Comments on: Mormon Women: At the crossroads of life through visiting teaching

By: mormonwomen

mormonwomen — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:38:06 +0000

Cathy,

That is about the sweetest story I have ever heard. From the mouth of babes….

Thank you so much for sharing that. What a wonderful way to start my day.

~Michelle

By: Mormon Helping Hands: Serving in Our Communities | Mormon Women - About LDS Life and Belief

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:47:26 +0000

[…] the past couple of days, we’ve talked about visiting teaching — a program within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to encourage Latter-day […]

By: Cathy

Cathy — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 12:42:36 +0000

Years ago when my oldest son was 4, we moved to a new ward. We attended church the first week, and the second Sunday my husband had to take our only car to travel to a military assignment. I wasn’t too eager to go to church with two little kids and when I didn’t know anyone. My son kept asking “When are we going to church? How are we getting to church?” and I kept brushing him off. Finally I told him we didn’t have a car so couldn’t get to church. He said, “Well, you have visiting teachers, don’t you? Why don’t you call them?”

A sadder but wiser and humbler young mother didn’t have visiting teachers, but she did have the RS President’s phone number. I called her, and she came to pick us up for church. All because of a little boy’s testimony of the visiting teaching program.

By: Small and Simple Things -- Visiting Teaching Service in Day-to-Day Life | Mormon Women - About LDS Life and Belief

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:31:50 +0000

[…] note: As women have commented on the recent post on visiting teaching, I was reminded of this post from a few months ago, and thought it was worth sharing again. I heard […]

By: mormonwomen

mormonwomen — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:19:36 +0000

Erin, I love your comment and I think you have highlighted something that is an important part of visiting teaching — we have to help our visiting teachers know how to help us. By opening up in this way, you have allowed her to help you and I’m sure it has meant a lot to her. I think most people would want to help us if they knew what we really need. Thank you for sharing this (and I pray that you will be blessed with peace and comfort and insight with your struggles!)

Britt, what a lovely example of how the relationships we build can go “both ways.” This touched my heart.

~Michelle

By: britt

britt — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 10:03:16 +0000

I’ll always remember the christmas eve we had a baby, it wasn;t my visiting teacher..I hadn’ seen one in months. It was the sister I visit taught who cared for my children and brought us a meal. She was my closest friend when I really needed one, In all of my visits I had never expected her to return the favor…but I’m so grateful she did,

By: Erin

Erin — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 07:43:05 +0000

My visiting teacher recently asked me, very pointedly, what she could do to help me in my life. At that point I didn’t want to fake it anymore and told her of a deep struggle I have been dealing with for a few years. Her love and support have meant everything to me! She has brought me inspiration and peace in a time of spiritual turmoil. I am grateful for her example.
I strive to do my visiting teaching every month because I know it is the Savior’s will but now I will do it with more sincerity and prayer because I have been so blessed through her efforts and example.

By: mormonwomen

mormonwomen — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 05:53:44 +0000

Liz, I sometimes struggle with it, too, so that’s part of why reflecting on the blessings has been good for me. I think sometimes in the regularity of it all, we can easily lose sight of the significance that can happen as we build relationships and have a network in place to step in and help when help is needed — and to, we hope, seek to be aware of needs along the way.

By: Liz C

Liz C — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 05:39:59 +0000

I struggle with visiting teaching… both going out, and receiving visits. Still working my way through. I love so many things about it, and really enjoy being one of the “Church Ladies” who do help with those new baby meals, and funeral suppers, and random acts of service that add so much to life. So, it’s a worthwhile struggle… but for some (hermits like me), it really is a struggle.

Good article, good comments above mine!

By: mormonwomen

mormonwomen — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 05:27:10 +0000

Ariane,
Thank you for taking the time to share some of your own experiences. Reading your comment reminds me about life is just hard for a lot of us — how much we need others! Thank you also for your strength and faith, which have been a blessing to me. I am grateful how my circle of friends has expanded through the internet!

Emily, thank you for sharing some of your journey with visiting teaching. I think you have captured how it can be a process. And how we often may not know how the little things, the little efforts, can make a big difference in others’ lives.

I’ve been reflecting on how many friendships were really formed through visiting teaching as well….