December 2004 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...

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Training and mentoring can be provided by
assigning a new sister to exemplary visiting
teachers and, for some, to be a companion
to her own mother.
Cara S. Longmore, now of the BYU
176th Ward, Brigham Young University Second
Stake, was called to be a visiting teacher with her
mother as her companion. Her mom was excited, but
Cara considered herself too young for Relief Society. She
remembers: “We were assigned to two wonderful women.
As I look back, I realize the significant impact these sisters
had on my life at that difficult time. They became not only
examples to me, but also friends in a true sense—not just
older mentors. When we would visit, I felt calm, secure,
and truly loved.
“I am also so very thankful for that time with my mom.
Now that I am at college, I realize how valuable those visiting
teaching visits were to our relationship. I feel so grateful
that I got to see my mom in that setting, hear her
strong testimony, and learn more about the love she has
for her ‘sisters in Zion’ [see Hymns, no. 309]. Because we
were in the context of a team, we were more equal and I
truly felt that we were ‘sisters in Zion’ as well.”
Provide Watch-Care
While visiting teachers are asked to make monthly contact,
some circumstances require more. President Spencer W.
Kimball (1895–1985) said: “Your duties in many ways must
be like those of the home teachers, which briefly are ‘to
watch over the church always’—not twenty minutes a
month but always—‘and be with and strengthen them’—
not a knock at the door, but to be with them, and lift them
and strengthen them, and empower them, and fortify
them.” 4 This type of visiting teaching is “watch-care.”
Watch-care was experienced by a sister who worked
nights at a hospital. Her visiting teachers began coming
each month to the hospital during her lunch hour, which
was in the very, very early hours of the morning. She was
amazed that they were willing to make such a sacrifice but
greatly appreciated it.
Cynthia E. Larsen of the Heritage Ward,
Calgary Alberta Stake, discovered the joy of
watch-care with a challenging visiting teaching
assignment. She says: “I remember
being filled with apprehension the first time
I visited Deanna. I thought we were complete
opposites. She was single, an executive with an
oil company, and a recent convert to the Church. Yet
with each visit we found that we had much in common.
“After Deanna developed cancer, she put my anxiety to
rest as she calmly answered my questions with honesty
and courage. From that day on, she began to teach me
by example what dignity and endurance are.
“In the following months, she enthusiastically educated
herself and others about cancer. She organized a cancer
information night for our Relief Society. She joined a local
cancer support group.
“Eventually the medication and chemotherapy treatments
sapped Deanna of her strength and energy. On her
‘good days,’ she went for walks and encouraged other cancer
patients. On her ‘bad days,’ she worked at maintaining
her optimism, conserving her strength, and building her
testimony.
“As Deanna’s condition worsened, our visits became
daily. We laughed, we cried, we were silly, and we were
intensely serious. She anticipated death, hesitantly at first,
then confidently. She worked to make each day the best
she could.
“For months before her death I watched my dear friend
and sister in the gospel find opportunities to serve. Yes, I
served Deanna as her visiting teacher, but it was she who
taught me about the blessings of living the gospel.”
President Gordon B. Hinckley explains: “We
have some of our own who cry out in
pain and suffering and loneliness and
fear. Ours is a great and solemn duty
to reach out and help them, to lift
them, to feed them if they are hungry,
to nurture their spirits if they
thirst for truth and righteousness.” 5