It’s clear why Relief Society has had to adapt over the years:  there’s a huge number of us now (5,000,000+); so many backgrounds, countries, cultures; projects are completed, goals met, new projects and goals must begin; society demands we pay attention to various issues that concern our family’s personal welfare.  One thing that always remains constant:  Everyone everywhere needs help, and our organization has learned to be at the ready.

Relief Society is well-versed in adaptation, looking around to fulfill needs, reaching out.  This whole idea of an organization got started because some women wanted to help build the Nauvoo Temple, and in order to do that, they decided to make shirts for the men to wear.  When Joseph heard that, it triggered the Lord’s guidance into an organization that could literally change the world.  Let’s look at all the Relief Society has accomplished over the years.

The Female Relief Society of Nauvoo was told that they would be active participants in the work of salvation.  They met together to discuss religious principles and testify to one another.  They were personally instructed by Joseph Smith, who encouraged them to ask questions.
Because of Joseph’s death and the coming move out west, the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo was dissolved.  However, once the sisters settled into the valley, they could not be stopped from organizing themselves.  The Female Council of Health was organized for midwives to teach healthful practices.  Interestingly, these women were also charged with giving blessings of health (the laying on of hands variety).  A group of sixteen women volunteered to help make clothes for Indian women and children and called themselves the Indian Relief Society.  President Young encouraged women to “form themselves into societies”.  Soon Indian Societies were cropping up all over the valley assisting the poor, providing clothing, and helping handcart companies settle in.

At this point there was no leadership at the General level, until Brigham Young asked Eliza R. Snow to travel among the local units teaching Bishops and women, from the Nauvoo Minutes, how to organize the women in their area.  Later she was called as the second General Relief Society President to a new organization called the Relief Society.

Being in a place that had no services, factories, or ready supplies, the Relief Society began organizing self-sufficient programs such as the Silk Industry, Deseret hospital, training of midwives and female doctors, establishing granaries, encouraging women to vote.  The Retrenchment Societies kept young and older sisters focused on spiritual strength and objectives.  The Relief Society campaigned for equal opportunity to hold public office and joined the National Council of Women in 1891.

It was the Relief Society who transferred 266,291 bushels of wheat and nearly 2 million dollars of their own to the First Presidency to develop the Welfare program.  The Relief Society Social Services Department served alongside the Welfare Program helping families.  It was a Stake Relief Society that opened and operated the Cottonwood Maternity Hospital (another one in Snowflake, Arizona) which would later become Cottonwood Hospital.

Mormon Handicraft was begun so women could earn a little more money for their families, without leaving their children, during the Depression.  Workdays were happening all over the valley as women rolled bandages during the war, canned the harvest together for themselves and for the poor, sewed for various people in need, made quilts, packaged food and clothing that would be sent to war-torn countries.

So many projects.  So many innovative ideas and people.  The Relief Society program today is set up so women can be just as innovative and productive as they once were.  Projects don’t have to be organized by a President, necessarily.  A group of like-minded sisters can form their own objective and project.

I know a sister who helped organize aid to orphanages in India.  After serving a mission to Africa, and seeing that her Indian orphanages are in good hands, she is going to start another organization to help children in Africa.  I know women who have organized an Interfaith Quilt group who send their baby quilts all over the world.  There are women, and young women, who are asking department stores to carry more modest clothing, more women are voicing their objections against same-sex marriage and pornography, and still more women help children learn to read.  Groups of women are gathering together to make a difference.  It isn’t the calling of “President” that allows them to do this, it’s the calling of “woman”.

If you are frustrated with your Relief Society for any reason, you have the power to make a difference in the way you feel so inspired.  Let the Lord work through you.  And if you do start something, let me know, because I will happily help you and cheer you on.  You go, girl!