Visiting Teaching

The visiting teaching program is a program set up by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormon Church, and is run by the Relief Society. Those who participate are referred to as visiting teachers. Throughout the Church the program is set up so that two female members are assigned to families in their congregation that have at least one adult female member. They are asked to visit their families on at least a monthly basis and share a message with them from the Church leaders. Their purpose is to watch out for the family, be friends with them, and help them when needed. The Relief Society Presidency and Visiting Teaching Coordinator of each ward assigns partners and families to each partnership. Visits are reported monthly and any needs are communicated to the Relief Society presidency for confidential assistance.

A passage from the Book of Mormon, Moroni 6:4, helps explain the purpose behind visiting teaching: "And after they had been received unto baptism, . . . they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way." Part of the purpose of visiting teaching is to make sure that each member is remembered and nourished in the Church.

Elder Henry B. Eyring of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles furthered explained this idea: “You are called to represent the Savior. Your voice to testify becomes the same as His voice, your hands to lift the same as His hands. . . . Your calling is to bless lives. That will be true even in the most ordinary tasks you are assigned. . . . You see, there are no small callings to represent the Lord.” The idea behind visiting teaching is to have someone in contact with all of the families of the ward so that if a family is in need the members can do what the Lord would do and uplift and help them.

Church leaders remind the sisters that being called to be a visiting teacher is an important calling. President Spencer W. Kimball in an address, said that visiting teaching can sometimes be a hard task, but that women should remember that "God called you, then it follows that you cannot fail if you do your full part."

When planning to go visiting teaching, a visiting teacher should study the lesson and pray about the message that should be given. The time should be prearranged out of respect for the family’s time. The meetings should be relatively brief unless there is something that is needed.

Other Links: LDS Teach, a website to help visitng teachers with ideas and support See also Home Teaching