When the Female Relief Society was first organized, there were nineteen members, plus officers; by the following March there were 1158 members attending.  They outgrew their meeting room and would meet in The Grove, where the spillage of sisters could still be included.  The Society became so popular that even unseemly women wanted to join.  Stricter rules were adopted to control the incoming, and finally they resorted to insisting that each new member “present a certificate of her good moral character, signed by two or more responsible persons”.  That makes me laugh.  Now we have sisters who are members, but don’t care a hooey about Relief Society.
In each meeting, visits were reported, the welfare of fellow Saints were discussed, donations were collected for various projects, discussions ensued upon women’s responsibilities, duties and influence.  I often wonder why we don’t do that anymore.  Perhaps it would become misconstrued into gossip, pride and nosiness, which I think is very unfortunate.  Much good happens when people pray and brainstorm for the sake of others.
A delegation of Relief Society women paid a personal visit to His Excellency the Governor of Illinois, with a signed petition to release Pres. Smith from prison.  A pretty bold move.  The sad truth of the story is while the governor welcomed the women and declared his friendship and concern, he was in the very act of plotting with and aiding the mobs from Missouri.  In spite of their failed attempt, Joseph knew of their love and loyalty, which as we know, was all important to him.
Pres. Smith had given a city lot for the Relief Society to build homes for the homeless coming from Missouri, and to provide work for those in need.  It’s clear, the sisters were busy; involved in many projects of goodwill. 
Eliza R. Snow writes, “In having been driven from a city, [now in a Territory] the Female Relief Society, more amply developed than in Nauvoo, has extended its branches to every ward, and settlement from Bear Lake in the North to Santa Clara in the South, and yet, as seen in prospective, it has but little more than emerged from its embryo state in comparison to its great future”.
What is this great future Eliza imagined?  I don’t believe it was population, even though we are the largest women’s group in the world (5,000,000+).  I believe it is the influence and power that we hold.  My question is—are we doing enough?  Are we doing what Eliza would do if she were here today?  Are we on fire, as Eliza clearly was, in everything she set her mind to?  Is the impact of a Mormon Woman being felt around the world?  Is our reputation preceding us in a positive light; a motivating light; a loving light?  What can we do more?