Did you know that you can share any quote, message or “principle you that will bless the sisters you Visit” Teach? With so many different; personalities, trials, talents, circumstances, ages, likes, preferences, careers, etc… There is not one sister who is exactly the same temporally, emotionally or spiritually. You don’t have to stick to the monthly message. Each sister may need a different message at a different time or month in her life. The leaders of The Church select these specific topics and messages which they feel will help all of us become more like our Savior and they help to keep us focused and organized on 1 theme or topic. And of course they will, there is always room for improvement when we’re not perfect. However, some sisters may need a bit more help in other areas too. We know our sisters best, or so we should, and Heavenly Father has entrusted them to us so that we can be His instrument in helping our sisters reach their full potential. So sky’s the limit, let the spirit guide you in selecting a quote, message or principle which you “feel” will help her become the woman Heavenly Father would want her to become. You’re her Visiting Teacher, you should know her best!

Just 1 example: I shared the First Presidency message with one of my sisters and she appreciated it. I also knew her Home Teachers hadn’t been assigned yet, so that was perfect.

Have you ever shared a different message? Have your ever wanted to share a different message but couldn’t? (It says we can, just before every message.)

A Visiting Teacher Supervisor by Peggy Moore
Your calling is from The Lord above,
Visiting Teachers spread His Love
You are their leader to show the way
It’s not easy you may want to say

At the end of each month your report is due
Not everyone has bothered to call, it’s true
These sisters you call and call again
Are busy with loved ones, family, and kin

Try not to give up and blow them away
You are their teacher, teach them this day
Have patience, love, and understandin’
Realize their lives are very demanding

The Lord sent you to be their friend
So never give up just call till the end
“I’m tired of calling” please don’t chant
You’re a friend who calls because He can’t

Today’s Treats! One treat idea comes from the June 2009 Visiting Teaching Message. The other treat idea is a cute recipe which includes prayer to further enhance this month’s message about Sincere Prayer. Print the PDF tags for your sisters below!

54. Drawing /Note Pad w/ Crayons, Markers or Pencils: “Prayer changes our lives. Through it we draw near to the Lord, and he reaches out his finger and touches us, so we never again are the same.” Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, (“Patterns of Prayer,” Ensign, May 1984, 32)

55. Wooden Spoon:
“I know a simple recipe that anyone can make.
It isn’t for an apple pie; it isn’t for a cake.
You need not stir in sugar. Don’t add a pinch of salt.
It isn’t for a cookie. It isn’t for a malt.
It comes from Heavenly Father, who watches from above.
You start with just your family; add kindness, faith, and love.
Throw in some joy and laughter, and of course a cup of care.
Don’t forget to add the sharing and a generous dose of prayer.
Make sure you stir it really well, so everyone can see
You’ve made a happy, loving home from this simple recipe.”
(Jane Lamb, “A Simple Recipe,” Friend, Mar 2009, 27)

Download VT Printable Tags:

Download this week’s Treat Tuesday Tags Template for Visiting Teachers PDF by clicking the image below. Print it on patterned or colored paper and add it to your gifts more easily. Each with a different font!

Instructions:

1. Just print on patterned/colored paper or cardstock
2. Cut it out. (Cut within the lines so the lines don’t show.)
3. Punch a hole and use ribbon or tape to add it to the treat.
4. Don’t forget to sign both of your names when gifting so they know it came from their Visiting Teachers.

View all Treat Tuesdays or View all Gift Ideas

Today’s Treats! (LDS April 2009 General Conference themed treats which can be used for Visiting Teaching and, for a limited time, Home Teaching)

33. Resolve Carpet Cleaner: “Before we yield to temptation, we must learn to say with unflinching resolve, “Get thee behind me, Satan” (Matthew 16:23).” Robert D. Hales, “Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually,” Ensign, May 2009

34. Respond Game or Board Game with a Buzzer for responding: “Our success is never measured by how strongly we are tempted but by how faithfully we respond.” Robert D. Hales, “Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually,” Ensign, May 2009

35. Shoes: “One gift that will help us navigate our lives is the gift He has given to all, the ability and power to shoes.” José A. Teixeira, “Gifts to Help Us Navigate Our Life,” Ensign, May 2009

36. Rice: “Rice up and engage [yourself] in the wonderful opportunity to truly be a brother’s (or sister’s) keeper.” Richard C. Edgley, “This Is Your Phone Call,” Ensign, May 2009 – (This one is great for Visiting Teaching and Home Teaching Supervisors too!)

