And Upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit

The second general Relief Society president, Eliza R. Snow, said this to the sisters: “We want to be ladies in very deed, not according to the term of the word as the world judges, but fit companions of the Gods and Holy Ones. In an organized capacity we can assist each other in not only doing good but in refining ourselves, and whether few or many come forward and help to prosecute this great work, they will be those that will fill honorable positions in the Kingdom of God. … Women should be women and not babies that need petting and correction all the time. I know we like to be appreciated but if we do not get all the appreciation which we think is our due, what matters? We know the Lord has laid high responsibility upon us, and there is not a wish or desire that the Lord has implanted in our hearts in righteousness but will be realized, and the greatest good we can do to ourselves and each other is to refine and cultivate ourselves in everything that is good and ennobling to qualify us for those responsibilities.”

(To read the entire talk, click here)

Relief Society's Purpose is the same as the Lord's Purpose

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."

(To read the entire article, click here)

Happy 168th birthday to us!

As sisters in Relief Society today, we have a rich and faithful heritage. More than 168 years have passed since the Prophet Joseph Smith met with a small group in Nauvoo, Illinois, to organize the women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Like those who preceded us, we stand today united in faith, steadfast in following the living prophet, and committed to building the kingdom of God.

Those founding sisters came from different circumstances—three of them were in their late teens, some were raising families, and others were single. Then and now, as women of all ages, marital statuses, and cultures, we consecrate ourselves to the cause of Christ through our service.

When the Prophet Joseph Smith organized the Relief Society he taught that this organization was part of the Restoration and was organized for “the relief of the poor, the destitute, the widow and the orphan” (History of the Church, 4:567). In addition he taught that the Relief Society was “not only to relieve the poor, but to save souls” (History of the Church,5:25). This is our purpose.

Relief Society Commemoration Video

March 17 marks the anniversary of the organization of the Relief Society in 1842. Watch the video Relief Society—An Enduring Legacy to commemorate this worldwide sisterhood. You can also download this video.

Updated Gospel Principles Manual

The Gospel Principles manual contains information on 47 core principles of the gospel for personal study and teaching. In 2010 and 2011, this manual will be used in Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society classes, as well as the Gospel Principles class for investigators and new members. The manual is available online in multiple media formats.

Sisters, this manual will be used every Sunday in the Gospel Principles class. In Relief Society, it will only be used on the second and third Sundays of the month. These manuals will be distributed just before the new year begins so, remember to bring your own manuals after you get them.

(To read the contents, click here)

E-mail from Sister Cathy

Dear Sisters,

Greetings from Salt Lake City!

Today marks exactly 1 month since I arrived here. It had been a wonderful, interesting & spiritually uplifting first month.

When I arrived on 1st October, it was simply wonderful to have the Merritts & the Millers welcome me at the airport - something that I truly appreciate. That very same evening, I joined President Larkins missionary reunion dinner where I got to meet the couple missionaries who used to serve in Singapore Mission. It was a great pleasure to meet up with the Reddishes, the Lunts, the Millers & the Merritts who send their love to all the members of KL Branch (They cared so much for our members for they remember each & every one of you & asked about you!). The next day was another missionary reunion for all the missionaries who were in Singapore Mission. This time, I got to meet with the elders & their wives & babies! Elder Hancock has twin babies & Elder Stubbs has an adorable year old boy. Among some of the others I met were Elder Woo, Elder Lamb, Elder Fox & their wives. The one who has changed the most was Elder Stubbs - I almost couldn't recognise him; he's put on a lot of weight & looking very well, thanks to his lovely wife who happens to be an excellent cook!

Oct 3rd & 4th were indeed memorable dates as I got to attend General Conference live for the first time & it was an uplifting experience for me to listen to the Prophet & General Authorities!

The following weekend was spent with the Merritts & I got to attend Sacrament Meeting at their ward. Johann & I were truly pampered by the love, kindness & generosity of the Merritts :-). They are always so loving & full of charity for everyone.

I also had the opportunity to go to 2 stake conferences on 2 consecutive weekends & heard President Monson speak for the 2nd time in one month :-).

