Emissaries of the Lord

In the1828 Dictionary the meaning of the word Emissary:
1) A person set on a mission; a missionary employed to preach and propagate the gospel.
2) A person sen ton a private message or business; a secret agent, employed to sound or ascertain the opinions of others, and to spread reports or propagate opinions favorable to his employer, or designed to defeat the measures or schemes of his opposers or foes; a spy; but an emissary may differ from a spy.  A spy in war is one who enters an enemy's camp or territories tolerant the condition of the enemy; an emissary may be a secret agent employed not only to detect the schemes of an opposing party, but to influence their councils.  A spy in war must be concealed, or he suffers death; an emissary may in some cases be known as the agent of an adversary, without incurring similar hazard.  3) That with sends out or emits.

In the October 2016 Priesthood Session, President Holland told a story of a sister whose name was Molly.  He said, "Not long ago a single sister, whom I will call Molly, cam home from work only to find 2 inches of water covering her entire basement floor.  Immediately she realized that her neighbors, with whom she shared drainage lines must have done an inordinate amount of laundry and bathing because she got the backed-up water.

After Molly called a friend to come and help, the two began bailing and mopping.  Just then the doorbell rang.  Her friend cried out, "It's your home teachers!"  Molly laughed, "it is the last day of the month, "  she replied, "but I can assure you it is not my home teachers."

With bare feet, wet trousers, hair up in a bandana, and a very fashionable pair of latex gloves, Molly made her way to the door.  But her stark appearance did not compare with the stark sight standing before her eyes.  It was her home teachers!

"You could have knocked me over with a plumber's friend!" she told me later.  "This was a home teaching miracle - the kind the Brethren share in general conference talks!"  But just as she was trying to decide whether to give them a kiss or hand them a mop, they said, "Oh Molly, we are sorry.  We can see you are busy.  We don't want to intrude; we'll come another time," and they were gone.

We need to ask ourselves, are we emissaries of the Lord?

We need to look at ourselves as Emissaries of the Lord as we do our Visiting Teaching, and know that everything counts!  The report that matters most is that you Care!  Care for and learn to love your sisters.

As the Relief Society President, Tammy Jensen is so grateful for everyone that helps their sisters carry their burdens.

Two weeks ago in ward council, the combined 5th Sunday lesson was cancelled.  So today we discussed and shared times when our lives were blessed by our visiting teachers.

Tammy Ward:
Tammy shared a story of when her first two children were very young.  She lived in a ward where people wouldn't accept callings and they didn't want to serve.  Tammy was assigned to serve with a sister that was in her 80's.  This sister lead by example.  Tammy and her companion served a sister that had five young boys and was terribly overwhelmed.  They went in and helped clean this sister's home each and every week until Tammy moved.  Tammy and her companion served this sister and learned to love her.  In return the sister they helped taught Tammy how to do canning and they blessed one another's lives.

Bonnie Ashby:
Sister Ashby was pregnant with her twins and was having a hard time .  She was put on bedrest at 6 months.  She was the organist in her ward and she remembers she went into labor on a Sunday.  She remembers being put on bedrest for the last 6 weeks of her pregnancy.  Her visiting teachers came to her home and even though they too were pregnant they weren't as large, or threatening to go into early labor like Bonnie was.  They told Bonnie that they were there to do her dishes.  To Bonnie, it was such a heartwarming blessing and it taught her what visiting teaching was all about.

Debbie Winchester:
Sister Winchester feels blessed that she has always had dedicated visiting teachers.  They have always come each and every month.  This consistency has been a blessing in her life.

Kathy Pinborough:
There was a time when Kathy had been hospitalized and was very ill.  She was later released from the hospital, but she continued to struggle with her health.  Her visiting teachers stopped by and Kathy couldn't believe it.  She cried she was so happy to see them.  This had a great effect on Kathy.  Her visiting teachers continued to visit and administer to her needs.  Kathy said she felt as though she was blessed by her visiting teachers because she was able to share her feelings with them without judgment.  Her visiting teachers were a true blessing to her, especially as she continued to heal.
She knew they cared and she felt of their love.

Tammy Jensen:
There was a time in Tammy's life when her husband Peter was serving in Iraq and she was pregnant with her youngest child.  She was feeling overwhelmed.  One day Tammy looked out of her window and to her surprise one of her visiting teachers and her family were working weeding in Tammy's rock garden.  Her visiting teacher continued to administer and help Tammy during this trying time.  It helped Tammy's love to grow and she gained a great love and friendship for this sister and her family.

IDEAS ON HOW I CAN BE A BETTER VISITING TEACHER:
1)  Don't procrastinate.  Go early in the Month.  Then if things come up it won't get put aside.
2)  Be flexible.  Be willing to go and visit your sister's when it is convenient for them.  Sometimes we need to put our own feelings aside and serve.
3)  Let your visiting teachers know that you are looking forward to their visits and try to be available for them to come visit.
4)  Be a stone-catcher instead of casting stones!  Be a positive asset to the community by being uplifting and nonjudgmental.  Truly love your sisters.
5)  Understand that visiting teaching will bless both your life as wells the lives of your sisters.
6)  When possible leave a message for your sisters so that they know you love them and care about them.
7)  Listen to the Spirit, it will lead you in how and when you can best serve your sisters.

What a wonderful lesson this was!  I am so grateful for those that contributed and were willing to share.

Introduction ~

This is a new Springs Hollow Blog for the sisters to be able to get information and share.  We hope that everyone will feel free to be a part.  This will be a place to read what the lessons were about and to find out what the other women, young women and primary girls are doing.  Please contact Jil Cornaby with any information you would like to share here.  Thanks!!