37. Musk (perfume, lotion or soap): “We cannot and we musk not allow ourselves to get distracted from our sacred duty. We cannot and we must not lose focus on the things that matter most.” Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “We Are Doing a Great Work and Cannot Come Down,” Ensign, May 2009

Download VT or HT Printable Tags:

This week I decided to add more Home Teaching Tags because the Conference Messages are used for both Visiting Teaching and Home Teaching this month, so feel free to make a treat and print a tag for your hubby to use for his Home Teaching too.

Download this week’s Treat Tuesday Tags Template for Visiting Teachers PDF or Treat Tuesday Tags Template for Home Teachers PDF by clicking either one of the links or images below, so you can print it on patterned or colored paper and add it to your gifts more easily. Each with a different font!

Instructions:

1. Just print on patterned/colored paper or cardstock
2. Cut it out. (Cut within the lines so the lines don’t show.)
3. Punch a hole and use ribbon or tape to add it to the treat.
4. Don’t forget to sign both of your names when gifting so they know it came from their Visiting Teachers or even their Home Teachers.

If you have any Treat Ideas with quotes from any of the April 2009 General Conference addresses, please email it to me so I can share it with others for next week’s Treat Tuesday Ideas.

View all Treat Tuesdays or View all Gift Ideas

Read, Watch or Listen to General Conference

Today’s Treats! (LDS April 2009 General Conference themed treats which can be used for Visiting Teaching and, for a limited time, Home Teaching)

28. Purse: “Our covenants supply strength—they produce the faith necessary to [purse-evere] and to do all things that are expedient in the Lord.” D. Todd Christofferson, “The Power of Covenants,” Ensign, May 2009

29. Adhesive: “Adhering to the covenant path provides the reassurance we need in times of trial” D. Todd Christofferson, “The Power of Covenants,” Ensign, May 2009

30. Flintstones Vitamins: “Learning the lessons of the past allows you to build personal testimony on a solid bedrock of obedience, faith, and the witness of the Spirit.” M. Russell Ballard, “Learning the Lessons of the Past,” Ensign, May 2009

31. Nouriche Yogurt Shake: “May you constantly [nouriche] your testimonies that they might be a protection to you against the adversary.” President Thomas S. Monson, “Until We Meet Again,” Ensign, May 2009

32. Dots Candy, Dippin Dots or Glue Dots: “Today temples dot the earth as sacred places of ordinances and covenants, of edification, and of refuge from the storm.” Lets go to the temple oft! David A. Bednar, “Honorably Hold a Name and Standing,” Ensign, May 2009

Download VT or HT Printable Tags:

This week I decided to add Home Teaching Tags because the Conference Messages are used for both Visiting Teaching and Home Teaching this month, so now you can make a treat and print a tag for your hubby to use for his Home Teaching too. Oh…but I left the purse tag with the Visiting Teaching signature because I didn’t think any of the guys would use it. LOL

Download this week’s Treat Tuesday Tags Template for Visiting Teachers PDF or Treat Tuesday Tags Template for Home Teachers PDF by clicking either one of the links or images below, so you can print it on patterned or colored paper and add it to your gifts more easily. Each with a different font!

Instructions:

1. Just print on patterned/colored paper or cardstock
2. Cut it out. (Cut within the lines so the lines don’t show.)
3. Punch a hole and use ribbon or tape to add it to the treat.
4. Don’t forget to sign both of your names when gifting so they know it came from their Visiting Teachers or even their Home Teachers.

If you have any Treat Ideas with quotes from any of the April 2009 General Conference addresses, please email it to me so I can share it with others for next week’s Treat Tuesday Ideas.

View all Treat Tuesdays or View all Gift Ideas

Read, Watch or Listen to General Conference

For this month I designed a Flower Pot Card with Bookmarks (so appropriate for May and Moms). I chose to include quotes from the First Presidency, because you can never go wrong when you quote them. So that’s 3 different talks! It’ll give the sisters a little taste of what Conference was about and get the sisters excited about reading more. Feel free to use this Flower Pot Card if you’d like, but don’t feel obligated to only share the messages which are on the bookmarks. Remember, we must pray about it. You can share a different message with the sisters you Visit Teach. These quotes may not be exactly what your sisters need but they are still great quotes and make the perfect little gift. Who knows I may or may not end up using different quotes for the sisters I visit teach, still have a few more messages to review.

