Women of God

            Women occupy a unique place in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [also known as Mormons].  Although none of us bear the priesthood of God and most of us have no desire to do so, the leaders of the Church heap words of praise upon the women of the Church.   We often hear our leaders make statements such as “We, the Brethren of the Church, honor and respect our good sisters for their unselfish devotion to this glorious cause.”

                In the years following the organization of the Church, women of the Church wanted an organization of their own and wrote bylaws for their organization.  They took their ideas to the Prophet Joseph Smith for his approval.  He told them that their ideas were good, but the Lord had something better for them.  On March 17, 1842, the Prophet met with a number of the sisters and organized them into a society which was given the name of “The Female Relief Society of Nauvoo.”  Today that organization is known as the Relief Society and is one of the largest and oldest organizations for women in the world.  All sisters in the Church, eighteen years and over, are members of Relief Society.  We work together to care for ourselves, each other, and our families.

                President Joseph Fielding Smith stated, “That this organization was by revelation, there can be no doubt.  This truth has been abundantly demonstrated throughout the years and today its value and necessity are abundantly attested.

                “Surely the Church of Jesus Christ would not have been completely organized had not this wonderful organization come into existence….  This restoration would not have been complete without the Relief Society in which the sisters are able to accomplish a divinely appointed service so essential to the welfare of the Church.”  (See Teachings of Presidents of the Church:  Joseph Fielding Smith, pp. 297-309.)

                The Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith that the women of the Church should be organized because they had an important work in establishing the cause of Zion.  The organization was primarily responsible for the benefit, encouragement, and advancement of the women of the Church, but a secondary responsibility was to aid in the work of mercy and relief from distress and suffering of the poor, the sick, and afflicted throughout the Church.  The Relief Society continues to carry out these responsibilities.

                President Smith stated, “The Relief Society … has grown to be a power in the Church.  Absolutely necessary – we speak of it as an auxiliary, which means a help, but the Relief Society is more than that.  It is needed….

                “The Relief Society was established by the spirit of inspiration, has been guided by that spirit [ever since], and has instilled into the hearts of countless of our good sisters those desires for righteousness which have been pleasing to the Lord.”

                The women of the Church are expected to stand by the side of their husbands and to work with bearers of the priesthood to bless and strengthen individuals and families both in and out of the Church.  The Lord has blessed us with the qualities of sympathy, tenderness of heart, and kindness and has given us the responsibility to minister to the needy and the afflicted.  Women serve under the direction and in harmony with our bishops as we work together to bless our people both spiritually and physically.

                President Smith stated, “It is the duty of the Relief Society, not only to look after those who are members of the Relief Society, but their labor should extend beyond those borders.  Wherever anybody is in trouble, needs help, in difficulties, sick or afflicted, we call upon the Relief Society.  … They can perform a great and wonderful work by encouraging the wayward, helping them, bringing them back into activity, helping them to overcome their weaknesses or sins and imperfections, and bringing them to an understanding of the truth.  I say there is no limit to the good that our sisters can do.”

                President Gordon B. Hinckley echoed this statement while speaking to the National Press Club on March 8, 2000:  “… We are now operating in more than 160 nations.  Our worldwide membership is approaching 11 million.

                “Of these, approximately four million are women who belong to what we call the Relief Society.  I think it is the oldest women’s organization in the world, and perhaps the largest.  It has its own officers and board and these officers also sit on other boards and committees of the Church.  People wonder what we do for our women.  I will tell you what we do.  We get out of their way, and look with wonder at what they are accomplishing.”

                As a member of the Relief Society I have the opportunity to serve and bless other people.  I also have the blessing of being taught by priesthood leaders and my peers.  I have been taught  the Plan of Salvation and my place in it.  I understand that I cannot be saved in the Kingdom of God in ignorance, and I have learned the importance of studying the scriptures to gain and keep a strong testimony.  I understand that the blessings of the priesthood belong to me and my sisters as much as they belong to the brethren of the Church.  I know that women of the Relief Society are becoming women of God.  As women of God, much more is required of us. 

