He was going to be all that a mortal should be Tomorrow.
No one should be kinder or braver than he Tomorrow.
A friend who was troubled and weary he knew,
Who’d be glad of a lift and who needed it, too;
On him he would call and see what he could do Tomorrow.
Each morning he stacked up the letters he’d write Tomorrow.
And thought of folks he would fill with delight Tomorrow.
It was too bad, indeed, he was busy today,
And hadn’t a minute to stop on his way;
Any more time he would have to give others, he’d say, Tomorrow.

The greatest of workers this man would have been Tomorrow.
The world would have known him, had he ever seen Tomorrow.
But the fact is he died and he faded from view
And all that he left here when living was through
Was a mountain of things he intended to do Tomorrow.

Edgar Guest

Posted by John in Visiting Teaching, VT-Poems & Stories

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A Relief Society president was going through her records for visiting teaching. She noticed one sister and her partner always visited every sister on every month but two, where they had no visits.

Curious, she called the sister and was told, “I’m sorry, I just don’t feel right about visiting on Halloween and New Years Eve.”

Posted by John in Visiting Teaching, VT-Poems & Stories

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Just to expand on Debby Johnson’s idea for business cards and fridge magnets. Rather than using a business card, try a card sized-textbox with the names of homes assigned, addresses and phone numbers.

Below that, in smaller text, include the Visiting Teacher supervisor’s name, phone number, and the due date for reports. On the back of the card, put the name, address and phone number of each of the sister’s home teachers.

Instead of using card, use plain A4 paper, design on computer textbox (card size) with info on Visiting Teachers (e.g. may put first companionship, then below that put their assigned homes, addresses and phone numbers). Directly next to it, put a textbox of the same size with Home Teaching info.

Make as many of these textboxes as can fit down page (approx. 4-6 different companionships) and to the size of a business card.

Print, fold, glue-stick and cut out (you should have several cards with VT info on one side and HT info on other). It then goes inside a clear adhesive business card envelope that’s attached to a slightly larger laminated card which has, for example, ‘a call to duty’ comment or ‘YOU have been given this sacred opportunity’ stating the sacredness and importance of Visiting Teaching at the top, then an added scripture to give strength to the comment or quote.

You may even make it a little longer where you may add the Relief Society Seal, or do it in Relief Society colours or even bright colours to catch her eye and prompt her. The Visiting Teaching card can be easily changed on the computer and printed as changes occur.

Put a magnet on back. You could even use a clip art house where it opens up to this info. Or a heart with the visiting teaching do/don’t idea on front then open heart to expose this info and on back of front heart could use for a poem/quote etc.

Or on an A5 paper at portrait, fold into thirds, arrange fold so it opens like a flower blooming, with bottom fold on inside and top fold is cover. On top an eye catching poem or thing (e.g. poem of copper coin). Open it up (top page) to reveal Visiting Teaching info in clear envelope, pull that page down to reveal inspiring poems (should be size of A5 now). When folded to original position has a magnet on back. Would have to be laminated or there of the sort as it can be used time and time again except for the VT info paper card that gets changed from time to time.

Lena Gregory

Posted by John in Visiting Teaching, VT-Leader Resources

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I try, but I’m not always successful on doing a monthly handout that I give out on Homemaking night. I have a handout for each sister who is a Visiting Teacher. I have a label program on my computer that prints each sister’s name and district number on a sheet of labels. I apply the labels to the handouts. This way, I know that I have one for each Visiting Teacher and can make sure that each sister gets one, either by seeing her in church or by giving them to my supervisors to distribute to their flock.

