VISITING TEACHING MESSAGE/MARCH 2015
VISITING TEACHING MESSAGE/MARCH 2015
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The Divine Mission of Jesus Christ: Bread of Life
Prayerfully study this material and seek to know what to share. How will understanding the life and mission of the Savior increase your faith in Him and bless those you watch over through visiting teaching? For more information, go to reliefsociety.lds.org.
This is part of a series of Visiting Teaching Messages featuring aspects of the mission of the Savior.
Detail from In Remembrance of Me, by Walter Rane
Jesus said, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever” (John 6:51). “Jesus teaches us, His disciples, that we should look to God each day for the bread—the help and sustenance—we require in that particular day,” said Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “The Lord’s invitation … speaks of a loving God, aware of even the small, daily needs of His children and eager to assist them, one by one. He is saying that we can ask in faith of that Being ‘that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given’ (James 1:5).”1 As we understand that Jesus Christ will provide for our needs, we will turn to Him for our spiritual sustenance.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles invites us “to join in the adventure of the earliest disciples of Christ who also yearned for the bread of life—those who did not go back but who came to Him, stayed with Him, and who recognized that for safety and salvation there was no other to whom they could ever go.”2
Additional Scriptures
From the Scriptures
Jesus Christ was teaching a multitude of more than 4,000 people. After three days, He said to His disciples: “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have … nothing to eat:
“And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way. …
“And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?
“And [Jesus] asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.”
Then Christ “took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; …
“And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.
“So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.” (See Mark 8:1–9.)
Consider This
When we come unto Christ, how does He nourish us?
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VISITING TEACHING MESSAGE SEPTEMBER 2014
The Divine Mission of Jesus Christ: Comforter
Prayerfully study this material and seek to know what to share. How will understanding the life and roles of the Savior increase your faith in Him and bless those you watch over through visiting teaching? For more information, go to reliefsociety.lds.org.
This is part of a series of Visiting Teaching Messages featuring aspects of the mission of the Savior.
Photo illustration by Sarah Carabine Jenson
Jesus Christ promised, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (John 14:18). He will give us “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning” (Isaiah 61:3). Because Christ suffered the Atonement for each of us, He will not forget us. “Our Savior has taken upon Himself … our pains and our suffering and afflictions so that He can know what we feel and how to comfort us,” said Linda S. Reeves, second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency.1
Knowing that Christ will comfort us can bring us peace and inspire us to follow His example by ministering to others. President Thomas S. Monsonsaid: “Our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments. There will be nothing in this world that can defeat us.”2
From the Scriptures
From Our History
Elaine L. Jack, the 12th Relief Society general president, said: “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.”3
Our pioneer Relief Society sisters “found spiritual strength in each other’s love and compassion. … As they suffered trials of illness and death, they prayed in faith for each other and comforted each other. ‘The love of God flowed from heart to heart,’ wrote Helen Mar Whitney, ‘till the wicked one seemed powerless in his efforts to get between us and the Lord, and his cruel darts, in some instances, were shorn of their sting.’”4
Consider This
How does understanding that the Lord remembers you bring you comfort?
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VISITING TEACHING MESSAGE August 2014
The Divine Mission of Jesus Christ: Messiah
This is part of a series of Visiting Teaching Messages featuring aspects of the mission of the Savior.
Detail from The Second Coming by Grant Romney Clawson
The scriptures teach that we can dwell in the presence of God “through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah” (2 Nephi 2:8).Messiah is “an Aramaic and Hebrew word meaning ‘the anointed.’ … In the New Testament Jesus is called the Christ, which is the Greek equivalent of Messiah. It means the anointed Prophet, Priest, King, and Deliverer.”1
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles testified: “I know [Jesus Christ] is the Holy One of Israel, the Messiah who will one day come again in final glory, to reign on earth as Lord of lords and King of kings. I know that there is no other name given under heaven whereby a man [or woman] can be saved.”2
“[Jesus Christ] is the Savior and Redeemer of the world,” said PresidentDieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency. “He is the promised Messiah. He lived a perfect life and atoned for our sins. He will ever be at our side. He will fight our battles. He is our hope; He is our salvation; He is the way.”3
Additional Scriptures
From the Scriptures
Female disciples of Christ have been witnesses of His role as the Messiah. Mary Magdalene was a disciple of Jesus Christ. She was the first to see “the stone taken away from the sepulchre” on the morning of Christ’sResurrection. She “stood without at the sepulchre weeping” after discovering that His body was no longer in the tomb.
