In the mid-1800’s women’s societies were cropping up all over the nation’s eastern
seaboard. These popular groups brought women together. Sarah Kimball organized a small sewing group to be just like the women of the world. When Joseph Smith heard about the group, he loved the idea. However, he informed the women that the Lord had something better in store for the women of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Eliza records that Joseph called that first meeting to be held in the Masonic Temple (the upper room of his Red Brick Store) to organize the women under the Priesthood. Joseph explained that the Restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was not complete until the women were organized under the Priesthood. That’s important to know because this is where the Presidency of the Relief Society was first formed, as the Presidency of the various quorums of the Priesthood are formed to govern the Church.
When Emma Smith was called as the first Relief Society President, she asked Eliza R. Snow to serve as her secretary. Eliza kept a Minute Book to serve as a record for these original meetings. As the Relief Society met together and began organizing themselves, the Priesthood brethren encouraged them, taught them important doctrines, and gave them power to fulfill their destiny; our destiny. The Minute Book is a wonderful record that gives us understanding, without question, the role women play in these latter days. Eliza recorded profound messages made by Joseph, Emma, as well as all the women who witnessed these events.
In that period of time, women had few rights and privileges. The women of Nauvoo were willing to help build a temple, but they didn’t understand their role in the temple. They didn’t even know they would ever be allowed inside the temple. When Joseph turned the key for the Relief Society, he gave us power of Presidency (identical to Priesthood Presidency). He also turned the key giving us power from on high to gain all the knowledge, power, and wisdom of salvation. When Joseph told them they would be able to receive all the blessings of the temple unto salvation, electricity went through the room; they could not contain themselves. These women understood and expressed their desires to play a vital part in the restoration of all things as well as the hopes of gaining eternal life with their families.
That original Minute Book came across the plains in Eliza’s care and was used to set up the Relief Societies in the various Utah settlements. This precious book has become the Relief Society Constitution that leads and directs our work as Sisters of Zion; Women of God.
If you search the talks given to us by our Relief Society leaders over the years (check my reference page), you will see that they have fed us ideas that are in this Minute Book (check the footnotes of these talks). The vision of Relief Society is intact. But our hearts aren’t quite as full of understanding as the original Relief Society sisters were.
Remember, the original sewing group wanted to be like the worldly women’s groups. That’s not bad…but the Relief Society is something better; with a heavenly purpose and an eternal destiny.
I found your post very insightful and intriguing. I wonder if you would comment a little further on some of the things that you wrote:
“As the Relief Society met together and began organizing themselves, the Priesthood brethren met with them encouraging them and giving them all the power they needed to be a functioning branch of the Priesthood of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The Minute Book records important doctrines that give us understanding, without question, the role women must play in these the latter days.”
Are you saying that the Relief Society was organized as a functioning branch of the Priesthood?
Is the role that women must play in these latter days beyond the often emphasized role of wife and mother?
You also wrote:
“But our hearts aren’t quite as open as the original Relief Society sisters were.”
In what ways do you find that are hearts aren’t quite as open?
Jenn,
The temple teaches us that men cannot be saved without women. The Priesthood cannot function without the Relief Society. Women and men each have a role in the saving of this world’s inhabitants, which are us. The plan is all encompassing and complete. Our most important role is wife and mother. However, just as important, is our role in defending truth and fighting the adversary.
I hope you had a chance to look at the quotes I put in. Catch the spirit of those quotes and you will understand where our destiny lies.
Your second question addresses the level of spirituality in the women of today. As individuals, I believe every woman on this earth is capable of greatness. “God don’t make junk.” I question if we, as daughters of God, recognize that within ourselves. We have too much of the world in us. The original RS sisters witnessed the spirit of Joseph and Emma. Who could doubt the motivating power that stood before them; the champion of the world; the prophet of God and his Elect Lady.
And a side note: I have always loved Emma. She put up with more than any of us could have ever done; and she still was able to serve her husband without bitterness and pettiness. She didn’t cave in until after Joseph died. He was her strength and I believe she was his strength.
Thanks for your comments.
I didn’t understand how the priesthood applied to me until I went to the Temple. I am forever grateful for the insights recieved there and the truths whispered to me that the priesthood is as applicable and vital to me as it is to my husband. I am still learning along these lines. But that testimony has stayed with me each time priesthood is brought up. Especially during those General Conference talks and Relief Society lessons about the Priesthood when we women all tend to zone out. 🙂
About what the Relief Society is meant to DO: I love the Relief Society, but I have to admit this point hasn’t been clear to me. The Relief Society excels at forming the book groups, crafting circles, and frozen meal groups. We are so good at providing meals to the sick and the new moms. But what else is there? There MUST be somethings else! Relief Society has made several changes reguarding this: Homemaking turned to Enrichment Meeting which was then changed into only quarterly meetings with small classes organized by each individual Relief Society according to desire and need. I think this latest change was meant for each individual Relief Society to find their purpose and potential. So far my RS has book groups, craft circles and frozen meal groups. 🙂
Has anyone else had more successful experiences? What groups CAN help us acheive the goals mentioned above and the vision the Prophet Joseph had for us?
