December 2004 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...
December 2004 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...
December 2004 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...
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38<br />
Training and mentoring can be provided by<br />
assigning a new sister to exemplary visiting<br />
teachers and, for some, to be a companion<br />
to her own mother.<br />
Cara S. Longmore, now <strong>of</strong> the BYU<br />
176th Ward, Brigham Young University Second<br />
Stake, was called to be a visiting teacher with her<br />
mother as her companion. Her mom was excited, but<br />
Cara considered herself too young for Relief Society. She<br />
remembers: “We were assigned to two wonderful women.<br />
As I look back, I realize the significant impact these sisters<br />
had on my life at that difficult time. <strong>The</strong>y became not only<br />
examples to me, but also friends in a true sense—not just<br />
older mentors. When we would visit, I felt calm, secure,<br />
and truly loved.<br />
“I am also so very thankful for that time with my mom.<br />
Now that I am at college, I realize how valuable those visiting<br />
teaching visits were to our relationship. I feel so grateful<br />
that I got to see my mom in that setting, hear her<br />
strong testimony, and learn more about the love she has<br />
for her ‘sisters in Zion’ [see Hymns, no. 309]. Because we<br />
were in the context <strong>of</strong> a team, we were more equal and I<br />
truly felt that we were ‘sisters in Zion’ as well.”<br />
Provide Watch-Care<br />
While visiting teachers are asked to make monthly contact,<br />
some circumstances require more. President Spencer W.<br />
Kimball (1895–1985) said: “Your duties in many ways must<br />
be like those <strong>of</strong> the home teachers, which briefly are ‘to<br />
watch over the church always’—not twenty minutes a<br />
month but always—‘and be with and strengthen them’—<br />
not a knock at the door, but to be with them, and lift them<br />
and strengthen them, and empower them, and fortify<br />
them.” 4 This type <strong>of</strong> visiting teaching is “watch-care.”<br />
Watch-care was experienced by a sister who worked<br />
nights at a hospital. Her visiting teachers began coming<br />
each month to the hospital during her lunch hour, which<br />
was in the very, very early hours <strong>of</strong> the morning. She was<br />
amazed that they were willing to make such a sacrifice but<br />
greatly appreciated it.<br />
Cynthia E. Larsen <strong>of</strong> the Heritage Ward,<br />
Calgary Alberta Stake, discovered the joy <strong>of</strong><br />
watch-care with a challenging visiting teaching<br />
assignment. She says: “I remember<br />
being filled with apprehension the first time<br />
I visited Deanna. I thought we were complete<br />
opposites. She was single, an executive with an<br />
oil company, and a recent convert to the <strong>Church</strong>. Yet<br />
with each visit we found that we had much in common.<br />
“After Deanna developed cancer, she put my anxiety to<br />
rest as she calmly answered my questions with honesty<br />
and courage. From that <strong>day</strong> on, she began to teach me<br />
by example what dignity and endurance are.<br />
“In the following months, she enthusiastically educated<br />
herself and others about cancer. She organized a cancer<br />
information night for our Relief Society. She joined a local<br />
cancer support group.<br />
“Eventually the medication and chemotherapy treatments<br />
sapped Deanna <strong>of</strong> her strength and energy. On her<br />
‘good <strong>day</strong>s,’ she went for walks and encouraged other cancer<br />
patients. On her ‘bad <strong>day</strong>s,’ she worked at maintaining<br />
her optimism, conserving her strength, and building her<br />
testimony.<br />
“As Deanna’s condition worsened, our visits became<br />
daily. We laughed, we cried, we were silly, and we were<br />
intensely serious. She anticipated death, hesitantly at first,<br />
then confidently. She worked to make each <strong>day</strong> the best<br />
she could.<br />
“For months before her death I watched my dear friend<br />
and sister in the gospel find opportunities to serve. Yes, I<br />
served Deanna as her visiting teacher, but it was she who<br />
taught me about the blessings <strong>of</strong> living the gospel.”<br />
President Gordon B. Hinckley explains: “We<br />
have some <strong>of</strong> our own who cry out in<br />
pain and suffering and loneliness and<br />
fear. Ours is a great and solemn duty<br />
to reach out and help them, to lift<br />
them, to feed them if they are hungry,<br />
to nurture their spirits if they<br />
thirst for truth and righteousness.” 5