"TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL"
Voice 1:
"All God's angels come to us disguised." (James Russell Lowell)
Voice 2:
Not all angels have halos and gossamer wings.
Some are dressed in skirts or patched blue jeans.
Not all have names of Gabriel or Moroni;
Some are just Jane, Marilyn or Di.
But all come with messages of hope and of love
Sent by a loving Father from his courts high above!
(Elizabeth Tanner)
Voice 3:
Angels are those sent by God "to deliver his messages; to minister to his children; to teach them the doctrines of salvation; to save them in perilous circumstances..." (Bruce R. McConkie)
Diane:
What makes her do it? I was at home one day, feeling quite ill, when a neighbor, Nancy Tyler, who was ill with cancer, limped down the sidewalk to share a plate of fresh baked cookies and visit with me, brightening my dark day. I hadn't been particularly active in the church myself---she was---but she was my visiting teacher and never failed to come by at least once a month, or call with a pleasant, "Hi, How are you? I was just thinking about you and wondered how you were doing."
Those calls almost never failed to come at a time when I was feeling particularly blue, discouraged or lonely; she never failed to brighten my day in some small way.It was almost like I'd been sent a guardian angel!
Voice 2:
"If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain."
(Emily Dickinson)
Voice 3:
The Lord will send angels to the righteous to bear them up.
Voice 1:
The Lord works through us, his servants. We are the angels. WE are to make the calls and deliver the word.
VOCAL SOLO~ "Where Love Is"
Diane:
I wonder how she did it? I mean, how did she always know when to call and what to say?
Ginnie (& Marilyn) in prayer:
"...and please help us, Heavenly Father, as we make these Visiting Teaching assignments, to be inspired to know which sisters can touch the hearts of those who need thy care. Amen."
Marilyn:
You know, I've been thinking that since Sister Tyler has moved to her daughter's home, that maybe Sally would be a good person to ask to be Diane's Visiting Teacher.
Ginnie:
Well, Sally's not always been excited about having a Visiting Teaching assignment. In fact, I don't think she's done anything in months with the sister she already has assigned. But she and Diane do have a few things in common...
Marilyn:
I just have a good feeling about it. Maybe Sally's ready to take on some new challenges. Let's do it!
Voice 2:
And also, ye yourselves will succor those in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substances to those that standeth in need... (Mosiah 4:16)
Hannah:
Wasn't Stake Conference wonderful? I felt such a strong presence of the Spirit.
Sally:
Yes, but all that talk about Visiting Teaching---and even at Ward Conference that seems to be all the talked about! I always feel so guilty! The months come and go so quickly, and I have so much to do. And then they assign you sisters that you don't even know. Sister Langford just called to ask me to accept another sister to visit---and she's inactive. I always feel strange calling up people like that. I mean, they probably don't want to hear from the church anyway! Why don't they send out the missionaries to these people---or just leave them alone?! Visiting Teaching seems like an outdated program to me---I think they should get rid of it!
Voice 1:
"I am among you as he that serveth," the Lord said. (Luke 22:27) and "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:16-17).
Voice 2:
”And charity suffereth long, and is kind, And envieth not, and is not puffed up, Seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, Thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity, But rejoiceth in the truth, Beareth all things, Hopeth all things, Endureth all things." (Moroni 7:45)
Voice 3:
"For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord,...
Voice 1:
...and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." (Mosiah 3:19)
Sally
(reading the scriptures, puts the down and bows her head)
My dear Father in Heaven.........
--Yes!
Don't interrupt me. I'm praying.
--But you called me.
Called you? I didn't call you. I'm praying.......My Dear Father in Heaven......
--You did it again.
Did what?
--Called me. You said, "My dear Father in Heaven.” Here I am. What do you have on your mind?
But I didn't mean anything by it. I was just saying my prayers for the night. I always say my prayers; it makes me feel good, like getting my duty done.
--All right. go on.
I'm thankful for my many blessings.
--How thankful?
What?
--How thankful are you for your "many blessings"?
I'm...well...I don't know. How should I know? It's just part of the prayer. Everyone always says we should express thanks.
--All right. You're welcome. Go on.
Go on?
--With your prayer.
Let's see...Bless the poor and the sick and the needy and the afflicted...
--Do you really mean that?
Well, sure I mean it.
--What are you doing about it?
Doing? Who me? ...um..nothing I guess. It would be nice if you would control things down here like you do up there and then people wouldn't have to suffer.
--Have I got control of you?
Me? Well, I go to church, I pay my tithing, I live the word of wisdom, I...
--No that's not what I mean. What I asked you is if I have control of you.
What do you mean?
--I can't be on the earth and control all that is happening. But there are special 'angels' like you that if they are in control, they can help with the poor and the sick and the needy.
