December 2014 Visiting Teaching Message

December 2104 Visiting Teaching Message

The Divine Mission of Jesus Christ

Prince of Peace

A Savior Is Born, by Joseph Brickey

    Prayerfully study this material and seek to know what to share. How will understanding the life and roles of the Savior increase your faith in Him and bless those you watch over through visiting teaching? For more information, go to reliefsociety.lds.org.

“The Savior is the source of true peace,” said Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “Even with the trials of life, because of the Savior’s Atonement and His grace, righteous living will be rewarded with personal peace.”1 Understanding that Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace can help us find inner peace and increase our faith in Him.

Jesus Christ said: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Bearing testimony of that truth, Linda S. Reeves, second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, said: “The Lord has been merciful to me and has helped make my burdens light. He has helped me to feel great peace.”2

Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “The ideal place for … peace is within the walls of our own homes, where we have done all we can to make the Lord Jesus Christ the centerpiece.”3

                                                                   Additional Scripture

Isaiah 9:6; Luke 2:14; John 14:27; 1 Nephi 13:37; Doctrine and Covenants 59:23

Consider This

In what ways does the Savior

 bring peace to your life?

Isaiah prophesied of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace (see Isaiah 9:6). In the Americas, Samuel the Lamanite told of signs that would accompany Christ’s birth five years later (see Helaman 14:3, 5). As the prophesied day approached, unbelievers threatened to execute all the Christians if these signs did not occur. The prophet Nephi “cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying: … On the morrow come I into the world” (3 Nephi 1:12–13). The signs appeared, and with the birth of Christ, “the people began again to have peace in the land” (verse 23).

In Bethlehem, Mary “brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger” (Luke 2:7).

November 2014 Visiting Teaching Message

Dear sisters, As you get ready to visit your sisters, contemplate on their needs, then turn to the words of our last conference. In them you will find the help they need. You can be a part of God's plan for their life.

As sister Hinkley has often said, "Everyone you meet carries a heavy burden, so be kind." I  have always thought that to be so insightful!

May we be Gods hands this month.
Visiting Teaching Message

As a disciple of Jesus Christ, how does the message of His life and mission help you minister to your sisters?

November 2014

General Conference—Select from the talks given in the October general conference to share a visiting teaching message. Use inspiring messages from our leaders to teach and uplift.

October 2014 Visiting Teaching Message

The Divine Mission of Jesus Christ: Bread of Life

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Prayerfully study this material and seek to know what to share. How will understanding the life and mission of the Savior increase your faith in Him and bless those you watch over through visiting teaching? For more information, go to reliefsociety.lds.org.

This is part of a series of Visiting Teaching Messages featuring aspects of the mission of the Savior.

Detail from In Remberance of Me, by Walter Rane

Jesus said, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever” (John 6:51). “Jesus teaches us, His disciples, that we should look to God each day for the bread—the help and sustenance—we require in that particular day,” said Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “The Lord’s invitation … speaks of a loving God, aware of even the small, daily needs of His children and eager to assist them, one by one. He is saying that we can ask in faith of that Being ‘that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given’ (James 1:5).”¹ As we understand that Jesus Christ will provide for our needs, we will turn to Him for our spiritual sustenance.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles invites us “to join in the adventure of the earliest disciples of Christ who also yearned for the bread of life—those who did not go back but who came to Him, stayed with Him, and who recognized that for safety and salvation there was no other to whom they could ever go.”²

Additional Scriptures 

John 6:32–35; Alma 5:34; 3 Nephi 20:3–8

From the Scriptures

Jesus Christ was teaching a multitude of more than 4,000 people. After three days, He said to His disciples: “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have … nothing to eat:

“And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way. …

“And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?

“And [Jesus] asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.”

Then Christ “took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; …

“And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.

“So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.” (See Mark 8:1–9.)

Consider This

When we come unto Christ, how does He nourish us?

August 2014 Visiting Teaching Message

August 2014 Visiting Teaching Message

The Divine Mission of Jesus Christ: Messiah

    Prayerfully study this material and seek to know what to share. How will understanding the life and roles of the Savior increase your faith in Him and bless those you watch over through visiting teaching? For more information, go to reliefsociety.lds.org.