You mentioned the original minute book is on display in Utah. I am wondering if a transcript copy is available? In a book or journal publication?
Unfortunately, this book is not available in published form. I will see what I can do about posting some of the quotes taken from the document. If you look up many of the talks given to us by our Relief Society leaders, you will see them referring to many of the ideas that were in that original Minute Book (check the footnotes to identify). So, it is comforting, and important, to know that we have been taught these same ideals all these years.
I would love to see who the women were that went about helping to set up the Relief Society organizations in the wards. I know that Elizabeth Howard was one of them, and that she was organizing the group in Grantsville Utah when she died. Since she is a relative of my husband, I wonder if you can give me additional information on her role in the organization of the groups. In the History of Relief Society 1842-1966 she is shown in picture on page 32 as one of the ten leading sisters who helped organize early day societies 1866- 1880. I would love to know more about this part of the History.
This will take some more research. Elizabeth’s journals are in the L. Tom Perry Special Collections in the BYU library. She was very good friends with Eliza, and worked with her as they organized the Relief Societies in the Salt Lake Valley. Elizabeth was on the Board of Directors of the Deseret Hospital and was called as the first Secretary of the Salt Lake Stake Relief Society. Later, she served on the General RS Board.
There are so many wonderful women to learn about, and it is so fascinating to learn how they worked together to organize, teach, and inspire one another, and us.
Dear Jan!
I need all my heart thank you for blessing grande this blog. A few months ago I felt a great desire to express all my gifts, and decided to do a blog. In it I can put all my love for the gospel, the relief society and my Savior. When I read the message of visiting teachers in January 2011. I realized how much our beloved President Julie B Beck is inspired. I am Brazilian and belong to the church for 20 years and a curiosity to know more about the organization to which I belong as a daughter of Heavenly Father. This blog is at the time of high demand for knowledge, for the love of the Savior and the faith that sometimes falters. I’m very grateful and big ideas popped in my mind when I found your blog. Thanks and be sure to bring more light and knowledge seekers like me. So how do you believe there are many sisters out there who feel lonely and helpless and can make a difference in the lives of each one. PS. Excuse my English, I intend to improve it. Fraternal hugs!
February’s (2011) Visiting Teaching message is on the formation of the Relief Society, and we know Sister Beck wants us all to reach back into the history of the Relief Society and remember the past in order to strengthen the future. Unfortunately, the message, as printed in the Ensign, did not have much detail on what happened in that first Relief society meeting. So…I went straight to your website and in seconds found exactly what I was searching for!
Thank you for all your research and for giving the rest of us a wonderful, reliable go-to source for the history of our wonderful Relief Society!
Jan,
You are awesome! What a wonderful talent you have for organizing the information you have on this site. I have been on your site for the better part of the day and have learned so much. In my quest for information to inspire my creative juices in designing/creating ideas for the RS birthday cake, I stumbled onto your work. I cannot thank you enough. What I found was exactly what I was looking for – knowledge and understanding of who the women of RS were over the years, what they did, how they did it, what their desires were, and what they accomplished (with pictures to boot). Plus, I found more in the posts from others and your responses to them.
The women of the RS over the years, to include you and all those who strive to help the rest of us understand are truly women of God, as Emma put it (not exactly in these words) – we are women who are about to embark on extraordinary work. These sisters have helped us learn who we are and the great legacy in which we are apart of in RS. I have no doubt in my mind that when we understand and embrace that – it is a feeling of joy and amazement, like unto those that hold the priesthood who serve and administer today in the Middle East. I had a great love for RS and the sisters in it before today, but I cannot express in words how much more that love has grown because of your ability to share your talent with all of us. THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!! This site is definitely going to be added to my favorites. – An inspired sister in Zion.
I’ve been looking for information about this topic for a while and yours is the best I have discovered so far. Thanks.
Dear Sister: As a missionary here in Nauvoo we are preparing the 170 Reenactment of the Relief Society in the place where it was originated….the Red Brick Store…Not the Masonic Hall. I’m not sure where you found the information that it was organized in the Masonic Hall. Much of what you said is documented in the minutes and is a very nice history. Thank you. Sister Young
The upper room of Joseph’s Red Brick Store was used for just about every large group gathering, because it was the largest indoor space in town at the time. Eliza is the one who actually states that the meeting was held in the Masonic Temple, but we know that upper room was held for many purposes.
How wonderful that you can be a part of this celebration. I would love to hear how it all goes.