I joined the church at 25 years old. I had an inferiority complex and didn’t have social skills. I didn’t know anything about God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost and couldn’t pray vocally.

Being a visiting teacher for 50 years helped me overcome all these things. I learned that God loves me, and He told that I can do this. I can overcome my fears because He, Jesus and the Holy Ghost, help me if I want to change for the better.

As I visited sisters, I learned about their lives, struggles, joys, experiences, and learned how to talk one on one. Learning about their lives helped me progress. I learned I could do the same for them by sharing my experiences. I am so grateful for the ministering program. It has been a blessing in my life.

Linda Lovshin

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Questions About Why We Participate in Ministering

Why do you participate in ministering?

Do you like it?

Do you find joy in it?

If you don't like it, why do you do it?

If you do like it, why don’t you do it?

If you don't like it, maybe you don't do it, but you take on the responsibility anyway not accomplishing the responsibility.

If you do like it, maybe you don’t do it, because you have excuses.

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My First Experience in Visiting Teaching

When I first started visiting teaching, I can't say that I loved it. I wasn't so much a people person. Visiting with people wasn't my forte. When I started doing it, I did it because it was a responsibility that God wanted me to do, and I wanted to be obedient. But I only took on the responsibility if I knew I was going to be responsible for it.

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Christ is called the “Shepherd and Bishop of [our] souls.” Elder Juan A. Uceda

 

Our bodies come up with excuses and the world tells us that these excuses are okay, so we use them. We use them, because the world says they're good excuses and we can get away with saying, “I have anxiety, fear, and no time. I can't go because the world tells me that my excuses are acceptable, and I believe them.”  

We like that we have excuses. We like that we can make up reasons why we don't take action on responsibilities we have agreed to participate in.

But we need voices that say, NO don't use that for an excuse!

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Our souls. Our spirits.

In order to be better ministers, we must pay attention to Christ leading our souls to be better teachers, to help others and ourselves learn about governing the body, and to have Christ sanctify us through our works.

We must listen to His voice.