Relief Society

Updated Relief Society Purpose (March 2017)

Current Relief Society Declaration

Please correct me if I'm misinformed, but I think I finally have it straight (what the RS Purpose and Declaration is). :) Maybe others were confused on which was which like I was at first.

I am grateful to be a member of the world's largest organization for women---The Relief Society! It is such an additional privilege to also lead and serve the women in my Stake through my current calling in Relief Society! 

A few months ago our Stake Presidency counseled with my Stake Relief Society Presidency about the purpose of Relief Society. Although these documents are simple and straightforward, understanding the purpose of Relief Society has helped me to be a more deliberate leader. I hope that it can do that same thing for other women leading in Relief Society callings as well as help women to be more deliberate in their participation in Relief Society in general.

Women are influencers both inside and outside of their homes.

Women and teachers. 

Women are nurturers.

Women are at the heart of their homes and communities. 

Recognizing the abilities that are innate to women and the opportunities to be influencers, the purpose of our organization is to increase the faith of our women in God, His son---Jesus Christ, and the Atonement. We point them to Christ through covenants. We seek to be unified, knowing that we truly are #bettertogether. Everything that we do whether it is as we meet together in our Sunday meetings, extra meetings during the week, in ministering to one another, or supporting those in need (welfare or compassionate service) must increase women's faith, help them on the covenant path, or increase unity. 

Here are some things I have been learning. As a Relief Society President, it means that going to a home to fill out a food order needs to increase that woman's faith in Jesus Christ. It means that as a teacher in Relief Society on Sundays, the lesson needs to point the sisters to Christ through covenants. It means that as we minister to our fellow sisters, our Savior's hands are actually our own; we do and say what He would do and say for our sisters if He were here. God knows how to speak that sister's "language" and level of understanding. He knows what will bring each sister closer to Christ and will direct us in the details of it. It means that as Relief Society Committee members, our activities are carefully and prayerfully planned around fulfilling the purpose of Relief Society; we may choose different activities or details to those activities when we keep the Relief Society purpose in mind. It means as a Stake Relief Society presidency, we seek to nourish and increase the faith of ward leaders so that they can lead from the place of knowing their Heavenly Father and Savior more intimately.

Why would we deliberately do everything we do in Relief Society around this purpose? Because if we increase the faith of women, it changes what happens in homes, wards, stakes, communities, and the world more than anything else can. As women have more faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and His Atonement...as women prepare to enter into, honor, remember, and keep their covenants...as we link together arm in arm and step forward in unity...because of who we are as women, it ripples outward in powerful ways. Although I lead women, I actually lead their families, too. Nothing can have a greater impact on the rising generation than focusing on increasing the faith of the women around them. The purpose of Relief Society truly is how God helps prepare His children for the blessings of eternal life!<3

And as we increase our faith in God, Christ, and the Atonement and increase in our devotion to our covenants and seek to be unified with others around us, improvements in all areas of our lives will naturally follow. We will naturally be drawn to those attributes and actions listed in the Relief Society Declaration. It will be written in our hearts as who we have become.

Isn't that breath-taking?! Knowing the purpose of our organization, how will you participate in Relief Society differently? Will you seek to do those things that will increase your own faith and strengthen the faith of your fellow sisters? Will you cut out some of the "extra fluff" or unnecessary frills to be able to offer yourself and fellow sisters more spiritual nourishment and sustenance? I would love to hear from you in what you are learning by studying the Relief Society Purpose and Declaration.