As soon as Visiting Teachers are called, the Relief Society President should make sure that they receive personal training on visiting teaching procedures, reporting, observing needs, and attending meetings.

A personal orientation is important. The following letter is an excellent follow-up idea:

Dear Sister _________, Congratulations! You have received a very important calling as a visiting teacher. You have been called of God through the properly constituted authorities within your ward. You have the opportunity to radiate a powerful influence upon the lives of those you teach.

Visiting Teaching has been called the lifeline of Relief Society. It has played a major role in the Society since it was organized. The entire program is directed toward “reaching the one.” To serve well, you will need to know what is expected of you.

Below are the duties and responsibilities of a visiting teacher:

• Praying together before making visits.
• Visit and make other contacts with assigned sisters. Personal visits are preferred. When sisters have special needs, visits may need to be more frequent.
• Build caring relationships by developing friendship and trust with each sister.
• Learn of the spiritual and temporal needs of the sister and family. Offer appropriate assistance.
• Give spiritual instruction through a monthly message found in the Ensign. These are to be used as guides and adapted to the needs of each sister.
• Visiting teachers have an especially important responsibility to minister to new members and less active members.
• Before each visit, review instructions from leaders, review their message and discuss how to care for each sister.
• Report each month on the spiritual and temporal well-being of each sister.
• If the needs are urgent or confidential, report them immediately to the Relief Society president.
• Encourage sisters to attend Relief Society meetings and activities.
• Set an example of consistent attendance at Relief Society meetings and at sacrament meetings.
• Report names of sisters who are new in your district, those who have moved from the district, and the names of interested non-Latter-day Saint women (for missionary use).
• Report promptly to the supervisor if you are not able to make visits in a given month.
• Generally, visits to your sisters should be short, friendly, uplifting and encouraging. The discussion of personal problems, the troubles of others, topics of a sensational nature, and rumors should be avoided. You are acting in the name of Relief Society when visiting your sisters, so your speech and dress should reflect the high ideals of the organization.

We appreciate you! We urge that you make careful preparation for your visits, seeking the inspiration of our Father in Heaven. We pray that you will strive to reach individuals and touch their lives in such a manner as to draw them closer to the gospel and increase the feeling of sisterhood. May you have a desire to magnify your calling.

Sincerely, Your Relief Society Presidency

(Perhaps all Visiting Teachers, new and long time visiting teachers, should be given a letter to reinforce and remind them of their goals.)

– Contributed by Dale