                Sister Margaret Nadauld expressed this requirement with these beautiful words:  “Women of God can never be like women of the world.  The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender.  There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind.  There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined.  We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith.  We have enough greed; we need more goodness.  We have enough vanity; we need more virtue.  We have enough popularity; we need more purity.”  

Women Voters

                    An analysis of the results of the 2012 election shows that the majority of women voted for Barack Obama.  I am more than a little dismayed that so many members of my sex - my sisters - supported a man who uses them for his own gain.  It is obvious that many of them drank the Obama kool-ade!  I cannot help wondering if my sisters sold their votes for food stamps and Obama phones or $9.00 per month worth of contraceptives in order that they can be used by other men for other purposes.

                    Obama's "war on women" blinded my sisters to the fact that conservative principles strengthen both men and women.  Conservative principles are based on Judeo-Christian principles, which come from God.  In the beginning, God created male and female and placed them in the relationship of marriage to work together - to help and serve each other - for the benefit of their entire family.    Heavenly Father wants His daughters to be as strong and capable as he desires His sons to be, and He expects men and women to work together as equal partners for the good of mankind. 

I know this because I know how men and women work together within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Church is governed by men who hold the priesthood of God, and members of the priesthood function in conjunction with the women of the Church.  In fact, the priesthood looks to the Relief Society for counsel as well as support in blessing all members of the Church. 

All adult women belong to the Relief Society, one of the oldest and largest organizations for women in the world.  The Relief Society on the general level is led by a woman Relief Society president who guides the activities of the adult female members of the Church all over the world.  Other women serve under her direction on the general level, on the stake level, and on the ward level.  Members of the Relief Society have the responsibility to bring tenderness and charity into the lives and homes of the members.

The Church does not accept the idea that women have to act and look like men in order to be effective.  Women do not have to be like men because men and women are given different tasks.  Women are to be leaders among the women, young women, and children and to be joint leaders in their homes. Men are charged with the responsibility to be administers of the Church organizations and to preside or lead in their homes, to protect their wives and children, and to provide temporal support for the family.  The main responsibility for women is to nurture their children and to develop a safe and happy environment in the home. 

We believe and act on the principle that the man is not without the woman, nor is the woman without the man in the Lord (see 1 Corinthians 11:11).  Man and woman who follow God compliment each other rather than compete with each other. The woman "completes" the man, and the man "completes" the woman - and both are better for the relationship.

 

Priesthood leaders rely on counsel from the Relief Society, especially in the areas concerning women and girls, and husbands rely on the counsel of their wives as they counsel together for the good of the family.  When men and women work together for the good of the organization - whether it be the Church or the family - it becomes a righteous balance that helps our Church organizations and our homes to be successful.

                    As women, we can choose the type of relationship that we have with men.  We can either allow men to disrespect us and use us for their own selfish reasons, or we can develop complimentary relationships with men wherein we all benefit.  I hope that my sisters will understand how much we are all loved by our Heavenly Father and will choose to work with the sons of God in making our world a better place rather than being slaves to men who desire to use them for their own selfish needs.

                    

Worldwide Sisterhood

                    Families are stronger when wives, mothers, grandmothers, and single women are concerned about the conditions in their neighborhoods and communities.  Most of us understand that groups of women have more influence than do individuals acting alone; therefore, it is normally a good experience to organize ourselves into groups.  We must be very careful and choose wisely which women's groups we join because some are in the business of advancing selfish ambition while others are concerned with supporting and strengthening marriages and families.  We want to be sure that we choose organizations that strengthen homes and families. 

One such organization is the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Relief Society is possibly the oldest and largest women's organization in the world, and it is celebrating its 170th birthday this week.  All members of Relief Society are part of a worldwide sisterhood of more than three million women and form bonds with each other that rival the relationships between sisters by birth.  

