April 2012 Visiting Teaching Message

You can find the April 2012 Visiting Teaching message at this link: http://www.lds.org/liahona/2012/04/love-watch-over-and-strengthen?lang=eng

On the Extraordinary Visiting Teachers facebook page, one of the members wrote in and said this about the message for April: 

The April message seems more gaged more to the help the visiting teacher, rather than to give a message to your ladies. Is that how you perceive it?

This was my response to it and maybe it will help you too when you sit down to study and prepare how you will give your message to your sisters in April.  I have also added other ideas to it as I have written this post.

Yes, the focus of April 2012 is on the Visiting teachers. Some or all of the women you Visit teach, will most likly be Visiting teachers themselves and need the message as much as you do. It is always a good thing for everyone to have an evaluation of how they are doing and making sure that they understand the important role they play in the lives of those that they teach. That list is as follows:

• Pray daily for her and her family. 
• Seek inspiration to know her and her family. 
• Visit her regularly to learn how she is doing and to comfort and strengthen her.
• Stay in frequent contact through visits, phone calls, letters, e-mail, text messages, and simple acts of kindness.
• Greet her at Church meetings. 
• Help her when she has an emergency, illness, or other urgent need. 
• Teach her the gospel from the scriptures and the Visiting Teaching Messages. 
• Inspire her by setting a good example. 
• Report to a Relief Society leader about their service and the sister’s spiritual and temporal well-being.

It might be a good time to go down that list of what Visiting teachers are suppose to do with those they teach, and make sure that they know that you are there for them in all of those areas!   It could bring good conversation about making sure they know  to call on you when they are in need and that you will do your best to anticipate a need. They need to know that you are their friend and if you have not built a friendship, you need to. Everyone wants to feel the friendship of others and how blessed would you feel to know that both of you know that you are true friends, and that your visits just aren't made out of duty or filling your calling as a Visiting Teacher. 

Another wonderful thing about this message that I could see is that there are some scriptures that are wonderful, particularly the last one stood out for me.  It was  3 Nephi 27: 21 and it says...

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even shall ye do". 

This scripture speaks of discipleship, and it would have been a great scripture to bring out in this current month of March's lesson on becoming disciples of Christ. You could go one step further and ask your sisters about what is going on in their lives, upcoming events, surgeries, their children and family, important occasions, concerns, etc., so that you can help them through these and be a support and listening ear.  As a personal example of this, I remember many years ago, when my family had moved to a Nevada, and I had just had a new baby, my family was preparing to go on vacation to visit our family in Utah.  One FRIEND knew this, and before we left, she brought over a Tupperware filled with treats, snacks, car games, etc., for us to take with us to make our 9 hour trip easier for all of us.  Now how nice was that?

Most importantly is that you would know what is going on in their lives, and let them know you are interested in them and you don't have to be the same age to make a good friend.  Another personal example of this was when my family moved to Nevada, I was given an older woman in the ward to visit teach.  She had quite a reputation for being honery, and brash and drove people away. Knowing this, I made every effort to make sure that she knew I wanted to be her friend.  It took some time and her unique nature came out, but as I overlooked that part of her, I was able to see into her heart, and truly love her.  She knew and felt this and I told her so.  She became a surrogate Grandmother for my own children because she gave back to me through the friendship we developed, what was missing as we lived so far away from our own parents and grandparents.  She came to my children's special events, and even made quilts for each of them for their birthdays and for my new baby. 

I have a favorite quote by Edwin Markham and paraphrasing it:  "There is a destiny that makes us brothers (sisters), each one goes his way alone. That which he sends into the lives of others, always comes back into his own."

I didn't go into Visiting teaching to get something back, but sometimes it is a natural and positive consequence of true friendship and service.  I mourned with her own family when I found out she had died, after I had moved back to Utah many years later.  I loved that wonderful woman, and surrogate Grandmother.  She knew it, and felt it and that love was returned.

Well, I hope that what I have shared will help you gather your own ideas to share as you visit teach in April.  Happy Visiting teaching!  Katie G

Happy St. Patricks Day!

I have a bit of Irish in my heritage, in my "O'Doyle" side of the family,  so I am going to leave my Irish blessings with you for Visiting Teaching and for you, this St. Patricks Day.....

May the Sisters you teach, within your ward,

Make your Visiting teaching not so hard…...

Finding joy in your visit, and a welcoming sight,

Even when your visit lasts into the night.

May the Spirit be with you learn the message you teach,

May you go home & remember to practice what you preach.

May you & your companion have a schedule that’s the same,

May the vehicle that takes you, never go lame.

May you realize the importance of this service you give,

May your you name be called ‘Blessed” as long as you live!

Love, Katie G

A Great Idea for Visiting Teaching Coordinator and Supervisors

This morning, I received an email from my Aunt who is the Visiting Teaching Coordinator in her ward.  She shared with me a great idea that I felt was very much worth posting and sharing on my blog.  This idea creates a feeling of importance for Visiting Teaching and it also teaches the sisters the message each month.  Each sister hears a part of the message each month, and is better prepared to share that message with their sisters.

Here is part of the email that my Aunt LouJeanne Smith sent to me:

"I have worked with our Relief Society presidency to have a visiting teaching thought every week in opening exercises.  We don't want to take away time from the teacher so we take only a minute or less.

