Relief Society

Scripture

“8 Charity never faileth…”

Hymn

Love At Home– Hymn #294 or As Sisters in Zion– Hymn #309

1. There is beauty all around
When there’s love at home;
There is joy in ev’ry sound
When there’s love at home.
Peace and plenty here abide,
Smiling sweet on ev’ry side.
Time doth softly, sweetly glide
When there’s love at home.
Love at home, love at home;
Time doth softly, sweetly glide
When there’s love at home

2. In the cottage there is joy
When there’s love at home;
Hate and envy ne’er annoy
When there’s love at home.
Roses bloom beneath our feet;
All the earth’s a garden sweet,
Making life a bliss complete
When there’s love at home.
Love at home, love at home;
Making life a bliss complete
When there’s love at home.

3. Kindly heaven smiles above
When there’s love at home;
All the world is filled with love
When there’s love at home.
Sweeter sings the brooklet by;
Brighter beams the azure sky.
Oh, there’s One who smiles on high
When there’s love at home.
Love at home, love at home;
Oh, there’s One who smiles on high
When there’s love at home.

As Sisters in Zion

1. As sisters in Zion, we’ll all work together;
The blessings of God on our labors we’ll seek.
We’ll build up his kingdom with earnest endeavor;
We’ll comfort the weary and strengthen the weak.

2. The errand of angels is given to women;
And this is a gift that, as sisters, we claim:
To do whatsoever is gentle and human,
To cheer and to bless in humanity’s name.

3. How vast is our purpose, how broad is our mission,
If we but fulfill it in spirit and deed.
Oh, naught but the Spirit’s divinest tuition
Can give us the wisdom to truly succeed.

Lesson

*For All Family Members* Read or summarize “Relief Society: A Sacred Work” by Julie B. Beck (taken from October 2009 Gen Relief Society Meeting). Testify of the importance and blessings that come from the service of Relief Society sisters.

Ours is a work of salvation, service, and becoming a holy people.

This is a beautiful gathering of Relief Society women. Since our last general meeting, I have been blessed to visit many of you. Thank you for your faithful lives and dedicated service. In recent general Relief Societymeetings, we have been taught how strong and immovable Latter-day Saint women know and fulfill the purpose of Relief Society.¹Tonight I hope to enlarge our testimony and understanding of Relief Society as a faith-based work. I will speak of the purpose of this work and the way we accomplish it.

We know that the purpose of Relief Society as established by the Lord is to prepare women for the blessings of eternal life by helping them:

1.Increase their faith and personal righteousness.
2.Strengthen their families and homes.
3.Serve the Lord and His children.

The history, purpose, and work of Relief Society are unique among all women’s organizations. In 1942, for the centennial of the Relief Society, the First Presidency of the Church said:

“No other woman’s organization in all the earth has had such a birth. …

“Members [of Relief Society] should permit neither hostile nor competitive interests of any kind to detract from the duties and obligations, the privileges and honors, the opportunities and achievements of membership in this great Society.”²

If our membership in Relief Society is so important, we need to know what sets us apart from every other woman’s group or organization. Everything we do in Relief Society matters because Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, visited Joseph Smith and, through him, the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth. Relief Society is part of that restoration. The Prophet Joseph Smith defined the purpose of the Relief Society and instructed the sisters in their purpose, just as he taught priesthood leaders in Kirtland and Nauvoo their priesthood purpose and work. Ours is an organization that continues to be led today by prophets, seers, and revelators.

Relief Society is unique because it was organized after the “pattern of the priesthood”³and we operate on a general and local level under the direction of priesthood leaders. We work in partnership with priesthood leaders, who hold keys which give them authority to preside in the name of the Lord. We operate in the manner of the priesthood—which means that we seek, receive, and act on revelation; make decisions in councils; and concern ourselves with caring for individuals one by one. Ours is the priesthood purpose to prepare ourselves for the blessings of eternal life by making and keeping covenants. Therefore, like our brethren who hold the priesthood, ours is a work of salvation, service, and becoming a holy people.

President Boyd K. Packer has taught that “the Relief Society has very broad responsibilities.

“Attendance at the Sunday meeting is but a small part of your duty. Some of you have not understood this and have set aside much of what Relief Society has meant over the years—the sisterhood, the charitable and practical parts of it.”

