There and Back Again: Week 20

Since I was eighteen years old I have been a memeber of the Relief Society. It was established March 17, 1842 and is the oldest women's service organization in the world. It's motto is "Charity Never Faileth". Joseph Smith counseled those first sisters, "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 the morals and strengthening the virtues of the female community" We were to relieve the poor and save souls. We were to exhort; to encourage, to embolden, to cheer, to advise, to excite or give strength, spirit, or courage.

The Relief Society was started by two women who saw a need and wanted to help. At that time all the men in the town were sacrificing one working day in ten to build the temple. These women wanted to help by sewing clothes for the workers. These simple beginnings were blessed by Jesus Christ and through the prophet Joseph Smith they were organized by priesthood power to help Jesus with His work of blessing and caring for the entire WORLD! From this simple beginning we are now 7 million strong.

The temple is the sacred, joyful, space where one can make covenants with God to be what He wants us to be and to become like Him. Everything taught in the temple, through instruction and through the Spirit, increases our understanding of Jesus Christ. The Relief Society wanted to support the building of this amazing place.

The Relief Society helps us women to love and serve people more: our husbands, our children, our friends, and our neighbors (who hopefully are our friends too). The Society also gives us opportunities serve as Christ did, by learning skills that help us to be more efficient and effective...How to cook nutritious meals, budget, garden, change a tire, build things, parent better, sew, clean, create, learn technical skills, and how to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and more. Beyond what we get from the relief society, we give.

We are a sisterhood where we support and uplift each other. When I was three months pregnant I had to have my appendix removed. At that time Autumn and Spring were 2 years five months and 9 months old. I had to be on bedrest for 3 weeks so I wouldn't loose my precious Benny Boy. The women of the Relief Society came to my home every week day as Reg left for work. They cared for my two children and cleaned my house and fed me and the children and left dinner steaming on the table as Reg came home. It was overwhelming. I remember shouting from my bedroom, "OH! Don't mind the laundry, I'll do that when I can walk. It's not a big deal!" and my Relief Society Sisters calling back. Let us serve you, we don't mind. I'm telling you, when I was fully healed and could go back to church, I ALWAYS signed up on the clip board when there was a compassionate service need.

Last Sunday we had a Relief Society commemeration. Here in Nauvoo, in the VERY room where the first Relief Society was organized, we re enacted that first meeting and then listened to our current President speak to us. ENJOY video of this awesome meeting at this link. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/miscellaneous-events/2025/02/00-full-broadcast?lang=eng