The mission and purpose of Relief Society is threefold:  1) Increase faith and personal righteousness, 2) Strengthen families and homes, and 3) Seek out and help those in need.  The motto of Relief Society is "Charity Never Faileth."  Relief Society members even have their own song, "As Sisters in Zion."   The words were written as a poem by Emily Hill, while she and her sister traveled West with the Willie and Martin Handcart Company; the poem was found and set to music in 1985.

Women have always needed relationships with other women; they have formed strong bonds with each other and given their best support to homes and families.  The natures of women would have been no different while Jesus Christ was living upon the earth.  Jesus valued the support of the women around Him, such as Mary and Martha, and He taught them in their homes and on the streets, as individuals and in multitudes.  He always showed loving kindness toward women.

                    There is little known about any formal organization for women in New Testament time, but a careful study of the scriptures suggests that women were active and important participants in the Savior's ministry.  There are numerous examples in the New Testament of women who exercised faith in Jesus Christ, listened to His teachings, and testified of his ministry, miracles, and majesty.  They were important witnesses in the work of salvation.

                    "The women in the ancient Church were dignified and noble, needed and valued.  They served others, increased in personal holiness, and participated in the great work of saving souls." 

                    Women continued strengthening homes and families.  While members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including some of my ancestors, were living in Nauvoo, Illinois, they eagerly worked to build a temple there.  Since the Prophet Joseph Smith encouraged everyone to take an active part in the building project and the men were doing the actual construction work on the temple, the women searched for some way in which they could contribute to the cause.

                    One day when the walls of the temple were about three feet high, Margaret Cook and Sarah M. Kimball were discussing a recent call for "provisions, clothing, bedding and general supplies for the workmen and their families."  Margaret said that she would be "pleased to contribute needlework" if materials could be made available to her.  Sarah offered to provide the materials and suggested that other women might desire to join their effort. 

                    Margaret and Sarah discussed the possibility of organizing a sewing society with the purpose of providing aid to the temple workers, and a few days later about a dozen women met in Sarah's home to discuss such an organization.  [These women were not alone in their desire to organize for a good cause because it was a common practice in that era for women to form their own organizations - complete with constitutions and bylaws.]  The women meeting in Sarah's home decided to establish a constitution and bylaws and assigned Eliza R. Snow to write them.  When Sister Snow finished with her assignment, the women asked the Prophet Joseph Smith to review their proposed constitution and bylaws and then tell the women what he thought about them.

                    The Prophet read them and declared them to be "the best he had ever seen."  He then added, "But this is not what you want. Tell the sisters their offering is accepted of the Lord, and he has something better for them than a written constitution.  I invite them all to meet with me and a few of the brethren … and I will organize the women under the priesthood after the pattern of the priesthood."

                    On March 17, 1842, twenty women met with Joseph Smith and two members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elders John Taylor and Willard Richards.  On that day in a building referred to as "the red brick store" where Joseph had an office and business, the Prophet organized the women in "a divinely inspired and authorized manner" rather than after the pattern of other women's societies of the day with their own presidency to lead them.

                    In that meeting the Prophet told the women to encourage "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."

                    The women discussed what they should call their organization and finally settled on calling themselves the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo.  Their new president, Emma Smith, declared:  "We are going to do something extraordinary….  We expect extraordinary occasions and pressing calls."

                    About six weeks later the Prophet joined the women in a Relief Society meeting to teach them more about their responsibilities.  He said, "This society is to get instruction through the order which God has established - through the medium of those appointed to lead - and I now turn the key to you in the name of God, and this society shall rejoice and knowledge and intelligence shall flow down from this time - this is the beginning of better days to this society."

                    The Female Relief Society of Nauvoo grew quickly.  From the 20 members in attendance on March 17, 1842, when the Relief Society was organized, the society grew to 1,100 members in August 1842.  Membership in Relief Society was not automatic to all female members of the Church.  Women had to "petition" for membership and were "accepted based on their goodness and virtue."  The sisters were simply following the Prophets counsel when he told them, "There should be a select society, separate from all the evils of the world, choice, virtuous, and holy."

