I ran across an article in the Woman’s Exponent entitled The Spirit of Relief Society Work. It serves as another reminder of days that must be remembered.

“We may sum up in substance the spirit of Relief Society work as developing in the woman who undertakes it, charity, long-suffering, gentleness, patience, humility—these and many more qualities are necessary in the work;–the spirit of Relief Society work must be cultivated as we cultivate attributes and gifts of mind and soul.”

Our leaders have reminded us that belonging to Relief Society is a responsibility and a privilege.  There is most definitely a work to do, but it has been forgotten. We have been sidetracked by a world that would pull us away with attractive substitutes.

“In order to be successful in Relief Society work, one must not only partake of the influence of it, but must put one’s soul into the work and give it the stamp and seal of her personal life and character; and be so engrossed with the real merit and beauty of it as to be joyous and make it a part, as it were of herself, a life work;–and assuredly a work of love in those elements of character that are always uplifting.”

We don’t live and breathe Relief Society like the women before us did. Our casual attitude toward its responsibilities is leaving “the work” undone and we are unprepared for what will come. There is no other woman’s organization on this earth as organized or as divine as ours. We need to recall what is divine about our society, and organize around those dictates, instead of setting it off to the side of our daily life.

“The spirit of God, the spirit of intelligence, the spirit of prayer must all be as it were a part of one’s self in order to succeed in Relief Society work, and one must be willing to make sacrifices for the sake of the work; self-sacrifice is a part of the necessary endeavor even to achieve any great results. To put one’s soul into the undertaking is to give it distinction and lift it above ordinary common place affairs. To forget ourselves in our work, to be so happy in the duties that it brings as to quicken the pulse, and make us walk with flying feet, as it were, and do our daily tasks with lighter hearts than, before, “Charity never faileth” is indeed the motto we should carry about and have in mind always. One must never be weary in well doing if one expects to follow in the footsteps of those grand women who have made their lives glorious in works of love.”

Read that last paragraph again to understand the full love and devotion women have had of this Relief Society. To them it was family first, then sisterhood, and as one, they accomplished what was truly most important.

“This noble band of workers deserve the admiration of the world, and assuredly the veneration, respect and good-will of all Latter-day Saints.  How any young woman dares to ridicule this work almost surpasses belief.”

We need to tell our Young Women about the great women “whose names are immortalized for the services they have rendered.” Too many of our Young Women have never heard the names of Emmeline Wells, Elizabeth Ann Whitney, Mary Isabella Horne, or Jane Richards. Too many of our Relief Society sisters have never heard of these once beloved sisters who lived and loved Relief Society.

“These women have made it easier and plainer for those who are to follow, they have broken down the barriers, have opened the way and have given a richer legacy than wealth, for they have made the world better by their lives and example, and have achieved greatness in the humble walks of life among the women.”

Emmeline utters these words that I want to say are my words as well: 

“And for this grand organization, the Relief Society, we give honor to its founder the Prophet Joseph Smith, who doubtless foresaw much of which we in this day have hardly dreamed, though we feel at times (some of us) the magnitude and magnificence of the work to which we are giving a great part of our energies and trying to help our younger sisters to understand and appreciate its worth to the world of humanity.”  

Some of us talk about Relief Society’s past, but many more of us need to share its glorious history. Only by knowing its former glory, will we seriously accept the responsibility of its magnificent future “in the great days to come for Zion must arise and shine gloriously, and the women will be there and have part.”  

Taken from the October 1905 issue of Woman’s Exponent, “The Spirit of Relief Society Work,” pg. 28.