Visiting teaching message changed to aid gospel study

Melissa Merrill
Scroll Staff

Beginning this month, the visiting teaching messages found in non-conference issues of the Ensign and Liahona will have a new format.

This year's messages are based on the Relief Society declaration and will be comprised of four main components: the basic theme or principle, related scriptures, teachings from prophets, apostles and other church leaders, and discussion-promoting questions.

The theme-related experiences will be omitted.

"Rather than reading others' stories and experiences related to the theme, we can, when appropriate, share our own experiences and discuss how these insights apply in our lives. We can invite those we visit to do the same," the Relief Society General Presidency said in a January 2002 Ensign article.

"I think [the changes] will make it more personal. I think it will help bring the girls closer to each other. It will help the teachers put more into their lessons," Becky Newton, a junior from Westerville, Ohio, and the visiting teaching coordinator for Relief Society B in the BYU-Idaho 35th Ward, said.

The presidency said they hope several things will happen:

1. The Holy Ghost will come into homes with even greater power.

2. Sisters' visions of their relationship with Heavenly Father will increase.

3. As mothers, grandmothers, wives, sisters, daughters and aunts are strengthened, families will be strengthened.

4. Sisters will find solutions to their own and their families' problems.

5. They will feel greater peace and strength and comfort.

6. Testimonies of the Savior and understanding of the power of the Atonement will increase.

7. Sisters will stay on the path that leads back to Heavenly Father.

"Without question, the most effective teaching is accomplished when both the teacher and the learner are involved and when they learn from each other. ... This new format represents a marvelous opportunity to readjust our vision of visiting teaching," the Relief Society presidency said.

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