“Following is a list of guidelines for additional meetings as outlined in Sister Beck’s talk:
The ward Relief Society president should oversee all Relief Society meetings.
The Relief Society president should counsel regularly with her bishop regarding how these meetings can meet the needs of individuals and families in the ward.
Plans should be consistent with current policies about activities, including policies about finances.
Meeting plans should be approved by the bishop.
At least one member of the Relief Society presidency should attend all meetings.
The Relief Society president should oversee the meetings, but may ask the first or second counselor or recommend a sister in the ward be called to be coordinator of the meetings.
The Relief Society presidency prayerfully determines how often to hold these meetings and where they should be held.
Meetings generally should be held monthly. The bishop and the Relief Society president determine the frequency of the meetings. Efforts should be made to hold the meetings at least quarterly.
Meetings should be held at a time other than Sunday or Monday evening.
Sisters should not be made to feel that it is mandatory to attend all these meetings.
When planning meetings, the Relief Society presidency should take into consideration time commitments of sisters, family circumstances, travel distance and cost, financial cost to the ward, safety and other local circumstances.
Meetings, under the direction of the bishop, can be used to address spiritual and temporal needs of individuals and families and to strengthen unity.
Meetings should accomplish the “charitable and practical responsibilities” of Relief Society. They should increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes and provide service.
In planning meetings, the Relief Society presidency should give priority to topics that fulfill Relief Society purposes, such as marriage and family, homemaking, provident living and self-reliance, compassionate service, temple and family history, sharing the gospel, and other subjects requested by the bishop.
Meetings can focus on one topic or be divided into more than one class or activity.
Generally, teachers should be members of the ward or stake.
One meeting a year may commemorate the founding of the Relief Society and focus on its history and purpose.
“When we plan, we ask what the Lord needs us to learn and become in order to be prepared for eternal life,” Sister Beck said. “In the wisdom of the Lord, every ward has its own unique characteristics, which no other ward shares. This can be compared to the DNA that identifies every human being as unique.
“Every bishop has the responsibility for his specific ward,” Sister Beck continued. “Each ward Relief Society president has a calling to assist one bishop. Each bishop and Relief Society presidency have had hands laid on their heads to receive inspiration for their particular responsibilities, and not for any other ward or group of Relief Society sisters.”
As a result of operating this way, the Relief Society can help prepare families for emergencies and help sisters and families to prepare for the temple. They can share the gospel and teach and improve homemaking skills, she said.
Sister Beck’s talk will serve as the “current official policy” regarding additional Relief Society meetings. “Should you have questions regarding anything we have taught here after studying this message, please counsel together in your own wards and stakes to discover the solutions you need,” she said.”
Information from Church News, October 17, 2009
I have been somewhat confused (until now) about the new guidelines stated here regarding Relief Society meetings throughout the Church. I am grateful to actually come upon Sister Beck’s official statement online which cleared up many questions in my mind. Personally, I feel it would be worthwhile for each sister in the Church to receive a copy of this or at least have each Relief Society presidency give them this website reference so each and every sister can read this for herself and familiarize herself with it’s intent.
I had heard many bits and pieces regarding this new policy, but they all got mixed up and I ended up confused. From personal experience serving on our local Relief Society board (formerly Homemaking Committee) for the past few years, my only complaint is that we were told it is no longer “homemaking meeting”, etc., it is all simply Relief Society. Well, a rose by any other name is still a rose, and sisters get frustrated when they don’t know what to call their meetings. For example, we tried holding quarterly Relief Society ” meetings”, which all sisters are expected to attend, while also offering “mini-classes” each month on things like quilting, book reviews, cooking, humanitarian service, cultural events, play time for pre-schoolers, etc. These came about after surveying our sisters and finding out what some of them would be interested in learning in a small group setting. There was no pressure to be their each time, but we wanted to serve them the best we could. Those activities took place in varied locations, some in sisters’ homes, some at meeting houses, etc. Our Relief Society President now feels that the sisters should no longer be having “mini classes” because she feels the sisters need the fellowship of the full ward Relief Society and we are going back to the earlier format of having a “homemaking meeting” each month, which all sisters are expected to attend. There is never a title to give it, but I just call it Homemaking Meeting because I don’t know what else to call it.
Thank you for all you do to serve the Relief Society sisters around the world. Humbly yours, sister Mary Silver