After being called as Relief Society general president, Sister Julie B. Beck and her counselors, Sister Silvia H. Allred and Sister Barbara Thompson, began pondering the purposes and objectives of Relief Society. They read the history of the organization, the Church Handbook of Instructions, and other lists of objectives. They found that everything about Relief Society could be summarized with three things Latter-day Saint women should be doing every day.
Relief Society doesn't have a purpose that is different than the Lord's purpose, Sister Beck said. "That is why Relief Society was organized."
Referring to these responsibilities, "faith, family, relief," Sister Beck said, "Everyone should be able to remember three things."
Sister Allred said the words "faith, family, relief" are not new. In fact, this message is formulated from the counsel of the Prophet Joseph Smith, who instructed women during the Church's first Relief Society meetings. "He told them that this organization was not only to specifically help the poor and the needy, but also to save souls. So saving souls has great implications on what the work should be."
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