In our busy lives, it’s hard to find time for everything, but the bottom line is women need women—and getting together is a necessity—and we always manage to find time for what we really want to do, don’t we? Are important things being replaced in our lives, because we are searching for fulfillment?
Emmeline B. Wells said that local clubs helped cultivate home talent.
Clarissa S. Williams belonged to a “circle” group that met monthly, but said, “I make it a point always that this pleasure afternoon shall not interfere in any way with my Relief Society or my other Church activities.”
Suzanna Mae Grua said, “I went to Club as religiously as I went to Church.”
The Sew’n Sews of Pasadena, CA invited a new young mother to join their group. She said NO reasoning she had no desire to leave her husband and little one in the evenings. She was asked again two years later and accepted with “feverish gratitude”.
The Church budget system does not allow Relief Society to collect moneys for projects. This proves frustrating at times—especially when we see the Young Men and Young Women getting plenty of money for their activities. Without money, we somehow feel inhibited on what we can accomplish. One way around this is to create a “neighborhood group”. This group, technically, is not affiliated with the church and can earn, donate, or collect money that may be needed to run the group. I believe women who gather together, uniting their intelligence and abilities, can compound their greatness. Groups stimulate us and generate creativity and production. Except, I think in some ways we fear pushing the line of acceptability. Tell me what you think…
The above examples can be found in the book, “Sisters in Spirit”, edited by Maureen Ursenbach Beecher and Lavina Fielding Anderson, from a paper written by Jill Derr, entitled, “Strength in Our Union: The Making of Mormon Sisterhood”. This paper shows me the value women are within the church, and maybe we’ve lost a little bit of that confidence as we find a balance between spiritual things and temporal things.
Some examples of neighborhood groups: Writing Clubs, Book Clubs, Art Clubs, Hobby Clubs, Music Circles, Singing Groups, Humanitarian Groups, World Culture Groups, Dinner Groups, Study Groups.
Share your thoughts…