How Often Do You Attend the Temple?

The visiting teaching message this month is about how we can be blessed through attending the temple. I have to say that I am not as good at attending the temple regularly as I should be. With little children at home, it is difficult to find the time, and to get a babysitter. However, that is no excuse for no temple attendance. I am just as responsible as the next member of the church for regular temple attendance. And, I live in Salt Lake City. I am in the Salt Lake Temple district. Not many people worldwide get to visit … Continue reading →

Self-Reliance

I have to admit, when I think of the words, self-reliance, in conjunction with the church, I actually think of things like food storage, and I feel immediately guilty, and bored. I hate to say that, but it is one of those commandments that I have a hard time living right now. I know that it is important, but I don’t necessarily have a passion for it. The June visiting teaching message was titled, “Strengthening Families Through Temporal Self-Reliance“. When I was ready to go out visiting teaching, I glanced at the title, and thought….boooring. But, as I read through … Continue reading →

Thankful for Relief Society

I love Relief Society. I always have really. It was not a difficult transition for me to make from Young Women many years ago. Sometimes, however, we forget the purpose of Relief Society. Visiting Teaching can help remind us of that. This past week, I got to go visiting teaching. I was telling a good friend who is not LDS about Visiting Teaching. I explained that we visit other women in the ward and share a message with them. She was surprised to find out that I had yet another responsibility like that in the church. Being a Mom of … Continue reading →

Doing More than the Minimum

While I enjoy reading the monthly “Visiting Teaching” message, I especially appreciated Sister Beck’s anecdotes in this month’s message. She shares a story about attending a luncheon for Relief Society after completing one of the two assigned readings—either the Book of Mormon or a short history of the church. She had chosen to read the short history to qualify, but as she sat there, she felt that she should have completed the other reading—the scriptures. As LDS women (and men), we often do our best, and that’s absolutely good enough. We’re often hardest on ourselves. But there are times when … Continue reading →

Things I Love About Visiting Teaching

Visiting teaching is such a blessing in so many different ways. Although it can be difficult to set up the appointments or to schedule a time to receive your visits, there are so many benefits when you do make the time. Here are my five favorite aspects of visiting teaching. First I love the friendships that happen as a result of visiting teaching. I have made friends with those who visit me, and the sisters that I visit. The great thing about this is that often I would not reach out to these sisters on my own, because they are … Continue reading →

Visiting Teaching Message: The Eternal Potential of the Children of God

I greatly appreciated the visiting teaching message given to us for this month of September. It seems that the world would tell us that life is fleeting and that we are of no consequence on a larger scale. Through the gospel of Jesus Christ, we know differently. Elder Russell M. Nelson shares his testimony that as women, we will receive our richest rewards as we strive to become devoted daughters of God. We will attain thrones, kingdoms, principalities, glory, immortality and eternal lives as we live up to the standards we have been given. We have this potential as righteous … Continue reading →

Visiting Teaching Message August 2008

We’ve had a common theme running through our visiting teaching messages this year, a theme of our divine worth, not only as families but our individual importance. This month is no different—our message is entitled “Each Sister is a Beloved Daughter of Heavenly Parents and Has a Divine Destiny.” We begin with a quote from Sister Julie B. Beck of the Relief Society. She reminds us that when we say we are daughters of Heavenly Father, that is a literal fact. He is the Father of our spirits. We received our very first lessons at the knees of our Heavenly … Continue reading →

Visiting Teaching Message: “All Human Beings Are Created in the Image of God”

Our Visiting Teaching Message for the month of July is entitled, “All Human Beings Are Created in the Image of God.” We are reminded that in the Book of Moses, we were taught that God created all men in His image, and that He created them to be male and female. President Gordon B. Hinckley taught that our bodies are sacred, and they are wonderful creations, God’s masterpiece. No camera can compete with the eye, and no pump has ever been designed that could replace a heart. Every part of our body is a testament to God’s genius. From President … Continue reading →

Visiting Teaching Message – The Gospel of Jesus Christ Teaches the Reality of Our Premortal Existenc

Our visiting teaching message for the month of June is entitled, “The Gospel of Jesus Christ Teaches the Reality of Our Premortal Existence.” As always, we are asked to read the message with our assigned sisters and share our thoughts and feelings on the principles we have taught, bearing testimony. Elder Richard G. Scott tells us that we were in Heaven before we came to earth, in the presence of our Father. We were taught and prepared for the things we would encounter in this life, but we are not allowed to remember our lives before, to ensure that we … Continue reading →

Relief Society: Visiting Teaching Less Active Sisters

Visiting teaching is one of the most important functions of Relief Society. It allows friendships to be built, but it is also a system for the president to be sure that individual needs are being met. It fosters close ties and makes it easy for people to reach out and offer service to those around them. If you are visiting teaching a less active member you may need to treat the visits differently. First it is important to follow the sister’s lead. She may not be comfortable with a gospel message, but be open to visits on a regular basis. … Continue reading →