This info came off the Relief_Society-L@yahoogroups.com from Colleen.
Thanks Colleen!!
She wrote:
Here is just the text portion of a booklet I did about visiting teaching a couple of years ago.
None of it is original–feel free to post it. I would love it if I thought my meager contribution helped someone to gain a better understanding of V.T.
Colleen in Utah
I have put all of the info that Colleen, gave me that you see listed below here in a booklet, plus I added a couple thoughts,
The booklet was done in landscape format, You might want to use card stock for the cover, and two regular white pages on the inside. (copies were double-sided) Each category of information in the text you already read was set up vertically on a half-sheet of paper–then the booklet was folded in half and stapled. The booklet was read like a book.
REMEMBER: When you print out you need to print the cover out, Page 1, then page two and turn that sheet over and print the next page, then page four and turn it over and print page 5. Since it is double sided. Notice I put page numbers on the bottom!
I also made one that I have added to this folder! Enjoy
[ddownload id=”12108″]
Most text from the booklet
Because She Is My Sister
Because she is my sister
I will learn to really care
And act with true compassion
For it is a privilege rare–
To extend my help and sympathy,
Share her load and dry her tears
And make her life more meaningful
By allaying many doubts and fears.
Because she is my sister
I will pray for special tools
That are not made in factories
And do not come from worldly schools.
I*ll use my talents in her behalf,
My strength I*ll add to hers
To make our testimonies grow
As the gospel light within us stirs.
She*s always been my sister,
Even prior to mortal birth;
We just had different parents
For our sojourn here on earth.
I am my sister*s keeper–
Have always been since time began.
And I pray our association
Will continue in the eternal plan.
–anonymous
Visiting Teaching Matters
“Obedience is the price,
Faith is the power,
Love is the motive,
The Spirit is the key,
And Christ is the reason.”
*There are many sisters who are living in rags–spiritual rags. They are
entitled to gorgeous robes, spiritual robes, as in the parable. It is
your privilege . . . to go into homes and exchange robes for rags.*
–Pres. Spencer W. Kimball
Selected Quotes to Inspire the Visiting Teacher
Love one another, as I have loved you. John 15:12
“It is natural for females to have feelings of charity and benevolence.
You are now placed in a situation in which you can act according to
those sympathies which God has placed in your bosoms.”
“The Lord does notice us and he watches over us. But it is usually
through another person that he meets our needs.”
–President Spencer W. Kimball
“This great circle of sisters will be protection for each of you and
your families.” –Elder Boyd K. Packer
“We must cherish one another, watch over one another, comfort
one another.” –Lucy Mack Smith
” We have some of our own who cry out in pain and suffering
and loneliness and fear. Ours is a great and solemn duty to reach out
and help them, to lift them, and feed them.”
–President Gordon B. Hinckley
” . . . There were no pavements in those days, and we would
have to push the baby buggy through the mud. We would often
lose our rubbers and really had a hard time to cross the streets.
In the summer it was hot and dusty, but hot or cold, dust or mud, and no
matter how busy we were, we always planned to do our teaching on time,
and the Lord blessed us in our work.”
–A devout sister recalls her struggles in the early years of her 48
years of visiting teaching.
“You never can measure the hearts you’ll be reaching
Through prayerful, sincerely done visiting teaching”
“The errand of Angels is given to women; And this is a gift that, as
sisters, we claim: To do what-so-ever is gentle and human, To cheer and
to bless in humanity*s name.” Hymn, *As Sisters In Zion*
Strong Women
A strong woman works out every day to keep her body in shape –
but a woman of strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape.
A strong woman isn’t afraid of anything –
but a woman of strength shows courage in the midst of her fear.
A strong woman won’t let anyone get the best of her –
but a woman of strength gives the best of her to everyone.
A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future –
but a woman of strength realizes life’s mistakes
can also be God’s blessings and capitalizes on them.
A strong woman walks sure-footedly –
but a woman of strength knows God will catch her when she falls.
A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face –
but a woman of strength wears grace.
A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey –
but a woman of strength has faith that it is in in the journey that she will become strong.