Here are some ideas for handouts:

• I found a picture on the computer of a fisherman. I made a handout saying “Catch the spirit of Visiting Teaching.” I applied a Swedish fish to the handout at the end of the fishing line.
• I put a birthday candle on a handout with the saying, “Let your light shine! Visit Teach!”
• A sparkler with the words, “Sparkle when you do your Visiting Teaching.”
• A Gummy Bear with “It’s Beary important that you do your Visiting Teaching.”
• A picture of a Clown with a fireball candy glued to the nose with “No clowning around, get your Visiting Teaching done.”
• A Now & Later candy with “It’s better to get your Visiting Teaching done Now than Later!”
• Picture of helping hands with “Be a pair of helping hands to the sisters that you visit.”
• A Life Saver candy with “You can be a life saver when you do your Visiting Teaching.”
• A tape measure with “By the yard it’s hard, by the inch it’s a cinch.”

Marvelous Mom

Posted by John in General, Visiting Teaching, VT-Leader Resources

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When I was the VT Coordinator, I would do monthly “campaigns”. For example, my first month–in the month of November, I made a huge turkey with a feather for each sister who was visit taught. When the sisters completed their Visiting Teaching, they were allowed to pluck their sisters feathers from the turkey. Our goal was to get the turkey plucked before Thanksgiving. Our numbers were higher that month than ever before. The sisters loved the visual that sat in the foyer and even the Priesthood commented on how neat it was to see the turkey lose its feathers. Another campaign involved a contest to see which district could get their Visiting Teaching numbers in first. For those who turned their numbers in the first week of the month, they got 5 points. Those that turned them in during the 2nd week got 4 points and so on. The sisters in the district that won got a treat– a candy bar with a cute saying on it.

–Author Unknown

Posted by John in Visiting Teaching, VT-Leader Resources

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We just had our visiting teaching conference.

When I was asked to put it on, our Relief Society president asked that we reach out and have a spiritual meeting that the inactive sisters might want to come to and gain from. We called it “I CARE ABOUT YOU”.

We sent out invitations with the visiting teachers that were personalized with their sisters’ names. They were told in the invitation that we were having a luncheon in their honor. We then had a program about how we care about them and that the Savior cares about them. Only a few inactives came that day, but some have come out since and I feel that we sent the message out to every sister that we Cared about them personally.

We decorated with blue and yellow, using yellow roses (friendship) that we gave out after it was over. Also, we gave them heart-shaped wooden pins with roses on them. We had a program with songs and narration. I put together a PowerPoint slideshow presentation to go along with the songs with pictures of Christ and other things that illustrated the songs in the program. We used real dishes for the luncheon and had the young women serve us.

It was fun and all who attended felt of each other’s love and the Savior’s love for each of us. I also believe that the sisters got the message that they should care personally for each sister that they visit. If you want a copy of the script or more details please email me and I will send them to you.

Karen

Posted by John in Visiting Teaching, VT-Leader Resources

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I just had our visiting teaching conference.

We did a Garden Party theme. We did not tell the sisters what we were doing. They just received an invitation for a Garden Party. We also had a visiting teaching skit. We had a sister speak that had been re-activated by Visiting teachers. We had a Salad Bar for the meal , using terra cotta pots line with foil to serve the salad fixings in. We used live green plants in the center of each table with miniature garden tools, bird houses, seed packets as decoration. We gave each sister a seed packet with a cute garden visiting teaching quote with a magnet on back for the fridge.

I am the Relief Society president. I closed with remarks about Alma 32:37-41. How that our Sisters need love and nurturing to help them blossom to their full potential. We had a special musical number about friends written By Michael McLean. It was a wonderful evening.

Debbie

Posted by John in Visiting Teaching, VT-Leader Resources

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As I contemplated the Visiting Teaching Seminar that I was to conduct last year, I realized that the sisters that would attend this meeting were faithful sisters that did their visiting teaching each month. A new idea formed, What Kind of Visiting Teachee are you?

The following soliloquy is a result of prayer and inspiration with my Visiting Teaching Co-ordinator.

The essence of the dialogue is to establish that it is difficult to Visit Teach, and the other parties sometimes are not very cooperative.

There is also some doubt cast on the effectiveness of Visiting Teaching, and why we do it.

The conclusion is ambiguous, giving the idea that even though we aren’t always required to do miraculous things, even the small things can seem miraculous at the time.

