Relief Society: Our History and Our Potential

March 17, 1842 - March 17, 2010

Our Divinely inspired Relief Society celebrates its 168th Anniversary today, since then so many lives that have been touched by the millions of caring sisters who do extraordinary things.  May we all rejoice in our heritage, understand our important role in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and see our potential as daughters of God.

Emma Smith was the first Relief Society president, ordained on March 17, 1842. She set the model for compassionate service and charity that the sisters quickly followed. She encouraged and inspired the sisters of Nauvoo to do good works. She told the women, "We are going to do something extraordinary… we expect extraordinary occasions and pressing calls." (Minutes of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo, 17 Mar. 1842.)

As sisters in the Chesapeake Ward Relief Society, we too are doing extraordinary things.  As we live the Gospel of Jesus Christ we are doing something extraordinary everyday.  Through our participation of the Relief Society we expect extraordinary occasions and we rise to service at pressing calls.  

Thanks again to davepongw for creating this video and the others. Well done!

Of the Relief Society sisters, Elizabeth Ann Whitney, counselor in the first Relief Society presidency, wrote: “President Joseph Smith had great faith in the sisters’ labors, and ever sought to encourage them in the performance of the duties which pertained to these societies” (in Andrus, 41). (Organization of the Relief Society, by Nadine Barton.)

Watch these clips too!  click on the links – it takes just a minute to begin.

http://www.lds.org/pa/rs/home/rsvideo.html?xml=rsvideo_8911.xml

http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,8905-1,00.html#video

More Information History of Relief Society
Historical information can be found by doing a search on LDS.org and the Relief Society history page.

• Boyd K. Packer, “The Relief Society,” Ensign, May 1998, 72–74
• Boyd K. Packer, “The Circle of Sisters,” Ensign, Nov. 1980, 109
• Dallin H. Oaks, “The Relief Society and the Church,” Ensign, May 1992, 34–37.
• “The Founding of Relief Society,” Ensign, Mar. 1992, 57.
• Heidi S. Swinton and LaRene Gaunt, “The Relief Society Building: A Symbol of Service and Sacrifice,” Ensign, Sept. 2006, 54–57.
• Video: Tour of the Relief Society Building
• www.lds.org/pa/pdf/rs/RSPresidentsPoster2009web.pdf
• www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,8269-1,00.html