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Should visiting teachers pray in the home of the sister they visit?
Visiting teaching companions minister to the sisters they visit. They should seek to know
how the Lord would have them care for their assigned sister. Visiting teachers teach the
gospel, they bear their testimony, and they may pray in the home of the sisters they visit
as guided by the Spirit (see Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2: Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders [1998], 203, 309).
- Should visiting teachers always share a message with the sister they are
assigned to visit?
Monthly visiting teaching messages are published in the Ensign and the Liahona. These are to be used as a guide when visiting teaching. Visiting
teachers prayerfully seek to know how to best adapt the message to the needs of the
sisters they visit (see Church Handbook of Instructions Book 2, 203).
- Should visiting teachers be called and set apart by a member of the
bishopric?
Visiting teachers are not called, sustained, or set apart. The Relief Society president
assigns sisters to be visiting teachers. She counsels with her counselors and keeps the
bishop informed of the happenings with visiting teaching (see Church Handbook of
Instructions, Book 2, 202).
- At times it is difficult to visit a sister in her own home. What can visiting
teachers do when faced with this situation?
Ideally each sister is promised a monthly contact in her home by her visiting teachers. At
times this may not be possible. Visiting teachers should make every effort to meet the
ideal. Flexibility in location may allow a visit with the sister at the Church building or
another convenient location (see Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, 202).
- What is the purpose of visiting teaching?
Visiting teachers build caring relationships with the sisters they visit. They offer
support, give comfort, and extend friendship. Both the giver and the receiver are blessed.
Their care and concern strengthens sisters in their Church activity (see Church
Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, 202).
- Should all sisters be visiting teachers?
Serving as visiting teachers can be a blessing to all Relief Society sisters. The Relief
Society president counsels with her presidency and prayerfully considers sisters to assign
as visiting teachers. She is wise to involve young single adult sisters in these
assignments. Flexibility allows for even homebound elderly sisters to be visiting
teachers (see Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, 203, 206). They will come
to know they “are called to represent the Savior” (Henry B.
Eyring, “Rise to Your Call,” Ensign, Nov. 2002, 76).
- Circumstances at times make a monthly visit in the home impossible. What can visiting teachers do to continue to watch over and strengthen
their assigned sister?
Ideally, each sister is promised a monthly contact from her
visiting teachers. When this is not possible, the contact may be a telephone call or a
letter. In these cases, a personal visit would be made at least once quarterly (see
Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, 202). Teachers should seek inspiration to
know how to best watch over and strengthen the sisters in their care.
- What is the responsibility of the visiting teacher?
Visiting teachers provide watchcare for their sisters. Watchcare is more than a brief
visit or a pleasant conversation. Watchcare is caring for the spiritual and temporal
welfare of the sisters and their families. Visiting teachers build caring relationships by
developing friendship and trust with each sister they visit (see Church Handbook of
Instructions, Book 2, 203).
- How can a visiting teacher learn her responsibility?
The Relief Society president supervises the visiting teaching program. She sees that visiting teaching leaders and visiting teachers are taught the principles of effective visiting teaching. A visiting teacher can learn her responsibilities when the assignment is given, from experienced visiting teachers, during annual visiting teaching interviews, or at the annual visiting teaching workshop (see Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, 202, 203).
- What should visiting teachers report on each month?
Each month, visiting teachers report on the spiritual and temporal well-being of each
sister they visit. If the needs are urgent or confidential, they communicate this
immediately and directly to the Relief Society president (see Church Handbook of
Instructions, Book 2, 203).
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Serving in the Church
