Relief Society facts for kids
Relief Society Seal
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| Formation | March 17, 1842 |
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| Type | Non-profit |
| Purpose | Gospel instruction, women's/familial support, humanitarian aid |
| Headquarters | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States |
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Membership
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Over 7 million women, in over 188 countries |
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General President
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Camille N. Johnson |
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Parent organization
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
The Relief Society is a large organization for women within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It focuses on helping others and providing education. It started in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, United States. Today, it has over 7 million members in more than 188 countries. Many people call the Relief Society "one of the oldest and largest women's organizations in the world."
Contents
What is the Relief Society's Purpose?
The main idea of the Relief Society is "Charity never faileth." This means that love and kindness are always important. The Relief Society helps women grow their faith in God and Jesus Christ. It also helps them make their families and homes stronger. Members work together to help people who are in need.
How Did the Relief Society Begin?
Starting in Nauvoo (1842)
In 1842, a woman named Sarah Granger Kimball wanted to help sew clothes for workers building the Nauvoo Temple. She talked with her seamstress, Margaret A. Cook, about starting a Ladies' Society. Sarah asked Eliza R. Snow to write some rules for the group.
They showed these rules to Joseph Smith, the church leader. He liked their idea but said he would organize the women himself. He wanted it to be set up like the church's priesthood.
On March 17, 1842, twenty women met in a room above Joseph Smith's Red Brick Store in Nauvoo. Joseph Smith helped them officially start the group. They sang a hymn and prayed.
The women chose Emma Hale Smith, Joseph Smith's wife, as their first president. She then chose two helpers, called counselors. The leaders were blessed and set apart for their roles.
Joseph Smith explained that the group's goal was to help the poor and those in need. He wanted them to improve the morals and virtues of women. This would allow the men to focus on other church duties.
At first, they thought about calling it the "Benevolent Society." But Emma Smith suggested "Relief Society" instead. She felt they were going to do something "extraordinary." Everyone agreed, and the group became "The Female Relief Society of Nauvoo." Joseph Smith even gave them five dollars to start their funds.
The new group quickly became popular. It grew so fast that they had to divide it into smaller groups based on where people lived. By March 1844, there were 1331 women in the Relief Society.
However, the Relief Society meetings in Nauvoo stopped in March 1844. There were disagreements within the group, and Joseph Smith decided to pause all meetings. After Joseph Smith died in June 1844, Brigham Young became the new church leader. He decided to officially stop the Relief Society before the church members moved west.
Moving West and Reorganizing
When the Latter-day Saints moved west in 1846, Eliza R. Snow carried the Relief Society's records with her. Even without formal meetings, women continued to help each other and those in need.
As the Saints settled in the Salt Lake Valley, women started to meet informally again. In 1854, women in Salt Lake City organized a group to make clothes for Native American women and children. This group was called the "Indian Relief Society."
Brigham Young encouraged women to form similar groups in their local areas, called wards. By 1858, many Relief Societies had formed in Salt Lake City and other settlements. Each group worked with its local church leader, called a bishop. They helped the poor, cared for the sick, and taught each other.
In 1867, Brigham Young asked for the Relief Society to be officially reorganized in every ward. Eliza R. Snow helped with this important task. She used the old Nauvoo meeting notes as a guide. She visited many areas, helping to set up new Relief Society groups. By the end of 1868, groups existed in almost every area of Utah.
These new Relief Society groups did many things. They collected money and goods to help the poor. They nursed the sick, cleaned homes, and worked in gardens. They also taught each other about faith and shared their beliefs.
Eliza R. Snow became the General President in 1880. She encouraged women to be spiritual and self-reliant. The Relief Society even sent women to medical school and opened a hospital. They also promoted making silk and saving wheat.
In 1872, the Woman's Exponent magazine was started, which was connected to the Relief Society. It shared ideas and news for women. The Relief Society also helped start other church organizations for young women and children. By 1888, the Relief Society had over 22,000 members.
