Sunday Report: Visiting Teaching Colloquium

Sunday, February 21, 2010 – Special Relief Society Meeting, Taught by Sister VanGosen and Sister Kimball

Thank you to the Bishopric and other Priesthood leaders for making it possible for all our sisters to gather together by teaching primary and youth!

Thank you for being a visiting teacher in the Chesapeake Ward!  As we work together to serve each other through visiting teaching, we will bring unity, strength, peace, and love to the Ward as a whole.
Together, We Can Do It!

What are a visiting teacher’s responsibilities?

For the Visiting teaching Handout - click on this link: Visiting Teaching “We Can Do It” Documents
1. Come to know and love your sisters. – This is personal, not a business transaction.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is Personal.  Our Heavenly Father knows and loves us each individually. Visiting teaching is a matter of personal watchcare.
A visiting teacher cares for her sisters and helps them prepare for the blessings of eternal life.
2. Minister through regular contacts – Consider each sister’s needs and circumstances. Contact each sister at least monthly: Priority being a visit, letter being the last resort – as it is an unconfirmed contact and the least personal. 
3. Learn of needs and offer appropriate assistance — Let your sisters feel that in times of distress they can ask you for help. Help could be listening, caring for children or household needs when a sister is ill, let them know you are praying for them or writing a letter of encouragement. Be quick to observe and quick to provide needed support. Help the Relief Society president identify both temporary and long-term needs. Visiting teachers are a channel through which the president can be sure all sisters are cared for.  Keep private matters confidential.  As you offer and give assistance, you will come to love your sisters more.
4. Look for specific ways to help – Show your sisters you honestly want to share their burdens. Sisters may be more willing to accept help if you offer to do something specific. Whatever you feel to say or do, be sincere.
5. Share and testify of gospel doctrines.
Pray for those you visit teach. Prayerfully prepare for your visit. Ideas will come. You will know what to say or do. When appropriate, share a gospel message, especially with less-active sisters. The gospel message you provide may be the only one that sister receives. Use the monthly visiting teaching message printed in the Ensign and Liahona magazines or the scriptures, whatever best fits your sisters’ needs.  Be aware of the spiritual and temporal needs of your sisters. Sometimes the most important message you can share is to do something to lift their burdens.

You Did it! Now What? Return and Report!
Call, Tell, or Email your supervisor – with your results! Whether you contacted all of your teach-ees or not! Reports MUST be in before the 3rd of the Month!  Yikes!  Where did the month go? If you weren’t able to make any contact with your Sisters – Do better next month! Remember it is important we make these contacts – Spiritually and Physically.

FYI: The Lesson that was for today (Gospel Principles #4 - "Freedom to Choose" ) will be combined with the March 14th Lesson: Chapter #5 - “The Creation”