He explained:

“The Relief Society, the Prophet [Joseph] told us, is organized after the pattern of the priesthood. When a man holds the priesthood, … it requires full dedication and loyalty. …

“Membership in the priesthood magnifies the man and the boy. Wherever he is, whatever he does, no matter with whom he associates, he is expected to honor his priesthood. …

“If you sisters follow after that pattern, … you will serve your organization, your cause—the Relief Society. …

“Service in the Relief Society magnifies and sanctifies each individual sister. Your membership in Relief Society should be ever with you.”⁴

Working in the Lord’s Way

When our purpose is clear, it naturally follows that there is an appropriate way to carry out our responsibilities. Let us review how the faith-based work of Relief Society is to be administered. One of the most precious commodities we all have is time. Most women have many responsibilities and never have sufficient time to do everything their hearts and minds want to do. We show respect for the Lord and the sisters when we use Relief Society time in an inspired way.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught: “A wise man once distinguished between ‘the noble art of getting things done’ and ‘a nobler art of leaving things undone.’ True ‘wisdom in life,’ he taught, consists of ‘the elimination of non-essentials.’” President Uchtdorf then asked: “What are the nonessential things that clutter your days and steal your time? What are the habits you may have developed that do not serve a useful purpose? What are the unfinished or unstarted things that could add vigor, meaning, and joy to your life?”⁵We can apply his questions to allRelief Society meetings and work.

Relief Society Sunday Meetings

We hold the weekly meeting of our society on Sundays as part of our regular three-hour block of meetings. It is amazing to contemplate that every Sunday, all around the world, thousands of groups of sisters are gathering to increase their faith, strengthen their families, and coordinate their efforts to provide relief. Our Sunday meetings are only 50 minutes in length, so we begin those meetings by taking care of essential business that will help us be more unified and effective in ourRelief Society work. We keep our business brief, dignified, organized, and in keeping with who we are and what we are to do.

Just as the sisters in the first Relief Society meetings received instruction from prophets and apostles, we study the words of Church leaders today. What a blessing it is to have correlated resources that teach doctrine and principles to help us live the gospel in our personal lives and homes. Because this work is based on faith, Relief Society lessons are most effective when inspired teaching takes place and “[she] that preacheth and [she] that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together.”⁶

Additional Relief Society Meetings

All of our meetings and activities are meetings of Relief Society sisters. For the past number of years, we have called additional Relief Societymeetings home, family, and personal enrichment meetings. In response to concerns about the complexity of that title and the different interpretations about the purpose of those meetings, a decision has been made that the name “home, family, and personal enrichment” will be discontinued effective now. In counsel with the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, it was determined that rather than give these additional Relief Society meetings a new title, all such meetings and activities will now be referred to simply as Relief Society meetings. Individual Relief Society meetings that are held during the week can be called whatever they are: Relief Society service, classes, projects, conferences, or workshops.

These additional meetings can be valuable supplements to Sunday instruction, especially for sisters who serve in Primary or Young Women or who are unable to attend Sunday meetings. These meetings also provide a wonderful place to bring our friends of other faiths and to include Relief Society sisters who do not actively participate in the Church. All Relief Society members and their friends are invited and welcome. However, sisters should not be made to feel that attendance at these meetings is mandatory.

Under the direction of the bishop, the ward Relief Society presidency can use these meetings to address spiritual and temporal needs of individuals and families in the ward and to strengthen sisterhood and unity.

When sisters meet for Relief Society meetings during the week, they have the opportunity to learn and accomplish the charitable and practical responsibilities of the Relief Society. This is where they learn and practice skills that will help them increase their faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and provide service to those in need. These meetings are meant to be instrumental in teaching the skills and responsibilities of womanhood and motherhood in the Lord’s plan. It is here that women learn and apply principles of provident living and spiritual and temporal self-reliance, and they also increase in sisterhood and unity as they teach one another and serve together.

The ward Relief Society president oversees all Relief Society meetings. As part of this responsibility, she counsels regularly with the bishop regarding how these meetings can help meet the needs of individuals and families in the ward.

The Relief Society presidency prayerfully considers how often they should hold Relief Society meetings during the week and where they should hold them. They then make a recommendation to the bishop, taking into consideration the time commitments of sisters, family circumstances, travel distance and cost, financial cost to the ward, safety, and other local circumstances.