Then “she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
“Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
“Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.” Mary recognized that He was not the gardener but Jesus Christ, the Messiah. (See John 20:1–17.)
Consider This
Why is it important to understand the Savior’s role as the Messiah?
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VISITING TEACHING MESSAGE JULY 2014
The Divine Mission of Jesus Christ: Advocate
This is part of a series of Visiting Teaching Messages featuring aspects of the mission of the Savior.
Jesus Christ is our Advocate with the Father. The word advocate has Latin roots meaning “one who pleads for another.”1 The Savior pleads for us, using understanding, justice, and mercy. Knowing this can fill us with love and gratitude for His Atonement.
“Listen to [Jesus Christ] who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him—
“Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;
“Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life” (D&C 45:3–5).
Of Christ as our Advocate, Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “It is of great significance to me, that I may at any moment and in any circumstance approach through prayer the throne of grace, that my Heavenly Father will hear my petition, that my Advocate, him who did no sin, whose blood was shed, will plead my cause.”2
Additional Scriptures
From the Scriptures
Throughout the history of the Lord’s Church, female disciples of Jesus Christ have followed His example. Esther was faithful and courageous. Her cousin Mordecai sent her a copy of the king’s decree that the Jews should be destroyed, and he charged her “to make request before [the king] for her people.” He added: “And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:8, 14.)
Despite the danger, Esther agreed: “So will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).
Esther then spoke humbly to the king and “fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears … to reverse the letters … to destroy the Jews.” She added, “How can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?” (seeEsther 8:3, 5–6). The king’s heart was softened, and he granted her petition.3
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"Through Relief Society [and Visiting Teaching], we practice being disciples of Christ. We learn what He would have us learn, we do what He would have us do, and we become what He would have us become."
— Sister Julie B. Beck
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President Monson counsels women regarding visiting teaching.
Visit Link From lds.org:
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March 2014 Message
The Divine Mission of Jesus Christ: Light of the World
This is part of a series of Visiting Teaching Messages featuring aspects of the mission of t h e S a v i o r .
As we come to understand that Jesus Christ is the Light of the World, we will increase our faith in Him and become a light to others. Christ testified of His role as “the true light that lighteth every man [and woman] that cometh into the world” (D&C 93:2) and asked that we “hold up [His] light that it may shine unto the world” (3 Nephi 18:24).
As we come to understand that Jesus Christ is the Light of the World, we will increase our faith in Him and become a light to others. Christ testified of His role as “the true light that lighteth every man [and woman] that cometh into the world” (D&C 93:2) and asked that we “hold up [His] light that it may shine unto the world” (3 Nephi 18:24).
Our prophets have also testified of the Light of Christ. President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, said: “Each time you choose to try to live more like the Savior, you will have your testi mony strengthened. You will come in time to know for yourself that He is the Light of the World. . . . You will reflect to others the Light of Christ in your life.” 1
Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said of our being a light to the world: “We need to protect our families and be at the forefront together with all people of goodwill in doing everything we can to preserve light, hope, and morality in our communities.” 2
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Go to this link: http://mormonchannel.org/relief-society/questions-and-answers/13
“The beauty of Visiting Teaching is not to see 100 percent on the monthly report; the beauty of Visiting Teaching is seeing lives changed, tears wiped away, testimonies growing, people loved, families strengthened, people cheered, the hungry fed, the sick visited, and those who are mourning comforted. Actually, Visiting Teaching is never done because we watch over and strengthen always.”
- Barbara Thompson
Click on the following link to listen:
http://mormonchannel.org/player/89029
Through visiting teaching, we provide watchcare by contacting each sister, sharing a gospel message, and seeking to know her and her family’s needs. “Visiting teaching becomes the Lord’s work when our focus is on people rather than percentages,” explains Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president. “In reality, visiting teaching is never finished. It is more a way of life than a task. Faithfully serving as a visiting teacher is evidence of our discipleship.”
January 2012 Ensign - Visiting Teaching Message
