Am I My Sister's Keeper?

I served in the second area of my mission for seven and a half months. While there, my companions and I worked hard to teach investigators and strengthen new members. These investigators and members had to travel by train every Sunday to attend church. As missionaries we encouraged them and prayed for them as we watched these new members struggle to develop the faith they needed to do this. However, despite our best efforts the new members slowly fell away until about a year after I left the area it was closed. These members had testimonies and they had faith, but as I served them and their ward a train-ride away I knew what they were missing. They were missing fellowship. The needed friendship and support from each other that they weren’t receiving because they weren’t participating in the visiting teaching program.

I’ve heard several of you express similar feelings as mine so I know I’m not alone in saying this. I have a difficult time stepping outside of myself to meet new people, especially at church on Sunday surrounded by so many people. I moved into this ward over a year ago and kept to myself, sitting on the back row of meetings and just listening to the lessons and comments. Now I can say that I feel like I know many of you and have friends in this ward to whom I can turn if I ever really needed something. The reason for this is the fellowship that I found through visiting teaching. My friends came from my companions, from the sisters I visited and from the sisters who visited me. I have been blessed to not need much in the way of physical support but I definitely feel the benefits of emotional support that I receive from visiting teaching. 

In the old testament when the Lord confronts Cain after he slays Abel, “the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?” Genesis 4:9

The simple answer to Cain’s question is yes. We are our brother’s and sister’s keepers. Sister Julie B. Beck said, “I hope my granddaughters will understand that visiting teaching is an expression of their discipleship and a significant way to honor their covenants. This element of our discipleship should closely resemble the ministry of our Savior.”

I know that the visiting teaching program is revelation from the Lord for us. I know that the Lord asks that it be a priority in our lives and that as we make it a priority it will bless both us and those we visit, often in ways we don’t realize. I know that it could have blessed the members in Pinhal Novo, Portugal, that it can bless each of you and I know that it has blessed and continues to bless me.

Rachel Gathro, Visiting Teaching District Leader
April Visiting Teaching Message

Visiting Teaching - an errand of angels

Making time for visiting teaching can be tough.  Sometimes it feels like we don't need it, we've got others to confide in, or we feel it's mechanical and obligatory.  I'm sure we've all felt this however, recently I had the opportunity to view it a little differently. Last week my visiting teachers met with me.  We had a good visit, and they opened a conversation topic I hadn't anticipated talking about.  Later that night I felt bad that I had not asked them about themselves.  I felt I had been too focused on myself, sharing my disappointments and frustrating experiences.  Then a thought occurred to me, "They have sisters who visit teach them too" they have someone to listen to them!   It then dawned on me what a brilliant program we have!  We each have the opportunity to have someone to talk to and we each have the opportunity to listen and to serve.  It also came to mind that the topic we conversed about was something that I had in passing prayed and thought about.  As I re-traced my trail of thoughts I realized my thoughtless prayer to the Lord, although it was  really whining had been addressed to me through these sisters. Their insight and experiences gave me comfort and hope.

    As sisters we know that we all need a listening ear and a kind word.  Each month (at least) we have the opportunity to minister to our sisters on behalf of the Lord.  We are His angels to listen, love, and serve them.  We in turn have the opportunity to share our thoughts, struggles, insights, and testimonies with those who visit us.  It makes me think then, would I deny the sisters I visit an opportunity to be personally administered to by the Lord if he were here?  No, I wouldn't!   Perhaps this sounds presumptuous but the more I think about it I believe it to be true!  If I don't visit/contact my sisters I could possibly be withholding a personal ministering visit from Lord.  I'm there in His place, He is placing the care of these sisters in my hands on His behalf!  Like wise, If I don't make time for my visiting teachers am I closing the door on the time and care He would take with me?  I relized that not only does He care about me, but He makes sure each sister is accounted for, looked after, and loved. I believe this program is there to fo-fill our needs if we let it, whatever they may be.

I hope we can make our relief society a special place, a haven where we all feel the love of the Lord.  I hope we can all be edified by his atonement as we seek to learn his will for our lives.  Lasty, I hope everyone can feel important and included in this work we have as sisters; we've been given the errand of angels, we're His hands to personally be there for each other on his behalf.


Chantel Matheson, Visiting Teaching District Leader