Wednesday, March 16, 2011

RELIEF SOCIETY BIRTHDAY - 169 YEARS OF CHARITY NEVER FAILETH

HAPPY  BIRTHDAY TO THE RELIEF SOCIETY OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST
OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS - 169 YEARS OF LOVE AND SERVICE TO OTHERS
 It has been 169 years since the key was turned and the organization of the Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was born. Since that time there are 6 million woman that belong to this world wide organization and can be found in 170 countries throughout the world. This organization is the largest woman's organization in the world.
The history of this organization began on March 17, 1842 when the Prophet Joseph Smith stated the following: "This Society is to get instruction thro' the order which God has established thro' 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."
"In the beginning, God created man, male and female, and bestowed upon man certain blessings peculiar to a man of God, of which woman partook, so that without the female all things cannot be restored to the earth. It takes all to restore the Priesthood." -Newel K. Whitney
"Ye shall do the work which ye see me do. These are the grand key words for the Society to act from ." - Joseph Smith
"This Society shall have power to command Queens in their midst." - Joseph Smith
"This Society is not only to relieve the poor, but to save souls." - Joseph Smith
"The popular institutions of the day should not be our guide - that as daughters of Zion we should set an example for all the world.: - Eliza R. Snow.
"We must cherish one another, watch over one another, comfort one another and gain instruction, that we may all sit down in heaven together."- Lucy Mack Smith
"In the early days of this Society the women of the Relief Society, were the freest and vanguard women in history. They sided with the radical suffragettes and Utah women would be the first to vote. also, Mormon women were invited to speak at national and international conventions for women's rights, dating back to before the turn of the 20th Century.
Mormon women were the first to set up a hospital in the valley. Deseret Hospital had the first all -woman board in the nation. The sisters of the Relief Society financially supported early women doctors as they attended school back East. The Relief Society grew wheat, trained nurses, established health standards, supplied meals, ran for public office, ran a newspaper, traveled from one end of the territory to the other to visit train and administered needful items to the poor. These women greeted all those who arrived in the valley, providing them with food, housing and clothing." - Thoughts by Jan Tolman in "Mormon Times" Mar. 1, 201l.
Sister Beck General RS President has said, “As we move the Lord’s work forward, the history of Relief Society will continue to be written by faithful sisters throughout the world.” For this reason, the Relief Society general presidency encourages you to record what is happening in your life. Though you might not feel that you are making history, sisters around the world can learn from you and your personal experiences".   Take a moment to read the follow talk by Sister Beck Talk by Sister Beck:Relief Society, A Sacred Work
The on going goals of the Relief Society are the following:
1. Increase in faith and personal righteousness
2. Strengthen Home and Family
3. Serve the Lord and his Children
The Relief Society Motto is Charity Never Faileth
I have been a member of this wonderful organization for 47 years. Although my mother was an excellent seamstress; I first learned how to cut out a pattern while attending a homemaking meeting. In my day the homemaking nights were places to learn varied skills; such as, sewing, cooking, tips on cleaning our homes, organizing,  gardening, child rearing, budgeting, cultural refinement, and many other subjects. These subjects along with many others are still being taught throughout the world. In our Sunday Relief Society meetings we are learning the doctrines of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As woman we have been encouraged to continue learning throughout our lives.   I have had many opportunities to provide service to others through the Visiting Teaching and Compassionate Service programs. As Stake and Ward sisters we have worked on many humanitarian service projects. I have also received services provided by the sisters to my own family when we have had needs. I am so grateful for the many opportunities that I have had to serve within the Relief Society organization. I have learned many things through the years and have greatly benefited from being involved with this divine sanctioned organization.
I have met many woman through the years that have become my close friends and these woman are my sisters in every sense of the word.
In closing this post I would like to quote President Spencer W. Kimball:
"To be a righteous woman is a glorious thing in any age. To be a righteous woman during the winding up scenes on this earth,before the second coming of our Savior, is an especially noble calling.The righteous woman’s strength and influence today can be tenfold what it might be in more tranquil times. She has been placed here to help to enrich, to protect, and to guard the home— which is society’s basic and most noble institution. Other institutions in society may falter and even fail, but the righteous woman can help to save the home, which may be the last and only sanctuary some mortals know in the midst of storm and strife." 
This is our calling as Woman in the Relief Society -

Please pause my music and enjoy this video -




6 comments:

singing/granny said...

Thanks Leann! Once again you've inspired me! Blessings! Melody

Susan Anderson said...

I do love Relief Society...And everything it stands for.

=)

Joy For Your Journey said...

This also is a wonderful post! What a blessing RS has been in the lives of all of us! I first fell in love with the organization as a young married woman living in Mexico City. We attended a small English speaking ward and the women there were truly amazing. I learned so much from all of them.

Darlene said...

I love Relieg Society and all that it stands for. I started going to Relief Society when I lived in Los Angeles. We went to Wilshire Ward, such a beautiful old building. I was barely 18 and they gave me the job of chorister. I developed a wonderful choir among the women and a lot of us were in the original Southern California Morman choir, directed by Frederick Davis.

Relief Society has given me so much as I've grown in the gospel. I love to give service and have to admit that there were times when it was given to me. I am so grateful for that organization.

Your post was so very good, so much valuable information that we do need to review from time to time. Thank you.

Stephanie said...

I loved all the information this post had about the history of relief society. Thanks for sharing the link to your blog with us!

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