Our General Relief Society President has given us an amazing vote of confidence. Instead of dictating exactly, or even partially, what we are to do as a Relief Society, she is allowing our own inspiration to soar, our personal revelation to exemplify our womanhood, and our sisterhood to gain the momentum that has been prophesied about.

We aren’t just being asked to simplify. We are being asked to let go of the world, listen to the Spirit for particular needs around us, and perform the responsibilities of our sisterhood.

If I were in a leadership position, whether ward or stake, I would immediately set these three things up in the next month, and be very consistent ever after:

1) Set up a ward or stake wide Humanitarian Work Day. Pull together a committee, set up a budget plan (see RS-Community Kaysville post), pick one day a month, for the rest of forever, to open up the building so sisters can work together on as many projects as you can think of to do (not just quilting). And please include all of the Young Women and even the Achievement Day girls.

2) Begin teaching the sisters the great history of our organization. Call a meeting whenever you feel like it throughout the year to focus on various aspects of the history: accomplishments, responsibilities, examples of women, purpose, future, doctrines, gentle reminders, praise, etc. The presidency is fully capable of speaking to their own sisters, because they know personally how their sisters receive information. Again, please include your young girls. This is their history too.

3) Create a website, or regularly send out an email, where ALL of your sisters can feel connected, know what is going on (and make sure things are going on), and feel more connection than just attending on Sunday. Don’t forget about those who are not online. Sisters need to feel connected. On your page you can share more Relief Society History (you might want to share my blog with your sisters. You are more than welcome to cut and paste from my blog. I’ve done the research for you. Use it and spread it around). With this RS connection, sisters’ needs can be met in so many ways.

Sis. Beck has given us permission to fulfill our own needs. We don’t HAVE to meet at certain times anymore. We meet when we see a need.

We don’t need activities to amuse us anymore. We don’t need to feel obligated to meet the quota of meetings. We don’t need to devise ways to socialize.

We do need to know our RS History. We do need to serve one another and provide service for many, many others. We do need to build up our sisterhood, because we need to stand as a light to the world.

We are being asked to move ahead as a Sisterhood. It’s time for wards and stakes to act like they are on the front lines of a battle field (which we are); it’s time to capitalize on ward talents, interests, and abilities to fight the enemy; it’s time to meet often to plan an advance, and never retreat. The time is past for casual entertainment.

All of us need to NEED Relief Society. The world offers some great alternatives; mostly fun and attractive to us. But sisters, we need to leave the world behind. While pulling together as a mighty Relief Society, by calling on the Lord when we gather together, by listening for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to guide the choices we are faced with, we will live the very prophesies that have been made about us, the women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.