Visiting Teaching

Sisters,

Since this month is November, the Visiting Teaching message is taken from one of the General Conference talks. It is purely up to you as you ponder the sisters you teach as to which thought they need to hear. With that being said, there are still many resources on the net that offer printables to coordinate with some of the conference talks. I've gathered a fair number here to help you out.

1) Spiritually speaking has a host (as in TWENTY THREE!) of printables coordinating with the talks. You can click HERE to go to their site and download the one you want:

2) From Inkablinka, there is a printable to go with Pres. Uchtdorf's talk "Of Regrets and Resolutions." You can click HERE to go to their site:

3) From My Happy Tribe, there are three different handouts, you can find them HERE. They coordinate with
* Protect the Children by Elder Dallin H. Oaks
*The Lord Has Not Forgotten You by Sister Linda S. Reeves
and
*Trial of Your Faith by Elder Neil L. Andersen

4) From Pink Polka Dot Creations, there is a handout and a book mark coordinating with Sis. Linda Burton's talk. You can click HERE to go there:

and last but not least ...

5) From the blog "Visiting Teaching Ideas" (a blog from Down Under - and no I didn't see a single Kangaroo on one of the printables) there are 12 (TWELVE!) handouts coordinating with talks. You can click HERE to see what she has.


So, my sweet sisters ... that will hopefully give you a starting point. There are definitely more handouts out there, but I at least wanted to give you a head start in the event that your life is busy and you need to find something now.

____________________________________________

Okay ... now on to the lecture chastisement encouragement ... yes, that's it ... encouragement! As many of you know from our Visiting Teaching conference, our Visiting Teaching numbers were slowly declining over the months, which felt truly disheartening. Well, this last month, they went up. We're pleased, but know we still have progress to make. At the same time, we as a Presidency feel very strongly that more sisters are being seen than are being reported.

And, unfortunately, if you do not report ... then they were not seen! And, when I say report, I mean in a timely manner. You cannot report a month after you've visited, although it's nice to know someone was seen, and have it count. We have to know within the first 2 weeks of the new month, or it never happened.

I realize that many of your companionships have changed, and you may not realize who you should be reporting to. The slip of paper that you were given by Kay Carrier has the name of your supervisor on it. If you have lost your slip of paper, then, by all means, feel free to contact either Kay Carrier or Donna Keusch, and they will be happy to tell you who you need to report to. It truly is that easy.

So, I would "encourage" you to make a goal as a companionship ... besides the duties of who will be calling and making appointments, and who will be giving the lesson, why don't you add, who will report [call/email/find on Sunday] to your supervisor. I truly believe we will have higher numbers. And, while we are not wanting Visiting Teaching to be just about numbers ... we have been asked to live the higher law and to count with caring. Well, sisters ... if there is a need, but you haven't reported it, then it's truly difficult for your sisters to feel cared for. That is why it is so important that you report.

We truly want to know how your sisters are doing. That's the point of reporting. It isn't just to feel good about the numbers, although there is nothing wrong with feeling proud of our accomplishments. But, we truly want to be able to care for our Sisters and let them know that they are loved in a timely fashion.

Okay ... I'll get off my soapbox high horse, um podium and end with our sincere thanks for all you do ... all the quiet acts of service that we don't know about, and the quiet acts of service that we do know about. We love you, and we love that you love your fellow sisters!

Have a great November sisters and have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

The Notre Dame Relief Society Presidency