The Women’s Exponent, published for 65 years, by women in the Relief Society, was never a chuch publication.  When Emmeline Wells, editor and chief, retired, she hoped the church would take over her publication and continue this excellent form of communication among the women.

When Emmeline offered the newspaper to the church, they turned it down.  Instead, in 1914, the church decided in favor of a new, updated format. As they transitioned, the church published the Relief Society Bulletin for just one year.

The Relief Society Presidency and Board were Emmeline B. Wells, President, with Clarissa Williams, and Julina Smith serving as counselors. They wrote a statement in the first month’s edition of the Bulletin to the “Beloved Sisters of the Relief Society Throughout the World” to help with this transition. They said, in part:

“Relief Society has seen the church glorified with the presence of its Prophet and Seer, and we have witnessed the awful scenes which took him from this earth. We have made a part of that historic exodus from inhospitable Missouri into the valleys of the Mountains. We have watched, nay, we have participated, in the pioneer toils which have made this desert blossom as the rose. Wherever our people have gone there have been Relief Society workers. We have nursed the sick of our people, robed the dying for their last resting-place, fed the hungry, visited the orphan and succored the needy. This, sisters, is, has been, and ever will be the true spirit and genius of this whole organization. It was inculcated by the Prophet in its beginning and has been reiterated again and again by the leaders of this church who have succeeded him and by the leaders of this organization. We charge you to keep this spirit burning bright in your bosoms.”

Relief Society met during the week at this time. With the Bulletin, there would be more uniformity as each time they met there would be a purpose and a theme. Lessons ranged from Current Events, Genealogy, Home Economics, Gardening, Literature, Art and Architecture as well as Health and Hygiene.

Additional thoughts from their message pertain to us today:
“Let us continue our work in Charity, not only for the poor and helpless, but toward each other. Remember that we all may offend, for we are all mortal; but let us be quick to forgive. Let our souls bow down in prayer for those who offend us. Prayer for her will do more to remove the beam from our eye than all other means.
We would have you keep in mind the foundation principle of this organization as of the Church: namely, that we must get and keep the spirit of testimony in our hearts.
Invite the young women into your Society; urge them to speak and take part in your lesson work. You may need the fresh young vigor and enthusiasm of the girls of this church in your work—but they need your sweet testimonies far more and the fruitful examples that you set before them in this organization. Manifest an abiding reverence for the priesthood—as held by the men of your household and the household of faith. Seek their counsel and take it. Teach your sons and daughters this saving principle.
Sisters of the Relief Society, your lives are a living example of charity, pure and undefiled. Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.”

The Bulletin not only gave the lessons to be taught each month, there were messages from the presidency, articles from sisters, always a poem or two, and stories or events of interest. This time period was meant to help the women in a temporal way. There was training and basic learning to be done. A world to be discovered and appreciated. There is evidence that women understood much about doctrine and shared it along with the various subjects taught.

Susa Young Gates would be asked to be the Editor of the new Relief Society Magazine the following year.