It was March 17, 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois and the time had come to organize the women of the church. Twenty women met that first day. The Prophet Joseph Smith called the organization “a select Society separate from all the evils of the world, choice, virtuous, and holy.” The women met together often and looked for opportunities to help and serve others. They fed, clothed, and housed the needy. They collected donations, took care of the temple workers, etc. In short, they truly lived the Relief Society motto. “Charity Never Faileth.”
I try to imagine what that day must have been like. Sitting in the room waiting for the meeting to begin, wearing long skirts in the humidity of that swampy area. I can hear flies and sisters buzzing with excitement. Then Brother Joseph steps to the front of the room and begins to speak. There are many times in my lifetime so far that I remember modern prophets stepping up to the pulpit with some exciting announcement and many times it is given to the women of the church first. I was watching the General Women’s Broadcast in the Marriott Center at BYU when President Hinckley first read The Family: A Proclamation to the World. It was no less exciting and important then when Joseph Smith founded an organization of sisterhood.
Like that beginning, sisters go about today, quietly serving and helping those around us–giving relief to those who need it, saying hi to one another and promoting a system of support and friendship.
So, Happy Birthday, Relief Society!
I love Relief Society! As a young women I could not wait to go to Relief Society! What a wonderful sisterhood it is!