How can I do all that?
--How are you doing as a visiting teacher?
Oh that... well I..I just don't know about that. I mean..why does it have to be so hard? Don't pick on me. I'm just as good as some of the rest of those I see Sunday at Church.
--But I thought you were praying for me to bless the needy. If that is to happen, I'll have to have help from the ones who are praying for it, like you.
Oh, all right, I guess I do need to have a better attitude, but look, I need to finish up here, this is taking a lot longer than usual.....Bless the missionaries to be led to the doors of the honest in heart.
--Do you mean people like Diane?
Diane?
--The new sister they asked you to visit.
But I don't know her, and she NEVER goes to church.
--Have you had a look at her heart lately?
Of course not, how can...
--I've looked, and hers is one of those honest hearts that you were just praying about.
Well then get the missionaries over there. Do you think I can do anything?
--You're supposed to be a missionary, everyone is a missionary.
Why are you asking me to do this? I'm not sure if I can. I was just minding my own business, and all of the sudden you break in and start reminding me of all my problems.
--You called me. And here I am. Keep on praying, I'm interested, go on.
I don't want to.
--Why not?
I know what you'll say.
--Go ahead.
Okay. Um...please help me to forgive others, and to help my fellow man.
--What about visiting teaching?
See! I knew it! How can visiting teaching help me forgive others? I feel so inadequate, and how to have a less active sister...what will we talk about? How can I reach her?
--Think about your prayers. What are you asking for? If you can forgive the weakness in others, you will also be forgiven.
Wow, that sounds wonderful! Maybe I can do it.
--Do you want to know something? You will feel better. Just keep listening to me, and remember I need you to be Diane's angel here on earth. Now, you're not through with your prayer yet, go on.
Wait a minute, I want to ask you a question; Do you always listen to my prayers?
--Every word, every time.
Then how come you never talked to me before?
--How many chances have you given me? There's not enough time between your 'amen' and your head hitting the pillow for me to draw a breath, How am I supposed to give an answer?
Father, I'm sorry, will you forgive me?
--I already have. And thank you for letting me interrupt. I get lonely to talk to you sometimes..
I think I'll give Sister Langford a call in the morning to discuss that visiting teaching assignment. Good night, I love you.
--That's my girl. Good night, I love you too.
Voice 2:
"The eyes of my understanding were opened, and the spirit of the Lord rested upon me... (D&C 138:11)
Voice 1:
Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day"
Voice 3:
"Wherefore, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing for charity never faileth...; but charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with (her)." (Moroni 7:47)
Voice 2:
“Not all angels have halos and gossamer wings,
Some are dressed in skirts or patched blue jeans...
But all come with messages of hope and of love,
Sent by a loving Father from his courts high above."
VOCAL TRIO~ The Visiting Teacher's Prayer
Notes:
Used at Brigham Young University Education Week, August 986. A similar presentation was used in sacrament meeting in Bountiful, Utah, in July 1986. The author was unknown and I have since modified the script.
Invitation:
Small invitations on brown paper shows two moppet-type angels in lower right corner, with patches on dresses and wings, patches as border.
Visiting Teachers are Angels Among Us.
Please join us for Brunch as we show our appreciation to you for your work as a Visiting Teacher.
Time and date.
Brunch will be served at 10 followed by a short program.
at the bottom in small letters: "Thank heaven for angels like you!"
Color some of the patches and the cheeks of the moppets with red colored pencil and glue-gun a small white satin ribbon in the upper left corner.
Publicity:
Large poster to go on easel outside of RS Room, same as invitation, but with real fabric patches, buttons, etc.
Small posters for YW Room and Primary Room.
Decoration Theme:
Patches and halos on tables. Brown craft paper, some bits of fiberfill, random halos from twisted paper
Brunch Menu:
Sausage, cheese and egg casserole in 9 x 13 pans, (cut in squares to serve) muffin, fruit cup, and ice water.
Program:
"Touched By an Angel" skit.
last song, Alabama's "Angel's Among Us," duet by a male and female
Short remarks by bishop
Hand out the favors:
white handkerchiefs tied with little white satin ribbon to look like angels with quote on little tag, "Thank Heaven for Angels Like You." And the following verse:
This handkerchief we give to you,
To thank you for the things you do,
In countless ways you often share,
another's burden you often bear,
Not all angels have halos and gossamer wings,
It may just be you, in a skirt or blue jeans.
Music:
The special musical number at the end was "ANgels Among Us". If you're not familiar with the song, it's an Alabama (country music group) hit. The sheet music is available at music stores. It starts out with the soloist speaking about walking home from school and the weather got bad and how someone takes her hand and helps her home. Then she sings about how she knows he was an angel because her mother couldn't see him.