For those of you who were not able to attend the annual Relief Society Visiting Teaching Conference, we are so sorry. For you missed quite a treat; both a Spiritual treat and a more sugary, delicious Cupcake treat!
Sisters were asked to don their kitchen aprons and were greeted by over 200 cupcakes as they walked into the multipurpose room. Chocolate Cupcakes with Cream Cheese frosting, Yellow Cupcakes with Chocolate frosting, Coconut Cupcakes with Coconut frosting and many, many more.
How does "Cupcakes" tie into Visiting Teaching you may ask? Well, it ties in with the recipe. Just as cupcakes are made with specific ingredients, so is a Mother's Heart.
CHARITY: Just as the egg is the binding agent in cupcakes, Charity is a binding ingredient in our lives. Charity is the pure love of Christ.
Corinthians 13:1-4, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though bestow all my goods to fee the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long and is kind, charity envieth not, charity vaunteth not itself is not puffed up."
President Heber J. Grant, "There seems to be a power which the mother possesses in shaping the life of the child that is far superior, in my judgment, to the power of the father, and this almost without exception....After all it is by love, real genuine love of our fellows, that we accomplish the most. A mother's love seems to be the most perfect and the most sincere, the strongest of any love we know anything about. I, for one, rejoice in it because of its wonderful example to me."
DEVOTION/FAITH: Just as baking powder is a leavening agent, faith helps us to rise to new heights. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said, "Mothers, we acknowledge and esteem your faith in every footstep. Please know that it is worth it then, now and forever...Yours is the work of salvation, and therefore you will be magnified, compensated, made more than you are and better than you have ever been as you try to make honest effort, however feeble you may sometimes feel that to be."
PATIENCE: Flavor; salt. Every recipe calls for a little salt. Only a little is needed, but if you leave it out, it ruins the recipe. "One moment of patience may ward off great disaster. One moment of impatience may ruin a whole life."
Chinese Proverb. "Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet"
Phaedrus
HARMONY: Just as Harmony is sweet so is the Sugar needed in our recipe. President James E. Faust said, "There is no greater good in all the world than motherhood. The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation." How do our thoughts influence what we radiate to others? "If there is righteousness in the heart there will be beauty in the character. If there is beauty in the character there will be harmony in the home. If there is harmony in the home there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation there will be peace in the world."
Chinese Proverb
GENEROSITY/WILLING TO SACRIFICE & SERVE: Often we shed tears as we sacrifice and serve. Just as our tears are liquid, we need liquid in our recipe to moisten our batter allowing other ingredients, like baking soda, to work.
Proverbs 31: "Who can find a ...woman (with a mother's heart) for her price is far above rubies...She...worketh willingly with her hands...She riseth also while it is yet night,and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor....Strength and honor are her clothing...She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her."
HUMILITY: An essential ingredient, just as the flour is essential to our recipe being a success.
D&C 89:14 tells us that bread is the staff of life. Flour is an essential ingredient in the staff of life.
D&C 112:10 "Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand,and give thee answer to thy prayers." Matthew 18:4 "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Christ is the perfect example of humility. He came to serve not to be served and He did serve-God first, others second and Himself last.
Matthew 20:28, "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."
A woman with a Mother's Heart has a "special selflessness, rocks a sobbing child without wondering if todays world is passing you by because you know you hold tomorrow tightly in your arms. God trusts woman to much that he lets them bear and care for his spirit children."
Elder Neil Maxwell 
We hope that this year as you prepare to visit your sisters in the capacity of a Visiting Teacher that you will recall some of these scriptures and quotes. Use them in our life as you nurture and love those you Visit Teach as well as those you serve in your family.
