January 2017 Visiting Teaching Printable Handouts

This month’s visiting teaching lesson is about the purpose of Relief Society.

The opening paragraph of this message quotes Linda K. Burton, Relief Society General President where she says that “it is through faith, family, and relief that we engage in our vital part in the work.” The phrase “faith, family, and relief,” really stuck out to me. It is literally three words that sum up Relief Society.

But it also sums up what we personally value in our lives. We cherish our faith, our families, and the relief that we are both able to give and receive from those around us, as well as the relief we feel because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Because of Him, we feel true relief.

I am so thankful to belong to an organization that has such wonderful purposes and helps me develop faith, serve my family, and give and receive relief!

I also wanted to make and share a printable for the Relief Society motto, “Charity Never Faileth.”

I love this motto. I read a really great talk called, “What Is Relief Society For?” by Aileen H. Clyde, who was the second counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency when the talk was written in 1995. She says:

“The Relief Society was organized by God’s prophet Joseph and has been led and is led today by a prophet so that we may become true followers of Jesus Christ. That is the answer to the question, “Why Relief Society?” That is why we participate and that is what it can do for us: instruct us more perfectly in our covenant obligations and promises to be disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. Or, as Joseph Smith instructed those first sisters in 1842: “[This] … Society is not only to relieve the poor, but to save souls” (History of the Church, 5:25). What does it mean to save souls? Let me give one example of the many I have witnessed as I have visited among you. A South African sister once told me that when her husband died and she was left to rear their six children, she relied on the teachings of the Bible for direction. She often pondered the meaning of Proverbs 13, verse 24, which is interpreted widely as “spare the rod and spoil the child.” [Prov. 13:24] When she joined the Church she turned to the Book of Mormon, too, for understanding. There she found mention of another rod, the word of God which leads one along the path to the tree of life. Then she understood that sparing this rod would certainly spoil her children. Thus, she has learned to order her home, to bring the light of the gospel, to save the souls of her children.” (You can read the full talk here.)

I hope that you can use these printables as gifts, handouts, and decor in your home or ward building. I enjoyed making them and so grateful that I can share them with you!