Early Relief Society meetings were held twice a month. One meeting was for sewing and helping the poor. The other meeting was for learning, discussing topics, and sharing personal beliefs.
The 20th Century and Beyond
In 1914, the Relief Society started publishing standardized lessons in their magazine. By 1942, there were about 115,000 members. This number grew to 300,000 by 1966.
In 1945, the organization's official name became "Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
In the 1960s, big changes happened in how the church was organized. This helped the Relief Society prepare to become a worldwide organization. Lessons and materials were made easier to translate for people in different countries.
The Relief Society Magazine stopped in 1970. Its content, along with other church magazines, was then included in the Ensign magazine.
In 2005, the Relief Society received an award from the American Red Cross for its service. In 2010, the Catholic Community Services honored the Relief Society's general president for being a community partner.
How the Relief Society Works Today
Today, every Latter-day Saint woman joins the Relief Society when she turns 18 or gets married. There are no fees or dues to be a member.
Local Leadership and Meetings
In each local church congregation, a Relief Society president is chosen. She selects two other women to help her as counselors. These three women form the local Relief Society presidency. They work under the direction of the local bishop or branch president. They lead and serve the women in their congregation.
There are also Relief Society presidencies at a larger level, called stake or district presidencies. They oversee several local Relief Society groups.
Relief Society meetings are held twice a month for about fifty minutes. During these meetings, a lesson is taught by one of the leaders or another woman. The lessons often come from recent talks given at the church's general conference. The Relief Society also helps teach basic reading and writing skills to members and others who need it.
As of February 2020, the Relief Society has over 7 million members in 188 countries and territories.
General Leadership
Three women are chosen by the church's top leaders to serve as the General Relief Society Presidency. These women work at the church's headquarters in Salt Lake City. They are the highest-ranking women leaders in the church. They serve under the direction of the church's First Presidency.
Since August 2022, the General Relief Society Presidency has been:
- Camille N. Johnson, President
- J. Anette Dennis, First Counselor
- Kristin M. Yee, Second Counselor
They also have an Advisory Council of women who help and advise them.
From the 1970s to 2013, the Relief Society held a big meeting in Salt Lake City once a year. It was broadcast around the world. This meeting allowed the General Relief Society Presidency to speak to all the women of the church.
In 2014, these meetings changed. Now, there is a biannual women's meeting held in March and September. It takes place one week before the main general conference sessions. This meeting is for all women and girls in the church aged eight and older. Since 2018, the women's session of general conference is held in October as part of the regular Saturday schedule.
The Relief Society Building
In Salt Lake City, Utah, the Relief Society has its own special building. It is called the Relief Society Building. It is separate from the other main church offices. It is also the closest building to the door of the Salt Lake Temple. This shows how important the Relief Society is to the church.
How Relief Society Members Help Others
Ministering Sisters
In every local church congregation, each Relief Society member is paired with another member. This pair is then asked to be "ministering sisters" to one or more other Relief Society members.
Ministering sisters try to stay in touch regularly with the women they are assigned to. This might be through visits, phone calls, letters, or emails. They are encouraged to look for ways to serve and help the people they minister to.
In April 2018, the church changed how this program worked. The old "visiting teaching" program was replaced with the "ministering" program. This new program is led by both the Relief Society and the elders quorum (a men's group).
Compassionate Service
The Relief Society President is very important in helping meet the needs of people in the congregation. She works with the bishop or branch president. The Relief Society Presidency helps women learn important principles like working hard, being self-reliant, and preparing for the future. They also teach about serving others with kindness.
Many congregations have a "Compassionate Service Leader." This person helps organize service activities. They also make sure members get help during emergencies or difficult times.
Activity and Enrichment Meetings
An evening Relief Society meeting is usually held once every three months. At this meeting, women learn new skills, work on service projects, and spend time together. Local congregations can also choose to hold other informal meetings. These extra meetings are for women with similar needs and interests. They allow women to learn and enjoy time together.
See also
In Spanish: Sociedad de Socorro para niños
- Family Services
- Worship services of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