An Angel by your Side ( in Spanish UN ANGEL A TU LADO)
May you always have an angel by your side
Someone there to catch you if you fall
Encouraging your dreams
Inspiring your happiness
Holding your hand and helping you through it all
In all of our days, our lives are always changing
Tears come along as well as smiles
Along the roads you travel,
May the miles be a thousand times more lovely than lonely
Someone wonderful to love and a dear
Friend in whom you can confide
May you have rainbows after every storm
May you have hopes to keep you safe and warm
And may you always have an angel by your side.
–Emilia Larson
The Visits
1. Visits are best made as early in the month as possible.
2. The completion date for visiting teaching is the last day of the month.
3. Visits should be prearranged by appointment when possible.
4. Visiting teaching is to be done at a time that best suits a sister*s
needs. However, sisters should be alert to personal dangers and use
wisdom in choice of time & location to meet.
5. Visits may be brief except where there is a special need.
6. Ideally, sisters should be visited in their homes.
7. A meaningful visit is one in which the teachers and the sisters
visited have an opportunity for a private conversation and where the
visited sister can feel the love and concern that her visiting teachers
have for her.
Other Contacts
Telephone calls, written notes or handouts, and expressions of concern
such as food, flowers, or other thoughtful reminders are an important
indication of personal concern.
Visiting Teacher Responsibilities
1. Prepare for each visit by studying the message and adapting it to each individual sister.
2. Pray with companion before visits.
3. Make regular monthly visits and other contacts as needed, to each sister in assigned route–conveying messages as directed by the Relief Society president. A thoughtful note or phone visit may be made instead of a personal visit if absolutely necessary.
4. Encourage sisters to attend weekly Relief Society meetings.
5. Develop helpful, friendly, trusting relationships with sisters. Any personal matters learned by the visiting teachers should be kept confidential.
6. Avoid criticism or judging, or gossip about other church members.
7. Report to the Relief Society president immediately any matter of urgent need.
8. Render emergency compassionate service when needed at the time of a visit. They should also promptly report both the service and the need to the R.S. president.
9. Report monthly visits to district supervisor by the first day of the month.
10. Report changes in district since last visit–for example, members who have moved away.
11. Meet with a member of the R.S. presidency at least once a year for a personal interview.
12. Attend the baptism of a convert sister when assigned as her visiting teachers.
13. Fellowship less active and newly baptized sisters.
Positive Thoughts for Being a Successful Visiting Teacher
* I will realize that my calling is from the Lord.
* I am really committed to the visiting teaching program.
* I pray and fast for the sisters I visit.
* I read the scriptures daily.
* I make sure my children are taken care of or if the sister has expressed her desire that I bring my children when necessary, I provide things to keep them busy while I visit.
* I would never be ashamed for the Savior to see how I look when I visit teach.
* I listen to each sister I visit
*I will bear my testimony to the sisters I visit
* I will evaluate myself each month and will strive to correct my weaknesses.
* I will realize this is an opportunity for me to grow and sacrifice, and I will welcome the challenge.
* I will encourage and uplift each sister while I am there.
* I will develop a warm and friendly relationship with each sister I visit so she will know that through me help is available.
VT Supervisors
Names, email addresses, phone numbers of all the supervisors
R.S. Presidency:
Here I listed the names, email addresses, phone numbers, and addresses of our R.S. presidency
1. To exercise watchful care over Latter-day Saint sisters; and to offer encouragement, help, and comfort to them as they handle their individual challenges & trials.
2. To observe instances of need or illness and report these confidentially to the ward Relief Society President.
3. To establish such warm, friendly relationships with the sisters that they will, in time of need, turn instinctively to the visiting teachers, knowing that through them help is available.
4. Extend greetings and authorized messages from the Relief Society presidency to the sisters.
5. Assist the Relief Society presidency in the fellowshipping and missionary programs of the Church.
6. Encourage and uplift all sisters, many of whom will be reached in no other way. Help sisters increase in faith, hope, and testimony through personal example and the visiting teaching messages.
No calling in Relief Society requires greater tact, better judgment, keener insight, more prayerful preparation, deeper sincerity of purpose, or a warmer heart than that of a visiting teacher. The duties associated with this calling help to emphasize its importance.