The Millers invited me to a fireside by the BYU football team at Springville Chapel where I got to listen to one of their grandson speak. It was indeed an enlightening fireside where I gained much spiritual food!

The neigbourhood where I live in is indeed a wonderful one & I managed to get to know my neighbours within the first week of moving here. My home is less than 100m from the church & just a block or two away from the Conference Centre & Temple! The ward here is so caring & I got my first visit from the sisters within 2 days of moving here :-). The Ward Activities Chairperson lives next door & I had much pleasure helping her with the ward halloween party last evening, doing what I truly enjoy!

An amazing discovery is that Josephine (an Indonesian) who lives about 3 houses away knows members from our district & she's none other than the aunty of Lukas Subandriyo (who's Neena Ramachandram's husband). Josephine's sister is Elder Subandriyo's wife. How small the world is!

Before I moved to my own place, the Ohs (Chong Keat & Windia) made my first week's stay very comfortable with their family, & having Windia show me the ropes by taking me to the places for my grocery & necessities shopping! I certainly can never thank them enough for their hospitality!

This last week of October ended beautifully with a trip with the Millers to the Bountiful Temple yesterday afternoon & in the late evening, a performance at Temple Square. The performance at Temple Square was the Church Relief Society Music Festival which featured works from the annual Relief Society music submissions. It was indeed awesome to listen to the Relief Society choir members from the Bountiful Utah North Stake sing & to see in person great composers like Sister Sally DeFord & Sister Janice Kapp Perry (who wrote many songs like "A Child's Prayer", "I'm Trying to be like Jesus', "I Love to See the Temple" & "Love is Spoken Here") among the other Relief Society sisters who wrote beautiful songs for the Relief Society, Primary & the Church in general. What a great way to end my first month stay in Salt Lake City!

Of course, other fun things I did were to meet up with Miow Lin & her wonderful husband-to-be James (yes, he proposed to her about 3 weeks ago) & the Weists, & attending all the uplifting devotionals with Johann at LDS Business College every Tuesday.

I'm enjoying every minute of my stay here but I still think of all of you all the time!

Love,

Cathy

An Excerpt of Sister Julie B Beck's Talk from The General Relief Society Meeting

"Home, Family and Personal Enrichment Meeting" changed to "Relief Society Meeting"

Sister Beck said weekly meetings on Sunday are held as part of the regular three-hour block. Additional Relief Society meetings can also be held to help sisters "learn and accomplish the charitable and practical responsibilities of the Relief Society."

She then announced that in response to concerns about the complexity of the title "home, family and personal enrichment meetings" — as well as the different interpretations about the purpose of those meetings – that the name will be discontinued.

"In counsel with the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, it was determined that rather than give these additional Relief Society meetings a new title, all such meetings and activities will now be referred to simply as Relief Society meetings. Individual Relief Society meetings that are not held on Sunday will be called whatever they are: Relief Society service, classes, projects, conferences or workshops."

The additional meetings can be valuable supplements to Sunday instruction. However, she added, sisters should not feel that attendance is mandatory.

"These meetings are meant to be instrumental in teaching the skills and responsibilities of womanhood and motherhood in the Lord's plan. It is here that women learn and apply principles of provident living and spiritual and temporal self-reliance and they also increase in sisterhood and unity as they teach one another and serve together."

Visiting Teaching

Sister Beck said most of the essential Relief Society work doesn't happen in meetings. "A sister has no other responsibility outside of her family that has the potential to do as much good as does visiting teaching."

Visiting teaching, she said, becomes a faith-based work when the focus is on people rather than percentages. "In reality, visiting teaching is never finished. It is more a way of life than a task. Faithfully serving as a visiting teacher is evidence of our discipleship."

Sister Beck said compassionate service and assistance with the welfare needs of individuals and families is an outgrowth of visiting teaching. "We can know with certainly that our Father in Heaven knows us personally because He sends us to be His hands and heart to those in need. As we do so, our faith in Him is strengthened."

(For the full article, click here)

Ask The Geese

Dear Sisters,

Reminds me of the sisters of Relief Society!

Love,

Cathy

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)