··Relief Society 175th Anniversary··
175 years ago, On March 17, 1842,The Prophet Joseph Smith organized the "Relief Society". (All adult women from ages 18 and older in the church are members of the Relief Society.)
He taught that the Relief Society was organized for “the relief of the poor, the destitute, the widow and the orphan, and for the exercise of all benevolent purposes.”
Relief Society helps prepare all women for the wonderful blessings of eternal life as they help increase the faith of others in our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and His Atonement, To strengthen individuals, their families, and homes, through and with the help of ordinances and covenants. We come together to find opportunities to help those in need.
Relief Society is able to accomplish these purposes by going to/understanding Sunday gospel instruction, meetings, visiting teaching, and cheerful service.
What this organization focuses on is how to "...look after the spiritual welfare and salvation … of all the female members of the Church.” The Relief Society was “divinely made, divinely authorized, divinely instituted, divinely ordained of God.” Of course, It operates under the direction of priesthood leaders.
In one of the first meetings of the Female Relief Society (of Nauvoo,) Joseph Smith had spoken to the sisters to “live up to [their] privilege.” The women in the Church have been taught to live up to their divine potential by doing and fulfilling God's purposes for them. As we all come to understand who we really are, that being God's daughters, we reach our potential as holy women and the mother, daughter, sister, aunt, ect, our heavenly father wants us to be. So in other words, Relief Society helps Latter-day Saint women live up to their privilege. Through this amazing organization, we are assured that we are heavenly fathers daughters, and that as women in the church, we too have a great part in it. We also receive opportunities to serve others, members and non members, it doesn't matter, because we are all children of God.
When I had turned 18 and was able to go from Young Womens to Relief Society, I wasn't scared at all, in fact, I was looking forward to it! Being with my mom and whatnot, yet I was a little upset because I was leaving my sister in Young Womens :( but I knew it was time for me too leave and learn a little more about becoming a Woman.
I didn't have that much time in the Relief Society because two months later I was called to be a Primary teacher, and well, I'm hardly in the classes anymore. But, since my mom is the Secretary, everytime they need help setting up or decorating for a event at church, I am always the first (or fourth) person to sign up!
I am grateful for this organization, not only because it is a great way to learn about the kind of (future) mother and daughter my heavenly father knows I can be, but because I am surrounded by great women who are examples of what we learn about every Sunday. We're not perfect, but with the example of our savior, Jesus Christ, we strive to become more like him and extend our hands and hearts to others as he would do.
How I wish to meet Emma Smith, because of her hard work and her true faith she had, I can only hope to do as she did in example.❤
What was your experience when you switched over to R.S?
Who did you miss the most in YW?
Don't you just love being apart of the "grown up" group?!
In what way is your ward celebrating? Mine is having a small dinner of some sort, pictures will be up soon on it!
Thank you so much for reading, please feel free to comment below! Have a great St.Patrick's Day & Happy Celebration of the 175th Anniversary of Relief Society.💘 -K.T
(Photo Resources: LDS.ORG> Church History-All Gospel Art> [photo1] "Organization of the Relief Society" by Nadine Barton |[photo2] "Come Let Us Rejoice" (The Foundation of the Relief Society), by Walter Rane| [photo3] Emma Smith (Emma Hale Smith), by Lee Greene Richards.)
