Dear Sister Cahoon,
I am a new Relief Society President. I have come to realize that there are not enough visiting teachers in the ward to go around for all the sisters that needed visits. The solution of the previous presidency and VT coordinator was to assign some sisters a route without a partner…these sisters visit their assigned sisters alone. I read something recently in Shepherds that suggested that sisters should not be visiting without a companion. Should these sisters be assigned a partner, even if that means double the visits for both sisters to make?
Kathy C, TX
Congratulations on your new calling! What wonderful experiences lie ahead of you! As you work with the visiting teaching program and with the sisters, you will see so many small miracles! It’s very exciting when you get to see the Lord’s hand in His work!
Visiting teaching is a wonderful challenge! Before making changes, study the instructions and specifications in the handbook so you thoroughly understand the program. I urge you to follow the program as it is presented in the handbook, as the instructions in the handbook come from inspired leaders. Companionships are assigned for many reasons, and lack of numbers is not a compelling reason for assigning sisters individually. See http://www.ldsteach.com/archives/siscahoon/2000/001021.html for a discussion of why we work in companionships.
When numbers outstrip our ability to serve, we need to serve more efficiently and creatively rather than throwing up our hands in despair and quitting. The handbook requires a personal visit be made to each sister quarterly. While a personal visit is always best, several concerned telephone calls over the course of the month can be equally effective. Notes can also be useful.
Train companionships to determine how they effectively reach each sister using the ‘triage’ method. In a hospital emergency room, patients are not treated on a first-come first-served basis. Instead, their complaints are evaluated, and patients are seen in an order based on their need for immediate care. This ‘triage’ model is useful in visiting teaching, as well. A companionship should review their list of assignments monthly, discuss the needs of the sisters, and determine what is required. A sister struggling physically or spiritually must be visited personally. A strong and active sister needs attention, but telephone calls might suffice. A normally strong sister just had surgery and needs a visit. A sister who rejects visits can be visited quarterly and can receive notes or telephone calls during other months. Another sister really needs to talk, and several telephone calls will meet her needs better than a brief personal visit. You get the idea. Both members of a companionship need to take active roles in serving the sisters they are assigned, whether contacts are made by personal visit, telephone call, or notes.
We should never be too busy to serve one another. The second greatest commandment is that we should ‘Love thy neighbor as thyself.’ Teach the sisters to love serving one another, focusing on both general service to all and specific service as a watchcare to those they are assigned. In addition to teaching, set the example.
I recently attended regional training from the Relief Society General Board. One thing they emphasized is that sisters determine the importance of their assignment based on the way it is issued. When you personally issue an assignment, discussing the prayer and inspiration behind it, it becomes a priority rather than an item to check off a ‘to do’ list. Similarly, when you hold visiting teaching interviews and discuss each sister individually, you communicate your concern and help visiting teachers feel accountable. Help the sisters’ visit teach with the attitude that they serve out of love and are never ‘done’.
As you seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost, you will know how to inspire the sisters to serve selflessly, sacrificing less important things to do the Lord’s work as they committed when they were baptized. They will be able to meet the challenge of doubled routes. Hugh B. Brown said, “There is no work in the Church where there is opportunity for selfless service of greater importance than that of the (visiting) teaching work. The Lord will bless you in the assignment where you are serving in proportion to your dedication to your assignment.” I personally know this to be true. I pray that your sisters will also have the opportunity to see the blessings as they serve more faithfully.
Posted by John in Visiting Teaching, Ask Sister Cahoon