August 2012
Taking Action in Time of Need
Taking Action in Time of Need
As visiting teachers, one of our purposes is to help strengthen families and homes. The sisters we visit should be able to say, “If I have problems, I know my visiting teachers will help without waiting to be asked.” In order to serve, we have a responsibility to be conscious of the needs of the sisters we visit. When we seek inspiration, we will know how to respond to the spiritual and temporal needs of each sister we are assigned to visit. Then, using our time, skills, talents, prayers of faith, and spiritual and emotional support, we can help give compassionate service during times of illness, death, and other special circumstances.1
Through the help of reports from visiting teachers, the Relief Society presidency identifies those who have special needs because of physical or emotional illness, emergencies, births, deaths, disability, loneliness, or other challenges. The Relief Society president then reports her findings to the bishop. Under his direction, she coordinates assistance.2
As visiting teachers we can have “great reason … to rejoice” because of “the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work” (Alma 26:1, 3).
From the Scriptures
From Our History
In the early years of the Church, membership was small and centralized. Members could respond quickly when someone was in need. Today our membership is over 14 million and is spread throughout the world. Visiting teaching is part of the Lord’s plan to provide help for all His children.
“The only system which could provide succor and comfort across a church so large in a world so varied would be through individual servants near the people in need,” said President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency.
“… Every bishop and every branch president has a Relief Society president to depend upon,” he continued. “She has visiting teachers, who know the trials and the needs of every sister. She can, through them, know the hearts of individuals and families. She can meet needs and help the bishop in his call to nurture individuals and families.”3
For more information, go to reliefsociety.lds.org.
What Can I Do?
- 1. Am I using my gifts and talents to bless others?
- 2. Do the sisters I watch over know that I am willing to help them when they have a need?
July 2012
Demonstrating Our Discipleship through Love and Service
Demonstrating Our Discipleship through Love and Service
Throughout His mortal life, Jesus Christ showed His love for others by ministering to them. He said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). He set the example and wants us to “succor those that stand in need of [our] succor” (Mosiah 4:16). He calls His disciples to work with Him in His ministry, giving them the opportunity to serve others and become more like Him.1
Our service as visiting teachers will closely resemble the ministry of our Savior when we show our love for those we visit teach by doing the following:2
- • Remember their names and the names of their family members and become acquainted with them.
- • Love them without judging them.
- • Watch over them and strengthen their faith “one by one,” as the Savior did (3 Nephi 11:15).
- • Establish sincere friendships with them and visit them in their homes and elsewhere.
- • Care about each sister. Remember birthdays, graduations, weddings, baptisms, or other times that are meaningful to her.
- • Reach out to new and less-active members.
- • Reach out to the lonely or those in need of comfort.
From the Scriptures
From Our History
“The New Testament includes accounts of women, named and unnamed, who exercised faith in Jesus Christ. … These women became exemplary disciples. … [They] journeyed with Jesus and His Twelve Apostles. They gave of their substance to assist in His ministry. After His death andResurrection, [they] continued to be faithful disciples.”3
Paul wrote of a woman named Phebe, who was “a servant of the church” (Romans 16:1). He asked the people to “assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many” (Romans 16:2). “The kind of service rendered by Phebe and other great women of the New Testament continues today with members of the Relief Society—leaders, visiting teachers, mothers, and others—who act as succorers, or helpers, of many.”4
For more information, go to reliefsociety.lds.org.
What Can I Do?
- 1. How am I increasing my ability to nurture others?
- 2. What am I doing to ensure that the sisters I watch over know that I love them?
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