                    Many women in Nauvoo were anxious to join the Relief Society and were excited about the opportunity to give spiritual and temporal help in an organized manner.  They loved being unified in their purpose and appreciated the priesthood leadership given by the Prophet.   They recognized that they had received a great blessing and privilege and had the responsibility to live up to it. 

Joseph Smith told the sisters, "You are now placed in a situation where you can act according to those sympathies which God has planted in your bosoms.  If you live up to these principles, how great and glorious."

On June 27, 1844, when the Relief Society was less than two years old, an armed mob with blackened faces advanced on the small jail in Carthage, Illinois, killed the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum, and seriously wounded John Taylor.  The martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith did not stop the persecutions.  Brigham Young, the Church's new leader, eventually told the members of the Church that they would have to leave Nauvoo and find another home where they could live and worship in peace.

The exodus from Nauvoo began in February 1846, and the first pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847.  Through all their trials the women continued to live the principles of Relief Society even though they did not have a formal organization until nearly twenty years later.  The Relief Society was reorganized under the leadership of President Brigham Young in early 1867 and continues to this day.  The name of the organization was shortened to simply "Relief Society" and membership eventually opened to all adult female members of the Church.  The Relief Society continues to hold an important place among leadership and membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  President Joseph Fielding Smith commented in 1970, "The Relief Society was established by the spirit of inspiration, and has been guided by that spirit [ever since], and has instilled into the hearts of countless of our good sisters those desires for righteousness which have been pleasing to the Lord."

                    I am grateful for my membership in Relief Society.  Being a member of this organization has helped greatly in strengthening my own home and family and those of other sisters.  May this great, worldwide sisterhood continue to bless and strengthen our homes and families.  Happy Birthday, Relief Society!

                    A previous essay on Relief Society can be found here.   Information and quotes are from Daughters in My Kingdom - The History and Work of Relief Society.

Visiting Teaching

                    Families grow stronger as the adult female members of the family participate in the visiting teaching program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Being a visiting teacher strengthens a woman as she forgets her own troubles and ministers to other women.  Receiving visiting teachers strengthens a woman as she receives watch care and ministering from other women.  The two parts of the visiting teaching program support and strengthen homes and families.

In 1843, Church members in Nauvoo, Illinois, were divided into four wards.  In July of that year Relief Society leaders appointed four sisters in each ward to serve as a visiting committee.  The responsibilities of the committees were to assess the needs of their sisters and to collect donations.  The donations were used by the Relief Society to provide for the needy.

                    Visiting teachers no longer collect donations when we visit our sisters, but we still have the same responsibility to assess the needs of the sisters - spiritual and physical - and to work to meet those needs.  Eliza R. Snow (1804-87) who served as our second Relief Society general president explained:  "A teacher … should surely have so much of the Spirit of the Lord, as she enters a house to know what spirit she meets in there….  Plead before God and the Holy Ghost to get [the Spirit] so that you will be able to meet that spirit that prevails in that house … and you may feel to talk words of peace and comfort, and if you find a sister feeling cold, take her to your heart as you would a child to your bosom and warm [her] up."

                    President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, taught: "Charity [means] far more than a feeling of benevolence. Charity is born of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and is an effect of His Atonement."  An important way for us to exercise our faith in the Savior is to be charity in action.

                    Visiting teachers provide watchcare by contacting each sister, sharing a gospel message, and seeking to know the needs of the sister and her family.  Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president, explained:  "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 learn how to best minister to and meet the needs of each other and our families as we provide consistent and prayerful watchcare.  This ministering can take many forms.  President Thomas S. Monson taught, "Often small acts of service are all that is required to lift and bless another:  a question concerning a person's family, quick words of encouragement, a sincere compliment, a small note of thanks, a brief telephone call.  If we are observant and aware, and if we act on the promptings which come to us, we can accomplish much good….  Countless are the acts of service provided by the vast army of Relief Society visiting teachers."

