As we begin a new semester and a new year, several of us with new visiting teaching assignments due to move-ins and move-outs, let us show our discipleship by truly loving and ministering to those we visit teach. We remind you of what Sister Beck said in last September’s General Relief Society Meeting:
There have been times when sisters have focused more on completing visits, teaching lessons, and leaving notices when they have stopped by their sisters’ homes. These practices have helped sisters learn patterns of watchcare. Just as people in the time of Moses concentrated on keeping long lists of rules, the sisters of Relief Society have at times imposed many written and unwritten rules upon themselves in their desire to understand how to strengthen one another.
With so much need for relief and rescue in the lives of sisters and their families today, our Heavenly Father needs us to follow a higher path and demonstrate our discipleship by sincerely caring for His children…. Now visiting teachers have the responsibility to “sincerely come to know and love each sister, help her strengthen her faith, and give service.”
As committed disciples of the Savior, we are improving in our ability to do the things He would do if He were here. We know that to Him it is our caring that counts, and so we are trying to concentrate on caring about our sisters rather than completing lists of things to do. True ministry is measured more by the depth of our charity than by the perfection of our statistics. We will know we are successful in our ministry as visiting teachers when our sisters can say, “My visiting teacher helps me grow spiritually” and “I know that my visiting teacher cares deeply about me and my family” and “If I have problems, I know my visiting teacher will take action without waiting to be invited.”
We encourage you to counsel with your companions and with the Lord to know what you can do to better love and serve those under your care. The Spirit will be with you and both you and those you visit will be blessed. We are so grateful for all that you are already doing to strengthen and support one another.
Love,
The Relief Society Presidency
