July 2012 Visiting Teaching message

You can find the July Visiting teaching message on LDS.org at this direct link.  http://www.lds.org/liahona/2012/07/demonstrating-our-discipleship-through-love-and-service?lang=eng  Demonstrating Our Discipleship through Love and Service is the topic.

This is another of the good "Teaching" lessons that we have been getting as messages for Visiting teaching this year.  I have always loved the scripture found in this lesson, John 13:35.."By this shall men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another".  I use to play the violin with my mother and sisters and probably one of the most played songs for Church special musical numbers, firesides, funerals, etc. was one that was based on this scripture. Just reading this scripture, puts music in my mind as I read the words ..."As I have loved you, love one another.. This new commandment, love one another".... then the last part is the scripture that I just quoted above..."'By this shall men know, that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another!!  What a beautiful message and so true.  We show our discipleship by our actions and hopefully those actions will be loving and good.

This lesson talks about some things that we as Visiting Teachers or disciples of Christ, should do and they are:

• 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.
• Establish sincere friendships with them and visit them in their homes and elsewhere.
• Care about each sister.  Remember birthdays, graduations wedding,s 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.

As I went over each of these 7 items listed, I could picture the image of a woman who I know, who is the example of each.  Many of these women have several of these mantles on her, and we should try to emulate their examples, and do our best to be all 7.

This message is as much for the Visiting Teachers training, as well as for those we teach because in general,  you will be teaching others who Visit teach as well.  These lessons this year have been training Visiting Teachers, and women to be the type of women (nurturers, watch care providers, friends, neighbors, etc.) that women should strive to become.  By "loving one another" we become happy!  Now how nice is that... you know to just love others and thereby provide them warmth and happiness, the outcome is that it makes you happy too.  Visiting teaching is a two way street, with blessings that come to each. 

I am a strong advocate of Visiting Teaching as you well know, or I wouldn't have spent so many years posting and creating this blog.  I know the power of a devoted disciple of Christ who does her Visiting teaching.  I know of the blessing that comes into the lives of those who do it, as well as the blessing to the lives of those they teach. 

This summer is always the most challenging time to do Visiting Teaching. People are gone all throughout the summer on vacations with their families, and it isn't always the easiest to find mutually agreeable times to Visit teach.  Do your best, and if you find that a time or two you cannot get together, then think of another way that you can serve them.  Last month, my daughter had her baby C-Section and the date was moved up because of complications in her pregnancy.  As a mother, I had set aside that week to help her, and I planned to do my visiting teaching the week prior.  When the C section date was moved up, i could no longer go Visiting teaching, so I thought of other simple things that I could do to communicate, and serve my sisters.  Here are some of the ways that I have served my sister in the past, when I have not been able to get an in-home visit.  By the way, most of these are "Simple things" that really don't require much effort but a little time, and love.

• I have offered my services to water plants, collect mail, take in and out garbage canisters on garbage day, feed and care for their animals.
• I have taken over little remembrances, with a personalized note attached, to let them know that I was thinking of them.
• Phone call.  Sometimes when it was impossible for an in home visit, I have called my sister on the phone, and had a great visit that way.
• Understanding that when my sister's husband was suffering serious illness, and infirmities, that my sister suffers as well. I offer my services for cleaning help and yes, I do windows, running errands, and whatever she needs to support her.  Many times, all she needed was a listening ear, which I gave.  Other times, I took in a meals, to give her some rest from cooking so she could focus her efforts on taking care of her husband.
• Holidays are fun times to do a little something special, so taking over a fun home made treat, or craft decoration, or whatever has been appreciated. 
• Sisters lunch.  Sometimes I invite my sisters for lunch so we can all enjoy each others company.  I give the lesson as well and we each benefit from the incite of being together.
• Take my sister(s) to R.S. meetings, neighborhood luncheons, or I create one for fun and invite my sisters to join me in a "Lets have fun day."

I can't think of all the things that I have done over the years, but the key is to just do your best, and try.

Friendshipping is the number one way to turning the heart of a nonmember, or inactive sister.  Even if that person never joins the church or become active, you both will still benefit from the friendship that was created in the process and getting back to the original scripture of this months lesson..."Love one another" and by doing these types of simple things, you become His disciples"... this is what Visiting Teaching is all about.  Enjoy!  Katie G