Here are the talks which were chosen:
Be Your Best Self – President Thomas S. Monson (Yes, ladies it’s from the Priesthood session, they talk about stuff that applies to us too you know. Remember…liken to yourself!)
Adversity – President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency
The Way of the Disciple – President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency

Flower Pot Card Instructions:

1. Download Flower Pot Card PDF & Flower Bookmarks PDF (click image files below)
2. Print in color on white or light colored cardstock.
3. Cut out Pot and pick the tag you will be using.
4. Fold Card in half and add a little tiny bit of adhesive on the top right and left corners to keep it together.
5. Write your names on the back of the card.
6. Cut out each bookmark (carefully around the flowers) Flower Bookmarks PDF and insert them in through the top of the pot with the flowers facing the front.
7. Adhere the tag to the front of the card with glue, ribbon, brad or staple. (be careful to only adhere the tag to the pot and not the rest of the bookmarks.

If you are having a hard time choosing which talk to use, here’s another gift idea from Hand Picked Daisy. She’s made this super cute kit and it includes a quote from “Finding Strength in Challenging Times” by Elder Allan F. Packer as well as a recipe. You can order these convenient ALREADY MADE Visiting Teaching kits from Hand Picked Daisy, they are only $4.

Read, Watch or Listen to General Conference

Today’s Treats!

9. Comb or pack of combs – “Scriptures, “comb”-ined with prayer, become an irreplaceable part of gaining and sustaining a strong, vibrant testimony.” Elder Donald L. Staheli, “Securing Our Testimonies,” Ensign Nov 2004.

10. Milk (any kind) – “Milk” the scriptures for all of their worth.

11. Lifesavers Candy or Mini Lifesaver tube – You can’t be a “life saver” if you look like all the other swimmers on the beach.” Elder Dallin H. Oaks April 2009 General Conference, Sunday pm Session.

12. Flashlight – “The future is as bright as your faith.” President Thomas S. Monson April 2009 General Conference, Sunday pm Session.

View all Treat Tuesdays or View all Gift Ideas

Front Text: “Home is a haven against the storms and struggles of life. When we…Uphold, Nourish & Protect the Family.”

Back Text: “NOW is the time to get our house in order, so that LATER we will enjoy the blessings of an eternal family.” Followed by the 2nd quote in this month’s Visiting Teaching Message which is by Julie B. Beck.

Instructions are on the front side. This enhancer is meant to be printed double sided on cardstock.

Download Front Side PDF & Download Back Side PDF

Note: This idea was obviously inspired by Pioneer Party & Copy which is located in Lehi, UT. I know they ship their Visiting Teaching message enhancers but because there is no longer time for some of us (out of staters) to buy these wonderful houses they have made, I figured I’d help out and digitally design my own and make it available for you all to download for free. If you ever find a Visiting Teaching enhancement idea on another site or just think of one yourself and wish you could have it available to print at home, just let me know and I can see if I can design something similar. Then I can make it available for the rest of the Visiting Teachers out there.

In today’s economy we all need a little blessing. Attach this quote to a box of TISSUES – “May your life be like a sneeze…always ending in God’s blessing!”

A nice way to let your sisters know you’re thinking of them. Very affordable too!

Optional treat ideas: Chocolate Starfish (available at Godiva Stores) or Star shaped cookies.

Be Involved Story
There was a man walking on the beach. He saw a young man reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean.

As he got closer he called out,
“Good morning, what are you doing?”

The young man paused, looked up and replied,
“Throwing starfish in the ocean.”

“I guess I should have asked,
why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?”

“The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if
I don’t throw them in they’ll die.”

“But young man don’t you realize that there are miles
and miles of beach and starfish all along it.
You can’t possibly make a difference!”

The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea,
past the breaking waves and said,
“It made a difference for that one.”

We have all been gifted with the ability to make a difference. We must find our starfish.
And if we throw our stars wisely and well,
the world will be blessed.

-anonymous

Elder Robert S. Wood of the Seventy: “. . . We have the responsibility to be a blessing to others, to our nation, to the world” (“On the Responsible Self,” Ensign, Mar. 2002, 30–31).