These meetings are usually held at a time other than on Sunday or on Monday evening. They are generally held monthly, but the Relief Societypresidency may recommend that the meetings be held more often or less frequently. Efforts should be made to meet at least quarterly. At least one member of the ward Relief Society presidency should be in attendance at every meeting. Under the direction of the stake presidency, the stake Relief Society presidency may plan and carry out one or two stake Relief Society meetings each year for all Relief Society sisters in the stake.⁷

Relief Society leaders prayerfully counsel together about the topics that will strengthen sisters and their families and about the best ways to teach those topics. The Relief Society president ensures that these plans are approved by the bishop. She also ensures that the plans are consistent with current policies about activities, including policies about finances. Although the Relief Society president oversees these meetings, she may ask her first or second counselor to assist her. She may also recommend another sister in the ward to be called to serve as the Relief Society meeting coordinator to help the presidency plan and carry them out.

Meetings can focus on one topic or be divided into more than one class or activity. Generally, teachers at these meetings should be members of the ward or stake. Each year, one meeting may commemorate the founding of the Relief Society and focus on its history and purposes.

In planning Relief Society meetings held during the week, leaders give priority to topics that will fulfill Relief Society purposes, such as marriage and family, homemaking, provident living and self-reliance, compassionate service, temple and family history, sharing the gospel, and other subjects requested by the bishop.⁸

When we plan, we ask what the Lord needs us to learn and become in order to be prepared for eternal life. In the wisdom of the Lord, every ward has its own unique characteristics, which no other ward shares. This can be compared to the DNA that identifies every human being as unique. Every bishop has the responsibility for his specific ward. Each ward Relief Society president has a calling to assist one bishop. Each bishop and Relief Society presidency have had hands laid on their heads to receive inspiration for their particular responsibilities and not for any other ward or group of Relief Society sisters.

If we work with this understanding, we will seek revelation and work in companionship with a bishop to fulfill the purposes of Relief Society in our own wards. As a result of operating in this way, if sisters and families need to be prepared for emergencies, the Relief Society can organize, teach, and inspire that preparation. If sisters and families need to prepare for the temple, the Relief Society can organize, teach, and inspire sisters to do that. If a bishop needs young single adult women to share the gospel and bring their friends back into activity, the Relief Society can organize, teach, and inspire that work. If mothers need to learn how to nurture and care for their children, the Relief Society can organize, teach, and inspire that work. If sisters need to learn and improve homemaking skills that will help their homes become a center of spiritual strength, then the Relief Society can organize, teach, and inspire that work. As has happened throughout our history, if priesthood leaders need to accomplish something significant, they can call upon the Relief Society to help them.

Using Relief Society meetings appropriately will increase the ability of theRelief Society to work in powerful ways with priesthood leaders in every ward. As Joseph Smith said in the Doctrine and Covenants:

“Let no man count them as small things; for there is much which lieth in futurity, pertaining to the saints, which depends upon these things.

“You know, [sisters], that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves.”⁹

Relief Society and priesthood leaders, this message will serve as your current official policy regarding additional Relief Society meetings. Should you have questions regarding anything we have taught here after studying this message, please counsel together in your own wards and stakes to discover the solutions you need.

Visiting Teaching

Much of the essential Relief Society work we do doesn’t happen in meetings. Let’s focus now on learning about visiting teaching. Because we follow the example and teachings of Jesus Christ, we value this sacred assignment to love, know, serve, understand, teach, and minister in His behalf. This is one duty we have in the Church where we are certain to have the help of the Lord if we ask for it. This is one responsibility that is certain to increase our faith and personal righteousness and strengthen our own homes and families as we become partners with the Lord. A sister in this Church has no other responsibility outside of her family that has the potential to do as much good as does visiting teaching.

Because this is the Lord’s program of individual watchcare for His daughters, the policies regarding visiting teaching are approved by the First Presidency as outlined in the Church Handbook of Instructions.Because visiting teaching focuses on individual sisters, Relief Societyleaders do not organize women into groups for the purpose of visiting teaching.

The bishop, who is the ordained shepherd of the ward, cannot possibly watch over all of the Lord’s sheep at one time. He is dependent on inspired visiting teachers to help him. We know we should each choose to be a friend to everyone in our ward, but the bishop and Relief Societypresident have the responsibility to receive revelation as to who should be assigned to watch over and strengthen each individual sister. Ideally, every sister should watch over and strengthen at least one other sister in her ward. It is our blessing to pray for another sister and receive inspiration as to how the Lord would have us care for one of His daughters.