Visiting Teaching Seminar (Soliloquy)

Shiela Chipman

Posted by John in Visiting Teaching, VT-Leader Resources

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We had the most wonderful Visiting Teaching Conference last year. It was called “It’s A Jungle Out There.”

To prepare the sisters for the event and to catch their attention, we had a big poster with a big cartoon Toucan we named “Tookie,” and every Sunday we put up a different message without letting them know that the event was the Visiting Teacher Conference, like: It’s Jungle out there and never stops raining. Please bring your umbrella. We always included the date. We prepared everything with the Tookie cartoon as a theme, we had magnets to give out to the sisters which read “Don’t Forget Visiting Teaching.”

We decorated the Relief Society Room with big banana trees and other rain forest plants, origami monkeys and lions, a big Tookie on the door, and leaves hanging from the ceiling. We had jungle sounds in the background. We made safari hats for the sisters decorated with the Tookie. We had only tropical foods for the dinner, drinks with straws with little monkeys and as a center piece, an origami lagoon with hippos and other animals.

We also prepared a booklet with Visiting Teaching guidelines and ideas. We had a musical number with the Music of the song New York, New York, but with real funny Visiting Teacher lyrics and had some sisters which we called the “Junglettes” singing and dancing the song like the famous Rockettes dancers of the Radio City Music Hall.

We spoke on the following topics.

About the little miracles that happen when you do your Visiting Teacher. For that the 1st counselor used the music from “The Prince of Egypt” called “Miracles.” Then we had a sister speak on “How to Be of Service to our Sisters,” and the second counselor on “How to Be an Effective Visiting Teacher” and the President (me) on the theme of the conference “It’s Jungle Out There.” I talked on how the indigenous peoples in the South American jungles always do all their work, hunting and fishing in groups and explained the sisters that they did that because there are too many dangers in the Jungle and they have to stick together to help each other, for protection and safety. The same way with us sisters we have to stick together to help and protect each other.

With each talk, we gave away something to remind the sisters about it. We also have a very talented sister that wrote a poem for the Visiting Teachers which we made as book marker. We had a final quick workshop on things you can do to take your sisters, and they took their little craft with them to give away.

The conference was such a success that even sisters from other wards wanted to know what we did. We had such a strong spirit and the attendance was about 85% of our Visiting Teachers. We are already planning for our next one which will be during the spring time.

Carmen Lopez

Posted by John in Visiting Teaching, VT-Leader Resources

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The Relief “Sole-Ciety”
A skit written by Laurel Hart
Presented at Stake Visiting Teaching Workshop, Provo, UT, USA, 1984

Anonymous

Sole Skit

CAST: Sister Blister (S.B.) Relief Solo-ciety President (R.P.) 4 Visiting Teachers, with posters identifying them as various kinds of shoes….

SCENE: The Relief Sole-Ciety Shoe Store. A sign bearing the name sits on the desk. A backdrop of shelves of shoeboxes is behind the desk. The Relief Sole-Ciety Prez is seated at the desk. Sister Blister limps in, with a “Barefoot” poster hung on her front.

RP: Hello, Sister Blister, can I help you?

S.B. I don’t know. My SOLE is really hurting (she points to her foot).

RP: Yes, I can see that you need some help.

SB: Oh, I’m afraid I’m beyond help. You see, I’ve become CALLOUSED and I flatly refuse to think there’s any hope for me.

RP: Now, how, don’t talk that way. You’ve taken a step in the right direction coming here. After all, this is the Relief SOLE-CIETY and we specialize in taking care of “de-feet.” (She points to the foot).

SB: You do? (with a spark of hope in her voice)…Oh, give the shoes to me now!

RP: Not so fast, not just any pair will do. You have very special problems so we need to be selective in our decision as to which would fit you the best. Let me introduce you to some of our most popular pairs, and I think you will be able to choose for yourself… THE LOAFERS come out casually, looking rather bored.

SB: That pair looks pretty nice.

