Relief Society
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The Relief Society is the women's organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Founded in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois the organization, with the motto "Charity Never Faileth," today includes more than 5.2 million women in over 170 countries.
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Relief Society Motto
The motto of the Relief Society, which is found in Moroni 7 as well as 1 Corrinthians 13 is "Charity never faileth".
Organization of the Relief Society
In the spring of 1842, Sarah M. Kimball and her seamstress, Miss Cook, discussed combining their efforts to assist the efforts of workers on the Nauvoo Temple. They determined to invite their neighbors to combine efforts and assist in creating a Ladies' Society. Kimball asked Eliza R. Snow to write a constitution and by-laws for the organization for submission to Joseph Smith, Jr. for review. After reviewing the notes, Joseph commented that "this is not what you want.... [The Lord] has something better for them than a written constitution. ... I will organize the sisters under the priesthood after a pattern of the priesthood."
Eighteen women gathered on Thursday, 17 March 1842 in the second story meeting room over Joseph Smith, Jr.'s Red Brick Store in Nauvoo, Illinois, USA. Joseph Smith, Jr., John Taylor, and Willard Richards sat on the platform at the upper end of the room with the women facing them. "The Sprit of God Like A Fire is Burning" was sung, and John Taylor opened the meeting with prayer. Joseph Smith, Jr. then organized the women in attendance who where:
- Emma Hale Smith
- Sarah M. Cleveland
- Phebe Ann Hawkes
- Elizabeth Jones
- Sophia Packard
- Philinda Merrick
- Martha Knight
- Desdemona Fulmer
- Elizabeth Ann Whitney
- Leonora Taylor
- Bathsheba W. Smith
- Phebe M. Wheeler
- Elvira A. Coles (Cowles; later Elivira A. C. Holmes)
- Margaret A. Cook
- Sarah M. Kimball
- Eliza R. Snow
- Sophia Robinson
- Sophia R. Marks
Additionally, eight other women not present that day were admitted to membership:
- Sarah Higbee
- Thirza Cahoon
- Keziah A. Morrison
- Marinda N. Hyde
- Abigail Allred
- Mary Snider
- Sarah S. Granger
- Cynthia A. Eldredge
Joseph Smith, Jr. stated "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 morals and strengthening the virtues of the community, and save the Elders the trouble of rebuking; that they may give their time to other duties, &c, in their public teaching." (History of Relief Society 1842-1966, page 18)
Joseph Smith, Jr. also proposed that the women elect a presiding officer who would choose two counsellors to assist her. Emma Hale Smith was elected unanimously as president. She chose Sarah M. Cleveland and Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Whitney as her two counselors. John Taylor was appointed to ordain the women and did so.
It was proposed that the organization go by the name Benevolent Society and with no opposition the vote carried. However, Emma Smith made a point of objection. She convinced the attendants that "The Female Relief Society of Nauvoo" would better reflect the purpose of the organization, for they were to do great acts of "relief," not merely be "benevolent." After discussion, it was unanimously agreed that the name of the fledgling organization be changed to "The Female Relief Society of Nauvoo."
Joseph Smith, Jr. then offered five dollars in gold to commence the funds of the Society and the men left the room.
Eliza R. Snow was unanimously elected as secretary, Phebe M. Wheeler as Assistant Secretary, and Elvira A. Coles, Treasurer. Emma Hale Smith remarked that each member should be ambitious to do good and seek out and relieve the distressed. Several female members then made donations to the Society.
The men returned, and John Taylor and Willard Richards also made donations. After singing "Come Let Us Rejoice," the meeting was adjourned to meet on the following Thursday at 10 o'clock. John Taylor then gave a closing prayer.
Later in his journal, the Prophet recorded: "I attended by request the Female Relief Society, whose object is the relief of the poor, the destitute, the widow, and the orphan, and for the exercise of all benevolent purposes" (History of Relief Society 1842-1966, page 61).
The Relief Society from 1844 to 1868
The meeting recorded 16 March 1844 in the Female Relief Society Book of Records was the last meeting held in Nauvoo by the Society. After the Joseph Smith, Jr. and Hyrum Smith were shot at Carthage, Illinois, on June 27, 1844, all efforts were put toward finishing the building of the Nauvoo Temple before the exodus west.
Eliza R. Snow carried the Book of Records with her as she fled Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1846. Elizabeth Ann Whitney conducted a few Relief Society meetings that year in Winter Quarters, Nebraska.
During the 1850s, while church members tried to gain a foothold in the Utah desert, church meetings were held irregularly. However, several wards in Utah had temporary Relief Society organizations. Among their purposes was the feeding and clothing of Native Americans. Though these women were poor themselves, they felt the need of Native Americans exceeded their own. Records are scant, but we do know in 1854 an Indian Relief Society was formed in the Thirteenth Ward Meeting House with Matilda Dudley as President and Martha J. Corary as secretary. That organization continued for three years and kept complete minutes and financial reports.
In 1858 records for Relief Societies in ten Salt Lake City wards and in several other wards in Ogden, Provo, Spanish Fork, and Nephi, Utah exist. Later that year, the arrival of Johnston's army interrupted the regularity of the work of the Society where ever it had begun.
Seeking "not only for the relief of the poor, but the accomplishment of every good and noble work" ("Female Relief Society," Deseret News, April 22, 1868) Brigham Young called Eliza Roxcy Snow, to assist bishops in organizing permanent branches of the Relief Society in 1868. She and nine other sisters began visiting wards and settlements, and at the end of the year, organizations existed in all twenty Salt Lake City wards, in nearly every county in Utah, and other nearby communities.
Meetings were held semimonthly. One meeting per month was devoted to sewing and caring for the needs of the poor, and at the other meeting, members received in structions and encouragements from the discussion of elevating and educational themes and bore testimonies.
Presidents of the Relief Society
- Emma Hale Smith (1842–1844)
- Eliza R. Snow (1866–1887)
- Zina D. H. Young (1888–1901)
- Bathsheba W. Smith (1901–1910)
- Emmeline B. Wells (1910–1921)
- Clarissa S. Williams (1921–1928)
- Louise Y. Robison (1928–1939)
- Amy Brown Lyman (1940–1945)
- Belle S. Spafford (1945–1974)
- Barbara B. Smith (1974–1984)
- Barbara W. Winder (1984–1990)
- Elaine L. Jack (1990–1997)
- Mary Ellen W. Smoot (1997–2002)
- Bonnie D. Parkin (2002–)
Growth of the Relief Society
The meeting recorded 16 March 1844 in the Female Relief Society Book of Records was the last meeting held in Nauvoo by the Society. At that time, the Society had grown from a membership of 18 to 1,341. In 1942, membership in the organization was approximately 115,000 women, growing to 300,000 members in 1966. Today, (2006) the Relief Society has 5.2 million female members in over 170 countries.
References
- The Relief Society General Board Association, History of Relief Society 1842-1966 1966.