VISITING TEACHING CONVENTION

Sisters, there is one thing in life that we all have the

same amount of, whether we are rich or poor, young or old,
good or bad. We all have 24 hours in a day and no one, not
even those who seem to get more done in a day than you
and I, have an hour or a minute more.
Time is a thought-provoking subject: how we choose to
use our time is crucial to our very salvation. Sister Darla
Isackson talks about time. “In the scriptures time is referred
to in many ways: in the Lord’s due time, in the fullness of
time, signs of the times, times and seasons. The D&C
refers to God’s time, angel’s time, prophets’ time and
man’s time reckoned according to the planet on which they
reside. We are told that after Satan is bound, time is no
longer, that there shall be time no more. Neal Maxwell
said, “Time isn’t your natural dimension. We are not at
home in time; we belong to eternity. We have to function
in time, but in those moments when life presses in upon
you, remember you are struck out of eternity. William
Bradford tells us, “We give our lives to that which we give
out time. We need to unclutter our lives; so that we are not
so busy doing terrestrial things that you do not have time to
do those things which are celestial.
The Savior said, “Come follow me.” (Certainly not,
“Hurry and follow me!” Goethe’s saying, “Things which
matter most must never be left at the mercy of things which
matter least.” Wayne Brickey suggests, “Only eternity is a
long time. All other periods are mere moments among the
eons.” Sisters, let’s take those mere moments and
shepherd the sisters in our ward.
 Let’s talk about the basics of visiting teaching. Things
that will help us be good shepherds to our flocks. You all
have been given your list of sisters, your companion’s
name, and your supervisor’s name. Now we can get
started!

1. Make a plan
You and your companion need to make a plan. It is
best to try and visit before the 20th of the month.
When we wait until the last few days, we feel hurried
and rushed and sometimes we are not able to make
any contact with our sisters. (Show calendar with the
days mixed up) (Show paper about Zion’s Service)
Some sisters in our ward have a set day to go, the first
Thursday or 2nd Tuesday. Decide if one of you will
call the sisters and set the appointments and the other
one will give the message. Maybe you want to call
the sisters and give the message on the even months
of the year and your companion on the odd. It is
usually best to call ahead and make an appointment
with your sisters, but there are situations when a drop
by with a treat or a hand out works best, especially
when you aren’t able to get in when you make
appointments.

2. Flexibility
Remember that there will be times when you are not
able to visit each sister. Telephone calls and/or letters
or notes can substitute. Just remember that when we
are not physically in the home it is hard to determine
that sisters needs. There are sisters here in our ward
 that have thought of imaginative ways to visit teach.
Some have invited all their sisters to their home for a
visit, some invited all their sisters to a stake Relief
Society function, some take their sisters out one at a
time for ice cream or a treat. Some visit the sister at
her place of business when they can’t reach her at
home. Please let your supervisor know if you have
phoned or taken a message to your ladies. We are
able to put a phone or letter contact in the computer.
There are times when it is hard to take your children
with you, but you are not able to find anyone to watch
them. Consider trading with another sister in the
ward, you watch my children while I visit teach and
I’ll watch your children when you go. Tell about the
sister with the orange tree, the potato chip lady and
the lady with the little dog.

3. Presenting the Message

The Relief Society General Presidency has asked that
we present the message found each month in the
Ensign. Listening to the spirit is essential on how and
whom you should present the message. There are
several non-threatening ways to present a spiritual
message. You could leave your sister a part of the
message or a scripture on a note card; you could in
your visit mention a part of the message. Having
prayer with your partner before your visits will help
you have the spirit with you.

4. Remember Special Occasions

 Go the extra mile and remember the sisters’ birthdays
Christmas, holidays and other special occasions in her
life. Become her friend.