RP: Yes, but they’re just a couple of LOAFERS. They accept the call to be visiting teachers, but they just refuse to get INSTEP with the program. They rarely make their visits, even though they seldom have a good excuse.

LOAFERS: #1-Should we do our visiting teaching, Penny?

#2-I can’t, I’m studying to be an OXFORD graduate. (Loafers leave).

SB: You’re right. I guess I wouldn’t want them. A pair of THONG FLIP-FLOPS comes out.

RP: Here’s another pair, but I don’t think you’d want them either.

SB: Why not?

RP: Well, sometimes they go out and sometimes they don’t. They FLIP-FLOP from month to month.

THONG FLIP-FLOPS: #1-Let’s go visiting teaching.

#2-Oh, let’s not.

#1-OK, we won’t.

#2-Well, maybe we’d better. (The THONG FLIP FLOPS exit, still trying to make up their minds)

SB: I guess they’re the THONG kind of visiting teaching to have. (The TENNIS SHOES peek around the curtain and then sneak out when they see the coast is clear)

SB: Is that the pair for me?

RP: No, I’m afraid not. They’re just a couple of SNEAKERS. Oh, they do get out and do their visiting teaching every month, but they do it on the very last day. Their visits are made more for the rolls to look good than for the needs of their sisters. And then after they do their duty, that’s the last their sisters see of them or hear from them until the next month..on the last day again.

SNEAKERS: #1-Shhhh! Give us a break

#2-Yeah, we’re just too TIED UP to get out any sooner. (They sneak off stage).

RP: Keds will be Keds, I guess, (She shakes her head). (The FURRY SLIPPERS enter):

SB: Boy, they look great.

RP: Yes, but don’t let their appearance fool you. They’re one of the worst pairs. Underneath that soft, warm surface is a cold heart. They say they want to help and they offer their total support, but sooner or later you’ll find that these offers are flimsy and certainly not FUR REAL. Somehow, when you really need them, they always manage to have just SLIPPERED out.

Slippers: #1-Heh, heh, heh!

#2-See you later. (They slip out. A pair of CONVERSE tennis shoes enter, whispering and laughing).

SB: Can I trust this pair?

RP: I’m afraid not. They have their problems too. They’re faithful in coming each month, but when they do, they CONVERSE, and CONVERSE, and CONVERSE, and never about the visiting teaching message either. It’s always just gossip. And what’s even worse, their TONGUES are loose and have a hard time keeping confidences.

CONVERSE SHOES: #1- (very offended) Well, after all, we’re not HUSH PUPPIES.

#2- Come on, I’ve got to tell you about Sister Jones. (They exit whispering).

SB: I’d never “BARE MY SOLE” to them. The HIGH HEELS enter.

RP: I think that’s the pair we’re looking for!

SP: Yes, visiting teachers that are UPLIFTING.

Visiting Teacher HIGH HEELS: #1-We’d love to help you set some HIGH GOALS for yourself.

#2-We can BUCKLE down and work out those problems together!

SB: Yes, I’m sure that you are the pair that can RAISE my self-esteem and HEEL my tired SOLE.

RP: (to audience) Let me add just one final FOOTNOTE: “If this shoes fits, WEAR IT.”

THE RELIEF “SOLE”-CIETY SONG
(Tune: “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” from My Fair Lady)

(RP & SB or include audience, if desired:)

All I want is a teacher who’ll see
The kind of soul I would like to be
And take good care of me,
Oh, wouldn’t it be lovely.
She’d lift me up when I’m feeling sad
Laugh with me when I’m feeling glad
Shower me with charity,
Oh, wouldn’t it be lovely.

(Shoe pairs from skit:)

We souls have seen much better days
We’ve seen the error of our ways
We will get our act together
One of these days.

We will be so very good,
Visiting Teaching like we should
Throughout our neighborhood,
Oh, wouldn’t it be lovely,

(All:) Lovely, lovely, lovely lovely.

Posted by John in Visiting Teaching, VT-Leader Resources

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