Visiting Teaching

I received an email from my visiting teaching supervisor and was really touched by what she said, it was a good reminder to be of how I should be approaching ministering to the sister I have been assigned:

"Sisters, this month I want to encourage you to get your visiting teaching done early. Something that I really love is the "5-10-15-20" challenge for visiting teaching. The "5-10-15-20" challenge goes like this:

1. Contact by the 5th (check in, say HI, etc)
2. Schedule appointment by the 10th
3. Visit by the 15th
4. Report by the 20th

I know I always feel more loved and feel like my visiting teachers care a little more if they come earlier in the month instead of just trying to squeeze in a last minute visit at the end of the month. But, if the end of the month is all you can do, of course that is better than not visiting at all. We just want to make sure we let the sisters know we love and care about them.

Visiting teaching is a great blessing given to us to allow us to watch over our fellow sisters. President Kimball said, in an address given to visiting teachers, "Whenever I think of visiting teachers, I think your duties in many ways must be like those of the home teachers, which briefly are “to watch over the church always”—not twenty minutes a month but always—“and be with and strengthen them”—not a knock at the door, but to be with them, and lift them and strengthen them, and empower them, and fortify them—“and see that there is no iniquity … neither hardness … backbiting, nor evil speaking.” (D&C 20:53–54.)

I challenge you to not just visit your sisters, but to be their friends, and to pray for them. Also, if you have time, the article referenced above has some great thoughts and I would encourage everyone to read it. It's by Pres. Spencer W. Kimball and titled 'A Vision of Visiting Teaching'."