Visiting teaching becomes the Lord’s work when our focus is on people rather than percentages. In reality, visiting teaching is never finished. It is more a way of life than a task. Faithfully serving as a visiting teacher is evidence of our discipleship. We demonstrate our faith and follow a pattern established by the Lord as we report on our assignment every month. If our watchcare were primarily about reporting that every sister in the ward heard the Visiting Teaching Message printed each month in the Ensign and Liahona, it would be much more efficient to read it aloud to everyone in a sacrament meeting. Our reports are most helpful to the bishop and the Relief Society president when we inform them of the spiritual and temporal well-being of sisters and how we have been able to serve and love them.

How grateful I am for all of my visiting teachers who, over the years, have demonstrated their faith as they have served, taught, strengthened, and loved me in inspired ways.

Welfare and Compassionate Service

Our compassionate service and assistance with the welfare needs of individuals and families are an outgrowth of visiting teaching. A Relief Society president learns of the needs of people in her ward through visiting teachers and her own visits to ward members. Sometimes she organizes us to help others, and at other times we serve “according to [our] natures,”¹⁰following the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Many years ago I learned from Sister Camilla Kimball, wife of President Spencer W. Kimball, to “never suppress a generous thought.” By following her counsel, we can know with certainty that our Father in Heaven knows us personally because He sends us to be His hands and heart to those in need. As we do so, our faith in Him is strengthened.

Conclusion

We live in a happy and exciting time of growth in the history of the Church, and Relief Society is part of making that history. Joseph Smith said, “Let every man, woman and child realize the importance of the work, and act as if success depended on his individual exertion alone; let all feel an interest in it, and then consider they live in a day, the contemplation of which animated the bosoms of kings, Prophets, and righteous men thousands of years ago—the prospect of which inspired their sweetest notes, and most exalted lays, and caused them to break out in such rapturous strains as are recorded in the Scriptures.”¹¹

I rejoice to know that the Lord loves us enough to guide us in this work through prophets, seers, and revelators and that we belong to a Church that operates with continuing revelation. I feel a certainty that as each sister does her part to ensure that the purposes of Relief Society are fulfilled, angels will be our associates and we will be participants in amazing miracles. We celebrate and give thanks for the essential, sacred work we have been given, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Testify of the importance and blessings that come from the service of Relief Society sisters.

*For Younger Children* Read or summarize “Our Perfect Example” by Katie K. (taken from the March 2012 Friend). Testify of the importance and blessings that come from the service of Relief Society sisters.

My mom’s calling is to help set up for Relief Society activities. One night she needed to help set up for an activity. When I found out she was leaving, I was in a bad mood. Then she asked me to serve with her. At first I didn’t want to, but I agreed. Once we got there I helped set up different stations. I liked making things look nice for the women. I forgot why I had been in a bad mood and began to think about others. If our Lord Jesus Christ washed the feet of His disciples, then it should be clear to us that He expects us to follow His example. When I helped my mom I wasn’t washing feet, but I was doing something for someone other than myself. It makes me proud to be a part of a church where members follow Jesus Christ’s example.

Testify of the importance and blessings that come from the service of Relief Society sisters.

*For Teenagers or Young Adults* Read or summarize “Looking Forward to Relief Society” (taken from the October 2012 New Era). Testify of the importance and blessings that come from the service of Relief Society sisters.

When your 18th birthday approaches, you may wonder what it will be like to attend Relief Society instead of Young Women. Here are answers to some of the questions you may ask yourself.

Photo illustrations by Derek Israelson

When do I switch from Young Women to Relief Society?

Young women usually advance to Relief Society on their 18th birthday or in the coming year. The exact day you advance to Relief Society will depend on your individual circumstances, including school graduation, college attendance, and your desire to continue with your peers. Counsel with your parents and bishop or branch president to decide the right time for you. By age 19, however, you should be participating fully in Relief Society.

What will Relief Society meetings be like on Sunday?

Relief Society meetings are a lot like Young Women meetings. You have opening exercises and a lesson.

On the first Sunday of each month, the lesson topic is selected and given by the Relief Society presidency. On the second and third Sundays, you’ll have a lesson from a manual (this year, it’s Teachings of Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith). On the fourth Sunday, you’ll study a talk from a recent general conference. When you enter Relief Society, you can ask for a manual and lesson schedule so you can read the material before class each week.

Does Relief Society have activities like we do in Mutual?

