Relief Society: Divine Organization of Women

• The Relief Society, organized under the priesthood and after its pattern, is an essential part of the Church.
• The Relief Society enables women to act according to their benevolent natures, giving care to those in need.

Willard Richards reported: "The [Female Relief Society] meeting was addressed by President Joseph Smith, to illustrate the object of the Society--that the Society of Sisters might provoke 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 community."

• The Relief Society encourages women to practice holiness and to instruct one another.

"You must put down iniquity, and by your good examples, stimulate the Elders to good works."

"If you live up to these principles, how great and glorious will be your reward in the celestial kingdom! If you live up to your privileges, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates. Females, if they are pure and innocent, can come in the presence of God; for what is more pleasing to God than innocence; you must be innocent, or you cannot come up before God: if we would come before God, we must keep ourselves pure, as He is pure.

• The Relief Society encourages women to follow the example of the Savior in showing mercy and avoiding strife.

"If you would have God have mercy on you, have mercy on one another....We are full of selfishness; the devil flatters us that we are very righteous, when we are feeding on the faults of others. We can only live by worshipping our God; all must do it for themselves; none can do it for another. How mild the Savior dealt with Peter, saying, 'When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.' [Luke 22:32.] At another time, He said to him, 'Lovest thou me?' and having received Peter's reply, He said, 'Feed my sheep.' [John 21:15-17.] If the sisters [love] the Lord, let them feed the sheep, and not destroy them....

"Sisters of the society, shall there be strife among you? I will not have it. You must repent, and get the love of God. Away with self-righteousness. The best measure or principle to bring the poor to repentance is to administer to their wants."

Eliza R. Snow reported the following words of the Prophet: "notwithstanding the unworthy are among us, the virtuous should not, from self importance, grieve and oppress needlessly, those unfortunate ones--even these should be encouraged to hereafter live to be honored by this society, who are the best portions of the community. Said he had two things to recommend to the members of this society, to put a double watch over the tongue: no organized body can exist without this at all....The object is to make those not so good reform and return to the path of virtue that they may be numbered with the good....

"...Search yourselves--the tongue is an unruly member--hold your tongues about things of no moment--a little tale will set the world on fire.

"The little foxes spoil the vines--little evils do the most injury to the Church. If you have evil feelings, and speak of them to one another, it has a tendency to do mischief."

"Do not injure the character of anyone. If members of the Society shall conduct themselves improperly, deal with them, and keep all your doings within your own bosoms, and hold all characters sacred."

(For the full lesson, click here)