the scriptures.
Visiting teachers give compassionate service during times of illness, death, and other special circumstances. They assist the Relief Society president in coordinating short-term and long-term assistance when invited. (Church Handbook 9.5.1)
THE REPORT
How Do I Report Visiting Teaching?
*The Relief Society presidency or those who are called to assist them receive monthly reports from visiting teachers. The visiting teachers report any special needs of the sisters they visit and any service rendered. In addition, presidency members meet with visiting teachers regularly to discuss sisters’ spiritual and temporal welfare and to make plans to help those in need. Confidential information should be reported only to the Relief Society president, who reports it to the bishop.
The Relief Society president gives the bishop a monthly visiting teaching report. Each report includes a list of those who were not contacted. If a sister and her family have urgent needs, the Relief Society president reports this information to the bishop immediately. (Church Handbook 9.5.4)
*Bishop Mower has asked us to answer the following three questions in our reports:
*Was there any service rendered?
*Did you notice any needs?
*Were you able to visit and share a message?
Sisters are welcome to share more information then the three questions and are asked to bring all confidential matters to the Relief Society President, April Jacob. Bishop would also like us to be discerning about possible financial needs in the ward.
THE MESSAGE
How do I prepare a message?
*Adjust the message to your sisters needs, as you get to know her.
*Try a teaching method the Savior used. The following are some ways teachers can emulate the Savior’s methods in their teaching:
1 Pray. The Savior prayed for those who would hear His words (see 3 Nephi 19:27–29 ). When you pray for those you teach, you exercise faith that God will soften their hearts. In your prayers, express your love for God and for those you are teaching.
2 Use the scriptures. Jesus Christ taught from the scriptures (see Luke 24:27 ). Using the scriptures invites the Holy Ghost into your teaching.
3 Bear testimony. Jesus testified of Heavenly Father and of His own divine role (see John 10:17–18, 27–30 ). A testimony is a simple, direct declaration of belief; it is a feeling or an assurance. As you share your testimony of the gospel principles you teach, the Spirit will witness of their truthfulness.
4 Use music. Jesus and His Apostles “sung an hymn” ( Matthew 26:30 ). Through music, you and those you teach can invite the influence of the Holy Ghost and express feelings that may be hard to express in other ways.
5 Share stories and examples. Jesus taught gospel principles with stories, such as those about the good Samaritan (see Luke 10:25–37 ) and the prodigal son (see Luke 15:11–32 ). Use true stories to show how principles of the restored gospel apply in daily life.
6 Use objects and pictures. Jesus used common objects and comparisons to teach gospel principles, such as a mustard seed (see Matthew 17:20 ) and calling His Apostles to be “fishers of men” (see Matthew 4:18–22 ). Pictures can also help strengthen others’ understanding of scripture accounts and gospel principles.
7 Ask questions, and listen. Jesus asked questions, such as, “Whom say ye that I am?” ( Matthew 16:15 ) and “What is written in the law? how readest thou?” ( Luke 10:26 ), and listened to the responses. Thoughtful questions encourage discussion and the appropriate sharing of personal experiences from investigators. When you listen, you show love for your investigators and the Spirit can help direct your conversation.
http://institute.lds.org/manual/missionary-preparation-student-manual/miss-1-4.asp
*Remember listening to your sister is also ministering and a big part of the message.
THE VISIT
The following are ways to give service. I need someone to watch my kids while I run to the grocery store. I am baking cookies and I need one cup of sugar. I am going crazy and I need to talk to an adult. I want to go to the temple, but I don’t want to go alone. I would like to go for a jog with someone. I need a ride. I had a bad day and would like a hug. My kids and I have lots of energy, we would like a play-date. I would like to get out of the house and go on a walk with my Visiting Teacher. My husband is gone and I need someone to sit by at church. I would like to learn a new skill that my Visiting Teacher is talented at.