5. Understand your calling is from the Lord

In D&C 20:51 it states: “And visit the house of each
member (sister) exhorting them to pray vocally and in
secret and attend to all family duties. In 1 Peter 5:2-4
we learn: “Feed the flock of God which is among
you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint,
but willingly……And when the chief Shepherd shall
appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth
not away.”
I want to share a story from the church news by
Claude Hansen: “I was given a new partner for
home teaching and a new set of 5 families. We
were advised that one family was a part-member
family and the husband would not allow us in the
house if he answered the door. His wife would
come out on the porch and we would give her the
lessons and check on the family welfare. If it
rained, we brought an umbrella. If it was windy
or cold, we dressed accordingly. Then one evening
the husband showed up at the door and said: “I
want to talk to you two guys. I want to know why
you show up here once a month. Can’t you tell
you are not wanted? Tell me, why do you keep
coming to my home like this?” I said, “Well, it is
Church policy to teach each family in the Church
once a month. And I am more afraid of the Lord
than I am of you, so we will be back next month.”
And we turned and left. With fear and trepidation
in our hearts, we knocked on the door the next
month and the husband met us and invited us in.
What a surprise! We sat in the front room for
some small talk. Then he said, We are having our
two children baptized on Saturday and we are
inviting you to the baptism.” This home teacher
knew his calling was from the Lord.
Story of lady that visit taught by boat!
Again in the Church News” “Would home and
visiting teaching take on a higher priority of we could
measure the blessing it is in our lives and the lives of
those we visit? You are the first link in the chain that
keeps members in contact with their priesthood
leaders. You teachers are usually the first individuals
outside family members called in times of emergency.
President Hinckley says in this article: “Our people
need help. They have so many problems, social
problems, domestic problems, marital problems, so
much of it. We need to help. We need to get home
and visiting teachers out more among them, to
strengthen them, to listen to them, to lift them and
encourage them and help them with their complicated
lives.” The article goes on to say, “The true measure
of home teaching and visiting teaching may lie in
actually helping to frustrate the seeds of apostasy. By
providing positive role models and enthusiasm for
gospel living, you can inspire others to “stay the
course.” Elder Burton Howard said, “Promises are
not pretty words – promises have eternal
consequences. The church does have many needs,
 and one of them is for more people who will just do
what they have agreed to do, people who will
consistently do their job, for as long as it takes, and
who will not stop until they have finished.” President
Ezra Taft Benson said, “Remember, both quality and
quantity visiting teaching are essential. You should
have quality visits, but you should also make contact
with each of your families each month. As shepherds
to all of your families, both active and less active, you
should not be content with only reaching the ninety
and nine. Your goal should be 100 percent every
month. From President Faust, “The most effective
work of the world is done by ordinary people who put
forth extraordinary effort.”

6. Return and Report

Vaughn J. Featherstone teaches, “When performance
is measured, performance grows.” We are a church
that teaches Responsibility brings Accountability.
When your visiting teaching is complete, please call
your supervisor (I am very bad at that). Supervisors,
please stand up. These good sisters are a big help to
the Relief Society and myself and we so much
appreciate their efforts. Sister Patsy Wallace works
so hard to get the report from the supervisors and then
call and give me the report. Her help is priceless. It
is important to return and report any information that
you feel Sister Longmore or the Bishop would need to
know. You are their hands and eyes. You are their
link to your assigned families.
 In Luke 15:4-6 The parable of the lost sheep – read
it- If this was written for the third ward it would have
to say, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if
he lose 53 of them, doth not leave the 40 and 7 and go
after that which is lost , until he find them.”
The sheep in this parable was not lost through
willful disobedience or careless neglect; it simply
strayed away in search of greener pastures and soon
was lost. Some of our sisters have wandered away
from the fold in perfectly legitimate ways. They
maybe were seeking success in business, or their
professions, or other worldly things, and before long
they become disinterested in Church and finally
become disconnected from the fold. They become
blind to what constitutes true success. We could help
them and be their good shepherd. We might not even
bring them back, but we can let them know they are
loved and cared about.
Sisters, I feel that visiting teaching is like the
principle of tithing. How many here have a testimony
of tithing? Bishop Monik made a statement that rang
true to me. He said he no longer had a testimony of
tithing, he had a sure knowledge. He had begun with
faith and that faith led him to pay tithing and over the
years he has seen the blessings and now has a sure
knowledge. I also have that sure knowledge of
tithing. I have a sure knowledge of visiting teaching.
I had to begin with just faith that it was something I
should do. I had, had good examples in my home and
knew it was an important calling. I had wonderful
companions and visited all kinds of sisters, some
active, some inactive but grew to love all of them. I
gained a testimony of what a wonderful program
visiting teaching is. I now have a sure knowledge of
visiting teaching. Each of you sisters must gain that
testimony of visiting teaching on your own. Just like
the ten virgins, I cannot put my oil in your lamps, you
have to add a drop at a time, by going and doing your
visiting teaching. Soon you will begin to fill your
lamps, until they are full and you will not only have a
testimony, but a sure knowledge of visiting teaching.
Thomas Carlyle reminds us, “Conviction is worthless
till is converts itself into conduct.”
I have asked four sisters who I know have a
testimony of visiting teaching to share their
testimonies with you. Sister Henderson has been a
visiting teacher for many, many years. Carol Kidd is
a convert to the church and she will share her
testimony of visiting teaching. Marjorie Lusk has
been a member all her life, but was inactive for a time
and has a testimony to share about visiting teaching.
Chris Gutke has been a visiting teacher for only a
couple of years, but has a testimony to share.
After these sisters’ testimonies, we will be privileged
to hear from Bishop Martin.