Relief Society

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The Relief Society Seal
The Relief Society is the women's organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Founded in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois the organization, with the motto "Charity Never Faileth," today includes more than 5.2 million women in over 170 countries. All Mormon females age 18 and older are members of the Relief Society.


Relief Society Motto and Declaration

The motto of the Relief Society, which is found in Moroni 7 as well as 1 Corrinthians 13 is "Charity never faileth".

The Relief Society Declaration states:

We are beloved spirit daughters of God, and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction. As a worldwide sisterhood, we are united in our devotion to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Exemplar. We are women of faith, virtue, vision, and charity who:
  • Increase our testimonies of Jesus Christ through prayer and scripture study.
  • Seek spiritual strength by following the promptings of the Holy Ghost.
  • Dedicate ourselves to strengthening marriages, families, and homes.
  • Find nobility in motherhood and joy in womanhood.
  • Delight in service and good works.
  • Love life and learning.
  • Stand for truth and righteousness.
  • Sustain the priesthood as the authority of God on earth.
  • Rejoice in the blessings of the temple, understand our divine destiny, and strive for exaltation.


Relief Society Objectives

  • Build faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and teach the doctrines of the kingdom.
  • Emphasize the divine worth of each sister.
  • Exercise charity and nurture those in need.
  • Strengthen and protect families.
  • Serve and support each sister.
  • Help sisters become full participants in the blessings of the priesthood.

A large part of meeting these objectives is the Relief Society's Visiting Teaching program. In this program, two women are asked to look after and visit other women in the ward at least once a month. This usually involves some sort of spiritual message and a chance for the women to get to know one another and strengthen each other. Through Visiting Teaching, every woman has someone to watch over them and the bonds of sisterhood are strengthened.


Women's Church Service Before 1842

Women have always been an integral part of Mormon Church service. Women toiled alongside of men in moving families and belongings to various gathering places, beginning homestead and farming operations, and performed charitable acts for the distressed.

Among the works women performed during its Kirtland period was assisting with the building of the Kirtland temple. Observing a band of sisters working on the temple veil the Prophet observed, "Well, sisters, you are always on hand. The sisters are always first and foremost in all good works. Mary was the first at the resurrection; and the sisters now are the first to work on the inside of the temple." (History of Relief Society 1842-1966, page 19)


1842 Organization of the Relief Society

In the spring of 1842, Sarah M. Kimball and her seamstress, Miss Cook, discussed combining their efforts to assist the efforts of workers on the Nauvoo Temple. They determined to invite their neighbors to combine efforts and assist in creating a Ladies' Society. Kimball asked Eliza R. Snow to write a constitution and by-laws for the organization for submission to Joseph Smith, Jr. for review.

After reviewing the notes, Joseph commented that "this is not what you want.... [The Lord] has something better for them than a written constitution. ... I will organize the sisters under the priesthood after a pattern of the priesthood." He further said, "The Church was never fully organized until the women were thus organized." (as quoted in History of Relief Society 1842-1966, page 18)

Apostle Dallin H. Oaks described it this way:

The Prophet declared that the Relief Society was to receive instruction and direction from the priesthood leaders who presided over their activities. Like the quorums of priesthood holders in the Church, the Relief Society was to be self-governing, but it was not to be an independent organization. It was an integral part of the Church, not a separate church for women. (Dallin H. Oaks, “The Relief Society and the Church,” Ensign, May 1992, 34)


The Female Relief Society of Nauvoo

Eighteen women gathered on Thursday, 17 March 1842 in the second story meeting room over Joseph Smith, Jr.'s Red Brick Store in Nauvoo, Illinois, USA. Joseph Smith, Jr., John Taylor, and Willard Richards sat on the platform at the upper end of the room with the women facing them. "The Sprit of God Like A Fire is Burning" was sung, and John Taylor opened the meeting with prayer. Joseph Smith, Jr. then organized the women in attendance who where:

  • Emma Hale Smith
  • Sarah M. Cleveland
  • Phebe Ann Hawkes
  • Elizabeth Jones
  • Sophia Packard
  • Philinda Merrick
  • Martha Knight
  • Desdemona Fulmer
  • Elizabeth Ann Whitney
  • Leonora Taylor
  • Bathsheba W. Smith
  • Phebe M. Wheeler
  • Elvira A. Coles (Cowles; later Elivira A. C. Holmes)
  • Margaret A. Cook
  • Sarah M. Kimball
  • Eliza R. Snow
  • Sophia Robinson
  • Sophia R. Marks

