When Joseph Smith said, “The best measure or principle to bring the poor to repentance is to administer to their wants.  The Ladies’ Relief Society is not only to relieve the poor, but to save souls” , the women understood their first responsibility as they organized themselves for the work of Relief Society.

Yes, as Women of God, we work.  We visit, we teach, we serve, we labor, we smile, we organize, we pitch in, we support, we volunteer, we strengthen.  We often do whatever it takes to help one another.  We do these things because it’s our nature to do it.  We often don’t realize the impact we have on others.  But what if we were to connect it with our most important purpose of Relief Society: we do what we do because we want to save souls, the souls of our sisters.

In conversation with someone, it was brought up that there were a lot of things required of us, and it’s difficult to “do it all”.  Everyone knows it takes a lot of work to be an active member of this church, and Relief Society, and more often than not the demands are overwhelming.

But here’s the thing, we don’t have to do it all.  That isn’t the commandment.  The commandment is to use our agency to figure out what the Lord wants for us.  Now, you can bet whatever He wants, it’s going to cause us to stretch and it’s going to be hard, but it will always help someone else while helping ourselves.  The work is in the growing and all are saved in the process.

What I love best about this gospel is that God wants each one of His children to return back to His presence.  He has provided a Savior to do the most impossible part of it.  He expects the rest of us to step in and save those who have lived before us-by researching their existence and performing their saving ordinances in their behalf; save our living immediate family-by creating a heavenly home, preaching and teaching by word and example;  and by saving our future family, through birth or baptism, spreading the gospel constantly and continuously.

Where do my talents lie?  Where have I been called to serve?  Where does my natural inclination lead me?  What does my Patriarchal Blessing tell me?  Where do I feel the most joy and satisfaction?  What will offer soul-stretching, growth, and a dependency on the Lord?

Let us always remember, the Lord does not expect EVERYTHING from us, He only expects ALL that we have.  There’s a keen difference.  We must ultimately give our hearts to Him, willingly, helplessly, and gladly.  Isn’t it wonderful He commands our hearts to pass through one another first?