Hands, Hearts, Mouthpiece and Watchcare

I have many LDS women all over the world email me about some of the ideas I have on my two Visiting Teaching blogs. It is so fun to realize that my blogs are touching everywhere in the world and women all over the ward are reading them! Recently one sister wrote me, and I thought I would share that email, because I shared some ideas of how she could put together a Visiting Teaching Conference using the topics of Hands, Hearts and watchcare.

Katie,
I am a new R.S. President and have poured over the Internet for weeks looking for an idea for a visiting teaching seminar. There has been nothing that has jumped out at me or touched my heart in a way that would help me to inspire the sisters in my ward to be an extraordinary visiting teacher. I want to teach the importance of their calling in being the heart, hands, and voice of the Lord as they give "watch care" service in their visiting teaching responsibilities and stewardship. I want to show "what love can do" as they minister to their assigned sisters. Has your ward done a visiting teaching seminar? What have they done to inspire your sisters in this work? Our seminar is held during the third hour on Sunday. So I don't have a lot of time to inspire them in the importance of their calling. Any ideas or help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

thank you,
Diana

Dear Diana,
Why don't you use as a theme "Visiting teachers are the "heart, hands and mouthpiece for watchcare" or something similar, because you could do as a little take home... sugar cookies in the shape of hands with a heart on the top of the hand, also in a sugar cookie, or since all the Valentine candies are out, you could put a valentine heart on top of the hand shaped sugar cookie. So that is the treat. Ice or glaze the hand shaped sugar cookie in white or very pale pink, and the heart cookie on top, in pink frosting or glaze or a heart shaped candy like a sugared jelly heart. "The word mouth piece, ties in because you eat the cookies!

This link will take you to a book mark from Pres. Uchtdorfs talk about your hands are his hands: http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com/2010/05/your-hands-are-his-hands.html

Obviously the cookie is just a fun little handout and the theme and message is the most important. Visiting teachers are the heart and hands and mouthpiece of the the Lord, because without them, how could all of the needs be met? The Relief Society President could only do so much, and if she doesn't hear about what is going on with all the individual sisters through the Visiting teachers, then she cannot minister to their needs. Since you are doing this on a Sunday, maybe you could split the lesson into three categories:
1. Heart
2. Hands
3. Mouthpiece

1. One member of the Presidency could focus on The "HEART" being touched or turned through the monthly Visiting Teaching spiritual message. It is a message that is supposed to touch the HEART, of your sisters and designed to provide a spiritual uplift. Many women who are inactive or nonmembers, are willing to receive the message and it might just be the only spiritual message they get for a whole month, or until Visiting Teachers come again the next month.
2. Someone else can focus on the "HANDS" and what they can do in serving those we Visit Teach. Stories can be shared of the service that was provided through the willing hands of sisters this past year in your ward. A song comes to mind....I have two little hands and part of the lyrics to that song go "... during all the long hours til daylight is through, there are plenty of deeds for my two hands to do".
3. The R.S. president could close with her message focused on the importance of Visiting Teaching getting done each month, that the sisters are the "MOUTHPIECE" and how vital the V.T.reports are to her in order to take care of the needs each sister has. She could give examples of times that she didn't know about the needs of some sister in the ward, but thanks to faithful V.T. she was informed and the sisters needs were met.
On my blog, I have some messages about Helping Hands... Your hands are His hands, and such. I don't have time to go through the blog and look them up for you, but they are there and there are some good handouts as well. http://visitingteachingtips.blogpspot.com and my other blog that has mostly handouts is http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com Hope these ideas help you. Please let me know how things turn out for you. Hope all goes very well.
Best regards,
Katie G.