Additionally, eight other women not present that day were admitted to membership:

  • Sarah Higbee
  • Thirza Cahoon
  • Keziah A. Morrison
  • Marinda N. Hyde
  • Abigail Allred
  • Mary Snider
  • Sarah S. Granger
  • Cynthia A. Eldredge

Joseph Smith, Jr. stated "the object of the Society--that the Society of Sisters might provoke the brethren to good works in looking to the wants of the poor--searching after objects of charity and in administering to their wants--to assist by correcting morals and strengthening the virtues of the community, and save the Elders the trouble of reubuking; that they may five their time to other duties, &c, in their public teaching." (History of Relief Society 1842-1966, page 18)

Joseph Smith, Jr. also proposed that the women elect a presiding officer who would choose two counsellors to assist her. Emma Hale Smith was elected unanimously as president. She chose Sarah M. Cleveland and Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Whitney as her two counselors. John Taylor was appointed to ordain the women and did so. After discussion, it was unanimously agreed that the name of the fledgling organization be changed to "The Female Relief Society of Nauvoo."

Joseph Smith, Jr. then offered five dollars in gold to commence the funds of the Society and the men left the room.

Eliza R. Snow was unanimously elected as secretary, Phebe M. Wheeler as Assistant Secretary, and Elvira A. Coles, Treasurer. Emma Hale Smith remarked that each member should be ambitious to do good and seek out and relieve the distressed. Several female members then made donations to the Society.

The men returned, and John Taylor and Willard Richards also made donations. After singing "Come Let Us Rejoice," the meeting was adjourned to meet on the following Thursday at 10 o'clock. John Taylor then gave a closing prayer.

Later in his journal, the Prophet recorded: "I attended by request the Female Relief Society, whose object is the relief of the poor, the destitute, the widow, and the orphan, and for the exercise of all benevolent purposes" (History of Relief Society 1842-1966, page 61).


The Relief Society from 1842 to 1844

During the first few years of the organization, the Relief Society helped raise funds for the Nauvoo Temple, sewed clothes for the men working on its construction, nursed and cared for the sick and poor, and generally gave assistance where it was needed. By its tenth meeting on 27 May, 1842, the Society had grown so large that there was no hall large enough to accommodate the membership. All subsequent meetings were held in the Grove, the usual place of holding Sabbath meetings during summer months.

Anxious to do their part to help with temple building, Society minutes record sisters offering a variety of items, included socks, money, soap, clothes, milk, and thread. Sisters also housed men while working on the Temple and loaded wagons to collect wool. Those who may have had little else to offer donated time and their skills at making clothing repairs.

In the summer of 1842 the Female Relief Society circulated a petition signed by its members to Governor Carlin "for protection from illegal suits then pending agains the Prophet Joseph Smith." The Prophet was deeply moved by the action and expressed his gratitude by saying:

"The Female Relief Society have taken a most active part in my welfare against my enemies...if these measures had not been taken, more serious consequences would have resulted.... The Society have done well: thier principles are to practice holiness." (History of Relief Society 1842-1966 page 22)

The first annual report of the Female Relief Society made 16 March, 1843, reported receipt of "money, clothing, provisions, &c., &c," totalling $507.00. Of that amount, $306.48 was appropriated for the relief of the poor. One of the items purchased for the poor by the Society with that money was a cow for the use of "the widow H."

During the Society's 7 July, 1843, meeting, mention was made of the desperate circumstances of a widower with nine children. Sisters banded together and provided the family with a number of items including pantaloons, mittens, and thread. Sick men were taken in by some, and others stated thier willingness to do anything that was needed. Meetings of the Society continued until March 1844.


The Relief Society from 1844 to 1868

The meeting recorded 16 March 1844 in the Female Relief Society Book of Records was the last meeting held in Nauvoo by the Society. After the Joseph Smith, Jr. and Hyrum Smith were shot at Carthage, Illinois, on June 27, 1844, all efforts were put toward finishing the building of the Nauvoo Temple before the exodus west.

Eliza R. Snow carried the Book of Records with her as she fled Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1846. Elizabeth Ann Whitney conducted a few Relief Society meetings that year in Winter Quarters, Nebraska.

