A Calling Given to Women

Sisters,
I feel the need to remind you how much the Lord needs us to do our Visiting Teaching. It is not just something he thinks is a good idea for you to do every once in a while.
He needs us to do it consistently.
He needs us to befriend each other and teach each other.

In this month's Ensign There was an article about Visiting Teaching.
Here is the link if you would like to read the whole thing.

Why do we do Visiting Teaching?
We do it to minister.
But how do we minister?
- Pray for your sisters daily
- Seek inspiration to know her
- Visit her regularly to learn how she is doing to comfort and strengthen her
- Stay in frequent contact through visits, phone calls, letters, e-mail, text messages, and simple acts of kindness
- Greet her at church
- Help her when she has an emergency, illness, or other urgent need
- Teach her the gospel from the scriptures and the visiting teaching messages
- Inspire her by setting a good example

"The purpose of ministering is to help others become true followers of Jesus Christ. Ministering to others includes:"
- Remember their names and becoming acquainted with them (Moroni 6:4)
- Loving them without judging them (John 13:34-35)
- Watching over them and strengthening their faith 'one by one,' as the Savior did (3 Nephi 11:15; 17:21)
- Establishing sincere friendship with them and visiting them in their homes and elsewhere( D&C 20:47)

Sisters, it is recommended that we teach in pairs whenever possible. If you have been trying to get a meeting together all month long and have not been able to do so, by all means, Please! Visit your sister how ever you can!
But that should be a last resort.

I need to emphasize that Visiting Teaching is a calling from God. Just because we are not set apart for this calling does not mean it is not important.
I know that Visiting Teaching changes lives. We will create eternal friendships that outlast time when we faithfully love our sisters. It is my hope that we will understand how important Visiting Teaching is.
I know my Savior, Jesus Christ, Loves me, and you, and all of our sisters in our ward. He wants us to all befriend each other, no matter how different we are. He wants us to truly be Sisters in Zion.
I love you, more than you know.
In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Printables!

Here is a bunch of good Visiting Teach Ideas!
A bunch of free printables, and things you can give your sisters to help them remember your number and how much we, and our Savior and Father in Heaven, love them!
Make your own or use these from the site!

REMEMBER!
Do your visiting Teaching!
Love,
Laura

Valentines

Here is a cute idea if you want to give your sister a valentine!


1. Find out what she likes.
2. Get online and find a valentine that matches
3. Print it out and write your name where it says "From:" And hers where it says "To:"
4.  Give and enjoy!

For instance, I have a friend who Loves Spiderman.
so I look up Spiderman Valentines on Google Images.
This is what I get.
Then I choose one I think they will like the most.
Which happens to be this one.
Then I Print it off and write their name on it and mine, and possibly some endeering words from me such as "So glad you are my friend!" "You're the best!" "thanks for letting me be part of your life!" And so forth.
Then I send it to them.
Great plan!

Be sure your sisters know your number and also know that you want them to call you anytime at all if they have a problem!

Good luck!
Get VT!

Love, Laura

Heart and Soul

Guardians of the Hearth is the title of the Visiting Teaching Message in this months Ensign, February 2012.

I know we all have trouble getting out of the house to do our visiting teaching (or VT). We are busy, the sisters we teach are busy, and our companions are busy. so when we try to mesh those busy schedule's together, often there is no time that works for everyone.

But VT is very important!

Sister Bonnie D. Parkin the General Relief Society President told this story:

"One morning only a few weeks ago I received an e-mail from a college friend. She wrote, "Ray died this morning." And then she said, "Visiting teaching works. It really works." She didn't need to say any more. I could picture in my mind her visiting teachers there at her side helping her, giving her encouragement and strength, and most of all, love...Here was my dear friend bearing testimony to me that what we call visiting teaching is really so much more than a visit or a thought. It's how we connect with one another and have someone to rely on, someone to help, someone to turn to when things fall apart, someone who wants us to draw closer to the Lord. Visiting teaching works, and that's my message to you today.

Visiting teaching is the heart and soul of Relief Society. "

Since we want to have every sister in our ward feel wanted and welcome, here are some simple, cheap, and easy ideas of what to do for your sister.

Cut out a heart and buy a small bag of suckers, gum, fruit snacks, or anything sticky.

Just a simple thing to say "Hey, I want to help you."

Be sure to put your number on the back! We want your sisters to be able to get a hold of you!

Make some sugar cookies!

Want to know a secret?

If you want your frosting to be smooth (like in the picture) Pipe a line of frosting around the edge.

(You can use a zip-lock bag and cut a small hole in the corner instead of a piping bag! Much cheaper!)

then put your frosting in the microwave for 10-20 seconds and put it  on your cookie. It will spread to the edges of your cookie and the frosting wall you put around the edge will stop the frosting from going off of the cookie. let it sit for at least an hour(for the best flavor) and viola! you have a smoothly frosted cookie!

Good Luck on your VT this month!

Get it done!

Love, Laura