This is part of a series of Visiting Teaching Messages featuring aspects of the mission of the Savior.

Detail from The Second Coming, by Grant Romney Clawson, based on an original by Harry Anderson

The scriptures teach that we can dwell in the presence of God “through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah” (2 Nephi 2:8). Messiah is “an Aramaic and Hebrew word meaning ‘the anointed.’ … In the New Testament Jesus is called the Christ, which is the Greek equivalent of Messiah. It means the anointed Prophet, Priest, King, and Deliverer.”1

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles testified: “I know [Jesus Christ] is the Holy One of Israel, the Messiah who will one day come again in final glory, to reign on earth as Lord of lords and King of kings. I know that there is no other name given under heaven whereby a man [or woman] can be saved.”2

“[Jesus Christ] is the Savior and Redeemer of the world,” said President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency. “He is the promised Messiah. He lived a perfect life and atoned for our sins. He will ever be at our side. He will fight our battles. He is our hope; He is our salvation; He is the way.”3

Additional Scriptures
John 1:38–41; 4:25–26, 40–42; 2 Nephi 6:13; 25:16–17

From the Scriptures

Female disciples of Christ have been witnesses of His role as the Messiah. Mary Magdalene was a disciple of Jesus Christ. She was the first to see “the stone taken away from the sepulchre” on the morning of Christ’s Resurrection. She “stood without at the sepulchre weeping” after discovering that His body was no longer in the tomb.

Then “she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

“Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

“Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.” Mary recognized that He was not the gardener but Jesus Christ, the Messiah. (See John 20:1–17.) 

Consider This
Why is it important to understand the Savior’s role as the Messiah?

    Notes
      1.Guide to the Scriptures, “Messiah,” scriptures.lds.org.
      2.   Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent,” Ensign, Nov. 2007, 42.
      3. Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Way of the Disciple,” Ensign, May 2009, 78.
Official Web site of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints© 2014 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All Rights Reserved

July 2014 Visiting Teaching Message

July 2014 Visiting Teaching Message

The Divine Mission of Jesus Christ: Advocate

Prayerfully study this material and seek to know what to share. How will understanding the life and mission of the Savior increase your faith in Him and bless those you watch over through visiting teaching? For more information, go to reliefsociety.lds.org.

This is part of a series of Visiting Teaching Messages featuring aspects of the mission of the Savior.

Not My Will, but Thine, Be Done, by Harry Anderson, courtesy of pacific Press Publishing Association, Inc., may not be copied

Jesus Christ is our Advocate with the Father. The word advocate has Latin roots meaning “one who pleads for another.”¹ The Savior pleads for us, using understanding, justice, and mercy. Knowing this can fill us with love and gratitude for His Atonement.

“Listen to [Jesus Christ] who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him—

“Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;

“Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life” (D&C 45:3–5).

Of Christ as our Advocate, Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “It is of great significance to me, that I may at any moment and in any circumstance approach through prayer the throne of grace, that my Heavenly Father will hear my petition, that my Advocate, him who did no sin, whose blood was shed, will plead my cause.”²

Additional Scriptures

Mosiah 15:8–9; Moroni 7:28; Doctrine and Covenants 29:5; 110:4

From the Scriptures

Throughout the history of the Lord’s Church, female disciples of Jesus Christ have followed His example. Esther was faithful and courageous. Her cousin Mordecai sent her a copy of the king’s decree that the Jews should be destroyed, and he charged her “to make request before [the king] for her people.” He added: “And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:8, 14.)

Despite the danger, Esther agreed: “So will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).

Esther then spoke humbly to the king and “fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears … to reverse the letters … to destroy the Jews.” She added, “How can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?” (see Esther 8:3, 5–6). The king’s heart was softened, and he granted her petition.³

Consider This

How can the advocacy of Jesus Christ inspire us to extend mercy and forgiveness to others?

Notes

1.   1. See Russell M. Nelson, “Jesus Christ—Our Master and More” (Brigham Young University fireside, Feb. 2, 1992), 4; speeches.byu.edu.
   
2.   2. D. Todd Christofferson, “I Know in Whom I Have Trusted,” Ensign, May 1993, 83.
   
3.   3. See also Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of Relief Society (2011), 180.
   

Official Web site of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
© 2014 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All Rights Reserved