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In awe of this organization former LDS Church president Gordon B. Hinckley pondered, "Who even in the wildest stretch of imagination, can fathom the uncountable acts of charity that have been performed, the food that has been put on barren tables, the faith that has been nurtured in desperate hours of illness, the wounds that have been bound up, the pains that have been ameliorated by loving hands and quiet and reassuring words, the comfort that has been extended in times of death and consequent loneliness?"
To be a member of the women's organization of the LDS Church is a real privilege. With one hundred and seventy years of service behind them, with "angels as associates" (Joseph Smith), and as the "most independent creatures under the celestial world" (Harold B. Lee), the cumulative good that they have contributed to our world is astounding.
I am referring to LDS Church Relief Society, the oldest and largest women's organization in the world. Here are some of the things that describe Relief Society:
· It is patterned after the organization of the Priesthood, a pattern which was lost during the Apostasy, but restored in 1830 by Joseph Smith
· It extends Christ's discipleship, as women act in His behalf
· It provides a place of safety, refuge, and contentment in a tumultuous world
· It lifts women above "all that hinders her joy" (John A. Widtsoe)
Here is what Relief Society is NOT:
· A social club
· A lesser organization than the Priesthood
· A craft club
· A man made convention
In an effort to help the world understand the history and work of Relief Society, the LDS Church has just released a book entitled, "Daughters in My Kingdom". The book began as an assignment given to Susan Tanner, former Young Women general president. She and other women's leaders chose from thousands of pages of historical accounts, minutes from early Relief Society meetings, and journals of members to come up with a spiritual history of Relief Society and the women of the Church.
Going back to New Testament times, the first chapter reminds us that "while little is known about a formal organization of women, evidence suggests that they were vital participants in the Savior's ministry. Women journeyed with Jesus and His Twelve Apostles. They gave of their substance to assist His ministry. In an age when women were generally expected to provide only temporal service, the Savior taught Mary and Martha that women could also participate spiritually in His work."
"Others met and prayed together with the Apostles after His death and Resurrection. Dorcas made clothes for women in need. With her husband, Priscilla risked her life for the Apostles and provided their home for Church gatherings. A woman named Mary bestowed "much labor" for the Apostles. A woman named Lydia was baptized along with her household and then ministered to those who taught her. A woman named Phebe apparently held an ecclesiastical position of service in her congregation."
Continuing through the book, we see that women have been steadily contributing to the Relief Society since 1842, when Joseph Smith organized women under his wife, Emma, in Nauvoo. (Although he had received a revelation about her role in the Church years earlier, he waited to organize this vital part of the Mormon faith). After Joseph's martyrdom, and the Saint's exodus West, the Relief Society functioned in spirit through service offered in troubled times.
Once the Church was re-established in Salt Lake City, the Relief Society was able to thrive once more. They became involved in social programs, home industries, hospitals, and grain storage. They continued visiting one another (a practice that began shortly after their initial organization) and started collecting charitable donations to attend to the needy.
Chronologically, the Relief Society has a steady history of service in the community. For example, in 1873 all Relief Society sisters were encouraged to receive medical training; in 1876 they started the Silk Association; in 1882 they established the Deseret Hospital; and a special honor was given when Belle Spafford was recognized at the International Council of Women in 1934.
The First Presidency hopes that the book will fortify women through their trials and hardships, teach them how to listen to the Holy Ghost, and witness that they are an important part in God's Plan of Happiness. As women read and refer to the book, they will be reminded of their divine nature, how to strengthen themselves and their families, and how to help in building the kingdom of God on the earth.
Modern Relief Society began to take shape following the birth of the Relief Society Motto, "Charity Never Faileth" in 1913. Today LDS women around the world rally in times of natural disaster to make and distribute hygiene kits, quilts, and clothing. They tutor children and serve the elderly. They cook meals for the sick and for new mothers. They visit one another and also tend to the needs of their own families as a top priority.
Annually, LDS women gather to enjoy the annual General Relief Society Meeting, which is broadcast in seventy-one languages, and attended live in downtown Salt Lake City. It was during one of these meetings in 1995 that President Gordon B. Hinckley first read "The Family: A Proclamation to the World", a statement widely recognized in the Christian world that defines Latter Day Saint families.
For anyone who doubts the power a good woman, or who has heard that women in the LDS church are 'secondary' to men, President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "…(women) do not hold a second place in our Father's plan for the eternal happiness and well being of his children. Without (them) the plan could not function. There is strength and great capacity in (them). There is leadership and direction, a certain spirit of independence…and a great satisfaction in being part of the Lord's kingdom."
Women who are dedicated to doing good do not always receive recognition for their acts. The charge to lead out in everything that is "praiseworthy, Godlike, uplifting, and purifying" is a demanding one. But in Relief Society, women have each other, and they enjoy the strength of the communities they enrich. "To be a righteous woman during the winding up scenes on this earth, before the second coming of (Christ), is an especially noble calling," said Spencer W. Kimball. With over 6 million members, the greatest women's organization in the world may not be the best known. But it certainly does the most good, and to God that's enough.
In the very first Relief Society meeting Emma Smith said, "We are going to do something extraordinary." And she was right! From it's humble beginning in 1842, to its modern worldwide influence, Relief Society has lived up to its motto, "Charity Never Faileth". With God's help, they have accomplished much, in small ways in individual homes and globally.
"In any and every age of the world when God has called or commanded (someone) to perform a certain work, they through determination and perseverance, and faith in Him, have been able to accomplish it," said Wilford Woodruff in the Deseret News in 1881. Women of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are no exception. They should be proud of a rich history of service and spirituality that continues today.
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