During the 1850s, while church members tried to gain a foothold in the Utah desert, church meetings were held irregularly. However, several wards in Utah had temporary Relief Society organizations. Among their purposes was the feeding and clothing of Native Americans. Though these women were poor themselves, they felt the need of Native Americans exceeded their own. Records are scant, but we do know in 1854 an Indian Relief Society was formed in the Thirteenth Ward Meeting House with Matilda Dudley as President and Martha J. Corary as secretary. That organization continued for three years and kept complete minutes and financial reports.

In 1858 records for Relief Societies in ten Salt Lake City wards and in several other wards in Ogden, Provo, Spanish Fork, and Nephi, Utah exist. Later that year, the arrival of Johnston's army interrupted the regularity of the work of the Society where ever it had begun.

Seeking "not only for the relief of the poor, but the accomplishment of every good and noble work" ("Female Relief Society," Deseret News, April 22, 1868) Brigham Young called Eliza Roxcy Snow, to assist bishops in organizing permanent branches of the Relief Society in 1868. She and nine other sisters began visiting wards and settlements, and at the end of the year, organizations existed in all twenty Salt Lake City wards, in nearly every county in Utah, and other nearby communities.

Meetings were held semimonthly. One meeting per month was devoted to sewing and caring for the needs of the poor, and at the other meeting, members received in structions and encouragements from the discussion of elevating and educational themes and bore testimonies.


Relief Society and the Campaign for Women's Suffrage

Since the organization of the Churh, Mormon women have voted side by side on all questions submitted to the Church membership for vote. This recognition of women was an advanced concept in the 1800s when few American women had political voice.

From 1847 to 1852, Utah women expressed themselves in political elections as well as religous votes. After Utah was admitted by the United States Congress as an official Territory in 1852, the privilege of voting was withdrawn for females.

By 1869, women all over the United States were organizing themselves to demand suffrage. In December 1869, the Wyoming Territorial Legislature granted suffrage to the women of Wyoming. Utah soon followed suit at the urging of Brigham Young, and women in Utah received their suffrage in February 1870 and the right to hold public office in 1880.

On 3 March, 1887, women in Utah again lost their right to vote by the passage of anti-polygamy legislation, the Edmunds-Tucker law. Between the years 1887 and 1895, Utah women campaigned aggressively for suffrage and statehood for Utah. Even after the Utah constitution was signed in 1896 by United States President Grover Cleveland granting Utah women the right to vote and hold public office, Relief Society women continued to associate with the National Woman Suffrage movement and sent delegates to National Suffrage Conventions. The Relief Society Magazine reported on the efforts of prominent Mormon suffragettes. They worked earnestly and rejoiced with all American women when the 19th Ammendment was ratified on 26 August, 1920, granting complete suffrage to women citizens of the United States.


Growth of the Relief Society

The meeting recorded 16 March 1844 in the Female Relief Society Book of Records was the last meeting held in Nauvoo by the Society. At that time, the Society had grown from a membership of 18 to 1,341. In 1942, membership in the organization was approximately 115,000 women, growing to 300,000 members in 1966]]. Today, (2006) the Relief Society has 5.2 million female members in over 170 countries.


The Relief Society Today

The Relief Society meets each Sunday (excluding conferences) during the Mormon block schedule. Weekly lessons consist of messages from former prophets or the current Church leaders. Mormon women also gather regularly for Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment meetings and activities (Enrichment for short). Enrichment gives Mormon women an additional opportunity to socialize, learn, and be uplifted. At Enrichments, Mormon women strengthen each other in their common roles as wives, mothers, sisters in Zion, and daughters of God.

During one of the Relief Society's annual conferences, current President Bonnie D. Parkin (2002--) had this to say about Relief Society:

Relief Society—the Lord’s organization for women. Relief Society is important to the Lord ... He provided women a safe haven from the harshness of the world when He gave us Relief Society. From the beginning our association together and our direction from priesthood leaders have helped us come unto Christ. There was no greater cause then; there is no greater cause today.
Relief Society was not man-made or woman-made. It was, as President Joseph F. Smith (1838–1918) explained, “divinely made, divinely authorized, divinely instituted, divinely ordained of God to minister for the salvation of the souls of women and of men.” Bonnie D. Parkin, “Oh, How We Need Each Other!” Ensign, Mar. 2004, 16


Presidents of the Relief Society

References

  • The Relief Society General Board Association, History of Relief Society 1842-1966, 1966.

External links

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