In the early days of the Church, the apostles soon found themselves overwhelmed with the demands of a growing membership. They called others to assist them in the work.

After the Restoration, the Prophet Joseph Smith realized, he, too, was unable to shoulder the ever-expanding burden, and was directed by the Lord to call others to assist him.

Today, with Church membership in the millions and continuing to grow annually, each of us — as a home teacher or visiting teacher — shares in the responsibility to build up the kingdom of God where we reside and to help strengthen one another.

The home teaching and visiting teaching programs provide priesthood holders and Relief Society sisters with opportunities to serve fellow Church members. Inspired leaders help us in our callings, and the Church itself provides many useful resources to assist individuals and families.

As a home teacher or visiting teacher, do you consider yourself a valued gospel resource?

Do you view your own home teacher or visiting teacher as a trusted family resource?

Would home teaching and visiting teaching take on a higher priority if we could measure the blessing it is in our lives and the lives of those we visit?

What prevents us from grasping the true impact these programs have in helping to fulfill the Church's mission of perfecting the saints?

Home teachers and visiting teachers help parents reinforce the gospel principles being taught in the home. Home teachers and visiting teachers provide help in times of distress and are the first link in the chain that keeps members in contact with their priesthood leaders. They are the conduit to Church resources and provide comfort and support to those in need. They usually are the first individuals outside family members called in times of emergency.

Visiting teachers and home teachers offer comfort and stability. President Gordon B. Hinckley has said, "Our people need help. They have so many problems — social problems, domestic problems, marital problems — so much of it. We need to help. We need to get home teachers out more among them, to strengthen them, to listen to them, to lift them and encourage them and help them with their complicated lives." (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, p. 263.)

Inspired home teachers and visiting teachers can sense when members need added attention. They can tailor messages of love and support, reinforce gospel principles and standards and guide families toward self-reliance and self-respect.

Visiting teachers and home teachers provide more than just a listening ear. They serve with love and, with such, work outside their own "comfort zone" in assisting their brothers and sisters. When they do, they truly fulfill the scriptural promise in the epistle of James:

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." (James 1:27.)

The true measure of home teaching and visiting teaching may lie in actually helping to frustrate the seeds of apostasy. By providing positive role models and enthusiasm for gospel living, home teachers and visiting teachers inspire others to "stay the course."

President Hinckley recognizes the challenges ahead, but remains confident the work will move forward. He said: "I hope that home teachers and visiting teachers will experience two things: first the challenge of the responsibility that is in their great calling, and second, the sweetness of results from their work particularly with those among us who are less active. I hope that these teachers will get on their knees and pray for direction, and then go to work to bring these wandering prodigals back into the fold of the Church. If home and visiting teachers respond to this challenge, I honestly believe that they will taste the sweet and wonderful feeling which comes of being an instrument in the hands of the Lord in leading someone back into activity in His Church and kingdom." (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, p. 263.)

May we abide by President Hinckley's counsel to pray for direction, then go do the work as worthy representatives of the Lord. And may we as family members welcome these dedicated brothers and sisters into our homes.