Relief Society leaders are probably still in the process of planning what to do next year.  Let me throw out some ideas and see what you think…

By now, the stake and ward has probably set up their goals for next year.  A Relief Society president should find out what these goals are and frame her year around them.  For example:  my stake spent this entire year talking about the Provident Living site   www.providentliving.org  where the church has put up guidelines and suggestions for all welfare areas.  The stake was consistent the entire year, using our fifth Sunday lesson time to break up the different categories.

They had less than an hour to cover the material and they could only tell us what was on the site and a few ideas to try out on our own.  In some cases they used a computer, but for those who don’t have computers, they won’t be able to use the material available.  And face it; talking about something is less effective than doing something.  Relief Society could have really made an impact if they had used the following week of those fifth Sundays to put into action what was discussed.

There are so many directions a Relief Society could go by using an attitude of hands-on learning that would support the stake and help the Saints.  Many of these ideas can be stretched into a year themselves; and would be successful according to the interest level of the sisters, thus helping families in your ward, who maybe gained an excitement at that initial meeting.  Relief Society can help fulfill needs, make a difference in people’s lives, and satisfy the interest of members.

Visiting and Home Teaching play a vital role in evaluation and follow through.  When you meet, you can discuss what was recently learned, how it has been incorporated into the family home, what else might help the family to achieve their goals in that particular area, and who doesn’t want an opportunity to share (and/or gloat) on their successes of accomplishment!  You teachers are the front lines to needs being fulfilled, learning being affective, goals being reached, interests being met, help being offered, and accomplishments being cheered.

Instead of every organization doing their own thing, setting their own goals, or not, the ward would feel an uncommon feeling of unity, pro-action, camaraderie, and love toward one another as they work together throughout the year.