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VISITING TEACHING QUOTES
(some say Home teaching but they can be used for VT too)
We visit teach because we've made covenants with the Lord and they are fulfilled as we share our hearts and souls. ...Visiting teaching is all about family. As we show charity to those we serve, we become family by affection.
Sister Bonnie D. Parkin
"I hope that... visiting teachers will experience two things: first, the challenge of the responsibility that is in their great calling, and second, the sweetness of results from their work."
President Gordon B. Hinckley
In Spanish
We are women of covenant! Every time we watch over one another, God
like qualities of love, patience, kindness, generosity, and spiritual commitment fill the souls of those we visit and enlarge our souls as well. In the process, we honor our covenants.
Sister Bonnie D. Parkin
In
Spanish
President Elaine
L. Jack
Relief Society general president 1990–present
“Through visiting teaching we act as
mothers, sisters, helpers, companions and friends, one to another” (Church
News, 4 Sept. 1993, 6).
“In visiting teaching we reach out to
each other. Hands often speak as voices can’t. A warm embrace conveys
volumes. A laugh together unites us. A moment of sharing refreshes our
souls. We cannot always lift the burden of one who is troubled, but we can
lift her so she can bear it well” (Church News, 7 Mar. 1992, 5).
“We should never underestimate the
value of a one-on-one visit. Just as women walked around Nauvoo gathering
information about the conditions of individuals and families in that early
era of the Church, so do sisters in Perth, Australia, and Papeete, Tahiti,
walk to homes of their neighbors to visit and care for one another. I
think it’s exciting to be a part of a worldwide association of sisters who
exercise this watchful care over each other. Sometimes when I’ve gone out
visiting teaching I’ve thought about that, and wondered if maybe women in
Manitoba, Canada, or in Mexico or in France or even in the Soviet Union
were out doing their visiting teaching at the same time I was. It’s quite
a concept, to be part of something that is so much bigger than ourselves”
(Eye to Eye, Heart to Heart [1992], 142–43).
President Barbara
Winder
Relief Society general president 1984–1990
“Visiting teaching gives us an
opportunity to learn how to follow the Savior. As we extend love and
unselfish service, we become instruments of the Lord, helping in times of
physical, emotional, and spiritual need to touch hearts and change lives.
Visiting teaching is the very essence of the gospel and gives us the
opportunity to practice the principles found in
Mosiah 18:8–9:
‘willing to bear one another’s burdens, … willing to mourn with those that
mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand
as witnesses of God at all times, … that [we] may have eternal life.’ ”
President
Spencer W. Kimball
President of the Church 1973–1985
“Whenever I think of visiting
teachers, I think of [home] teachers also, and think that certainly your
duties in many ways must be much 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). …
“To be successful, it seems to me
that a visiting teacher would wish to have high purpose and remember it
all the time, would want to have great vision, a terrific enthusiasm
that cannot be worn down, a positive attitude, of course, and a great
love” (Ensign, June 1978, 24–25).
“Blessed will be the day when all
home teachers, those working on the missionary, genealogical, and the
welfare and all programs, become home teachers in every sense of the
word, looking after every facet of the lives of their
families—spiritual, temporal, financial, moral, marital. That will be
the happy day!” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball [1982],
524.)
President Barbara
B. Smith
Relief Society general president 1974–1984
“We must seek out those among us with
need and, using our God-given talents for charity and our means for
relieving others, coordinate the two. This has been the charge from the
beginning. It is the charge today. We should go personally into each
other’s homes, and we should tune our souls to the point that we may find
those in need and offer friendship, help as needed, and courage to meet
each day’s challenges.”
President
Harold B. Lee
President of the Church 1972–1973
“Home teaching, in essence, means
that we consider separately each individual member of the family who
constitutes the entire home personnel. Home teaching … is to help the
parents with home problems in their efforts to teach their families the
fundamentals of parental responsibility, as contrasted with merely
bringing a message, a gospel message, to the entire family. Quorum
leaders were given the responsibility of selecting, training, and
supervising quorum members in visiting with and teaching assigned
families of their own quorum members” (Stand Ye in Holy Places
[1974], 298).
President David
O. McKay
President of the Church 1951–1970
“Home Teaching is one of our most
urgent and most rewarding opportunities to nurture and inspire, to
counsel and direct our Father’s children in all that pertains to life.
Through the priesthood quorums, and under the bishop’s direction, Home
Teaching takes the message of the gospel, the message of life and
salvation and brotherly love, into the home, wherein lies the first and
foremost opportunity for teaching in the Church. …
“Home Teaching is a divine service, a
divine call. It is our duty as Home Teachers to carry the divine spirit
into every home and heart. To love the work and do our best will bring
the unbounded peace and joy and satisfaction of a noble, dedicated
teacher of God’s children” (Priesthood Home Teaching Handbook,
rev. ed. [1967], ii–iii).
President
Bathsheba W. Smith
Relief Society general president 1901–1910
“It is good to … go from house to
house, seeking out the poor, the cast down, minister to the sick, lay out
the dead, gathering and distributing, as you have done, my sisters, for so
many years, gifts and donations for relief.
“And yet we have a larger mission—to
teach the mother to rear her young in simplicity and in truth and virtue,
that happy home circles may abound in our midst” (Woman’s Exponent,
Jan. 1906, 41).
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"Choose
you this day
whom ye will
serve
but for me
and my
house we will
serve the Lord "