                    I know that the visiting teaching program was inspired by God for the benefit of all his daughters.  I always enjoy going into the homes of my sisters to leave a message and get to know them better; and I also enjoy having sisters come into my home to teach me.  I always try to make the visits as convenient as possible for my own teachers.  This program is a wonderful blessing for all the daughters of God and their families!

Relief Society

                    Families are strengthened when the adult female members of the family are active in Relief Society.  Attendance at Relief Society helps women to know and understand their duties and responsibilities in strengthening homes and families.  Relief Society is an organization for women that was inspired by God and was organized after the pattern of the priesthood.

                    Nearly seventeen years ago at the annual general Relief Society meeting, President Gordon B. Hinckley told the sisters, "You are the guardians of the hearth," and then he introduced "The Family:  A Proclamation to the World."

                    President Hinckley continued, "You are the bearers of the children.  You are they who nurture them and establish within them the habits of their lives.  No other work reaches so close to divinity as does the nurturing of the sons and daughters of God."

                    This proclamation has been reinforcing since 1995 the principle that our most important duties are centered in strengthening families and homes.  It doesn't matter what other circumstances we have, our responsibility is to strengthen homes and families.  I remember being in that Relief Society meeting and hearing the proclamation for the very first time.  I was amazed at the width and the breadth of the information contained in it.  I was grateful to belong to a church that was - and is - led by Apostles and Prophets under the direction of Jesus Christ.

                    Sister Barbara Thompson, now the second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency was in the tabernacle for the historic event.  She remembers, "That was a great occasion.  I felt the significance of the message.  I also found myself thinking, `This is a great guide for parents.  It is also a big responsibility for parents.'  I thought for a moment that it really didn't pertain too much to me since I wasn't married and didn't have any children.  But almost as quickly I thought, `But it does pertain to me.  I am a member of a family.  I am a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a cousin, a niece, and a granddaughter.  I do have responsibilities - and blessings - because I am a member of a family.  Even if I were the only living member of my family, I am still a member of God's family, and I have a responsibility to help strengthen other families.'"

                    Yes, we are each responsible to strengthen homes and families, but we are not alone in our efforts.  Sister Thompson reminds each of us, "The greatest help we will have in strengthening families is to know and follow the doctrines of Christ and rely on Him to help us."

                    Relief Society sisters have been instrumental in strengthening homes and families for many years.  Sister Bathsheba W. Smith served as the fourth Relief Society general president [from 1901 to 1910], and she saw the need then to strengthen families.  She established mother education lessons for Relief Society sisters and included in those lessons counsel on marriage, prenatal care, and child rearing.

                    In fact, we can see that those lessons supported the teachings of President Joseph F. Smith about the Relief Society helping women in their roles at home:  "Wherever there is ignorance or at least a lack of understanding in regard to the family, duties of the family, with regard to obligations that should exist and that do rightfully exist between husband and wife and between parents and children, there this organization [Relief Society] exists or is near at hand, and by the natural endowments and inspiration that belongs to the organization they are prepared and ready to impart instruction with reference to those important duties."

                    I remember attending mother education lessons as a mother of very young children and gaining much knowledge and hearing much wisdom from other mothers who had more experience than I did.  I am grateful for those lessons and the great assistance they gave to me in strengthening my home and teaching my children.

                    I have a great testimony of the Relief Society and the important role it plays in our lives.  I am also very grateful for this great organization and the way it has strengthened me and my family for many years.  My mother and grandmothers were members of Relief Society as are my sisters and daughters; I am hopeful that my granddaughters and great-granddaughters will continue this great heritage.  I know it is an inspired program to help women strengthen home and families.  I am grateful that our Heavenly Father loves all of His daughters so much that He gave us our own organization to bless our lives and to strengthen others.