There will usually be one activity (called a “Relief Society meeting”) every month, though the Relief Society president may hold them more or less often. These meetings might include classes to help you learn new skills or strengthen your testimony, service activities, or other gatherings so you can get to know the sisters in your ward and stake. Just like you did in Mutual, you can invite friends who are not members of the Church to these meetings.

How can I prepare for Relief Society?

You’re probably more prepared than you think. The first thing you’ll want to know is that Relief Society has three purposes. They are to help women:

1.Increase faith and personal righteousness.
2.Strengthen families and homes.
3.Seek out and help those in need.

You’re already doing a lot of these things in Young Women and Personal Progress, so Relief Society will help you continue them.

If you’d like to know more about Relief Society, read Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of Relief Society, which you can find in distribution centers or online at lds.org/go/02J.

If your ward has a combined Relief Society and Young Women activity, you may want to go and talk with Relief Society sisters. You’ll start to build friendships that will continue when you enter Relief Society.

What will visiting teaching be like?

You’ll have the opportunity and responsibility to be a visiting teacher and to have visiting teachers of your own. Visiting teachers are often assigned in companionships, and they can become friends who help watch over, strengthen, and teach you. So if you find yourself in need, you can ask them for help; and if the sisters you visit teach are in need, they can ask you for help.

Where possible, you’ll meet with each sister you visit teach at least once a month. You may share the “Visiting Teaching Message” from the Ensign.Location and travel circumstances may limit communications to phone calls, letters, or e-mails.

Visiting teaching is more than just a single visit—it’s a way to nurture each sister throughout the month. It might include sitting by her in Relief Society, praying for her daily, sending her a text message just to say hello, or wishing her well if you know she has a big event coming up. Visiting teaching is a great way to form friendships with sisters you may not have grown as close to otherwise, it helps you learn gospel doctrines and principles with each month’s message, and it helps you serve Heavenly Father as an instrument in His hands.

How can I make friends with Relief Society sisters who are a lot older than I am?

It’s natural to think you don’t have much in common with older sisters, but rather than focus on your differences, think about everything you have in common. Remember that a lot of the women know something about what you’re going through at this age. They wondered what they would do after finishing high school, looked forward to working or getting an education, dated, and prepared for marriage. Ask them about their experiences, and see how much you can learn. And think of how you can learn and share with them too, such as teaching them more about technology. You all have ways to help each other, and service is a great way to make friendships.

You can also participate in Sunday lessons. Try to make comments, even if it feels intimidating. Share your experiences as well. As the sisters learn more about you, it will help you all to grow closer to one another.

Testify of the importance and blessings that come from the service of Relief Society sisters.

Treat

Yogurt with Fruit and Nuts or Mini Pizzas

Vanilla Yogurt with Fruit and Nuts

Ingredients

2/3 cups low-fat plain Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup of your favorite fruit (berries, cherries, oranges, pineapple, etc.)
2 tablespoons assorted nuts (or any nut), chopped
2 teaspoons chopped fresh mint leaves, optional

Instructions:

In a medium bowl, combine yogurt and vanilla. Mix well and divide between two small bowls. Top with fruit, nuts and chopped mint if desired.

(Taken from The Comfort of Cooking)

Mini Pizzas

Ingredients:

Mini Pizzas
1 ball refrigerated pizza dough, store bought or homemade
1 cup pizza sauce or jarred pasta sauce
Your desired toppings (see below for ideas)
Topping Ideas
· Cheese: Mozzarella, Mexican cheese, Asiago, Parmesan, Romano, bleu cheese, feta, provolone
· Meat: Chicken, Italian sausage, bacon, ham, beef, chorizo, pepperoni, prosciutto, shrimp
· Vegetables: Tomatoes, artichokes, roasted red peppers, onions, green peppers, jalapenos, spinach, cherry tomatoes, olives, mushrooms, banana peppers, squash, sweet corn, peas, avocado
· Other: Pineapple chunks, black beans, fresh basil, garlic, sprouts, capers

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400° F.
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or nonstick aluminum foil. Place pizza dough on a well-floured surface, press dough firmly with your fingers to shape, and stretch gently into a 12” x 8” rectangle.
With a round cutter, cut dough into 18-20 rounds; place rounds 1 inch apart on baking sheet. Top each with pizza sauce, cheese, and your desired toppings.
Bake mini pizzas for 8-10 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Serve immediately.

(Taken from The Comfort of Cooking)