As coordinator, I take the first week and mention the new theme.  Then I type up different thoughts and quotes from the monthly message and type them in the largest size fonts, add a boarder and print.  In my Relief Society room, on each side of our chalkboard are areas (bulletin boards) to post things.  We usually put two printed sheets with portions of the message on one side and two sheets on the other side with the rest of the message.  The print is large and everyone can read them from the anywhere they sit in the room.  They are just a short Visiting Teaching thought, but after glancing at it a time or two, they retain it.  We show the same message for two week is, then put up another message from the same theme.  We switch these messages with the primary and young women so they see them also.


We want our visiting teachers to feel more important, more needed, and feel the spirit of teaching.  Our supervisors take turns giving the minute-or-less thought each week. That way they each of us have a turn to get up in front of the class and all the women soon know who all our Visiting Teaching supervisors are.  I make out a 3 month schedule so they know which Sunday is theirs.  Our ward knows we have VT messages every week and hopefully know that Visiting Teaching  is a more important calling than they realized".

March 2012 Visiting teaching message

Here is the link to this month's Visiting teaching message. http://www.lds.org/liahona/2012/03/daughters-in-my-kingdom?lang=eng


She was the poster child
for the Utah Easter Seals
Campaign in 1949 at
7 years of age.

 My thoughts have been drawn to my sweet sister in law who passed away this past week.  She had been living in a Care facility for 22 years.  She was born with Cerebral palsy 69 years ago and has lived a very simple existence and she was content.  Her life consisted of watching TV from her wheelchair, typing or writing words on paper,  that she found in her TV guides and dictionary.  When she was much younger, she use to enjoy music and collect 45 rpm records, and she had every family members birth date memorized, as well as trivia about them. She loved hamburgers, fries and a soda and would eat them every day if she could have. Her family indulged her somewhat as they made visits with her and brought her favorite snacks such as cookies, chips, and soda fountain soft drinks, she would nurse on all day long.  These simple things made her happy and visits from family were the icing on her cake!
She did as much as she was capable of doing, but probably the greatest gift she offered, was her love of family. Over the years, I have often wondered what her purpose in this life was, being unable to walk, dress herself, prepare her own meals or even do much of anything. What does a daughter of God do, who is as a paralytic,  to "Prepare for eternal designations?" 


Sister Julie B. Beck says,  "The success of families, communities, this Church and the precious plan of salvation is dependent on your faithfulness....(Our Heavenly Father) intended Relief Society to help build His people and prepare them for the blessing of the temple. He established Relief Society to align His daughters with His work and to enlist their help in building His Kingdom and strengthening the homes of Zion."  The V T lesson goes on to say that our Father in Heaven has given us specific work to do to help build His Kingdom. He has blessed us with the spiritual gifts we need to accomplish this specific work.


When I read this quote from sister Beck, it became clear to me exactly what my sister in law's life purpose has been.  Sister Beck's quote mentions the word "faithfulness" and then goes on to mention "strengthening the homes in Zion".  My dear sister in law was faithful in everything that was required of her. She loved and she seemed to be the glue that has kept my husbands family together since the passing of both parents. She strengthened her family by providing opportunities for us to gather. 

Julie was the facilitator for our family gatherings at least twice a year.  Each year for her birthday and for Christmas, her brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews gathered to celebrate with her.  When we gathered, it was like a family reunion that drew use closer as we chatted about the comings and goings of each of our family members since the last time we met. 

Julie faithfully remembered to call on the phone, each and every family member throughout the year, to wish them a Happy Birthday.  She never forgot a birthday up until she became so ill, that she could no longer do so. Julie's purpose was to be the example to all of her family of strength in enduring the hardships of this life.  Julie never complained as was brought out by one family member in a tribute to her.  She had lots to complain about but never complained of pain that she felt in her arthretic joints hands and fingers, and legs or that she couldn't walk.. She simply endured everything without murmuring or complaint. What an amazing example to me of enduring to the end, no matter how difficult her circumstances. 

Julie was a daughter of God who strived to live as His disciple. She helped build God’s kingdom here on earth and was worthy to return to His presence.  Our family was strengthened not only by her life, but through her passing and were gratified to know that the when she was called home, she would walk and run into the loving arms of her parents without crutches.  Julie can now do everything that she could not do on this earth.  Her example of enduring to the end could be her epitaph for this life. 

Julie was faithful in her church attendance, walking to church using crutches to attend all of her meetings.  On days that it was snowy, her father would carry her in his strong arms. When she was older, Julie received her endowments in the Provo, Utah Temple.  She also enjoyed attending the Mt. Timpanogos Temple as well until she was no longer physically able.
 

I believe that the specific work that our Julie was given by the Lord to do in this life was to "build up His Kingdom" in ways that only the Lord knew she could.  Her purpose was to love and strengthen her family, to provide opportunities of service for her family and friends and literally a poster child for enduring to the end.  She showed that you can be happy with simple things. She was faithful and determined to live each day the best that she could do.  Her good life was what brought angels from the other side of the veil to greet her and preparer her for the next life.


What a blessing she has been for our family.  It is my prayer that we would look at ourselves and try to discover our own purposes for this earth life, that we as very imperfect humans, can strive to do the best that we are capable of, and be faithful in our serving the Lord and paraphrasing the scripture, "When ye have done it for one of the least of these, ye have done it unto Me."
Love, Katie G.