Here are a few tidbits that give us an idea of how she felt about the Relief Society she guided so magnificently. I’ve taken these notes from a General Relief Society Conference in 1957. Times haven’t changed that much. We’ve merely grown much larger as an organization.

 

“In view of the growing trend of women working and the many other activities which engage women today, we are happy to report to you at this time an increase in the Church-wide Relief Society membership. It is evidence of alertness on the part of officers in interesting women in the work of the Society. Undoubtedly, careful consideration is being given to holding meetings at the hour most convenient for the greatest number of available members.”

During her presidency, you had to pay dues to be a member of the Relief Society. Dues entitled you to receive The Relief Society Magazine every month and participate in the many activities Relief Society was involved in, including weekly lessons and various monthly projects. Representatives were sent out every year to visit each household, collect dues, and remind sisters of the benefits of joining this worthy society. Many men and non-LDS women would pay dues just to receive the magazine, participate occasionally with their neighbors, or because the representative was so very engaging.

Sis. Spafford asks, then answers, this question that must be asked of every generation of Relief Society:

 

“Why should every LDS woman be identified with Relief Society as a member? Because it gives her a living, growing testimony of the gospel; it affords her opportunity to render wisely directed service to her fellow men; it enables her to serve her Church through the organization given to the women of the church by our Heavenly Father; it offers her rich educational opportunities; it gives her intellectual and spiritual contacts with women of like ideals and beliefs; it helps her to be a good wife, mother, and homemaker; it affords her opportunity to form choice and lasting friendships. Relief Society deserves her loyalty because it was divinely organized for the women of the Church and has had divinely inspired guidance through the years.”

Visiting teaching has always been an important part of our Relief Society. What other group or organization makes such an effort to visit each member on a monthly basis? Sis. Spafford says, “There are in every neighborhood many aged, lonely, or troubled people who may have no special temporal needs, but who need friendly interest, assurance, encouragement, spiritual uplift, and peace of mind. There are sometimes those whose temporal needs may be causing anxiety or even suffering. The visiting teaching program deals with all of these human needs.”

In 1957, the Relief Society created its own lessons. A day each week was reserved for Relief Society where classes would be held on Theology, Literature, Social Science, as well as a Work Meeting. Women would attend those lessons to receive instruction and gain experience in a group setting. In our day the entire Church studies the same lesson every Sunday, give or take various conference schedules. With all of the blogs that are out in the world, everyone could make a private study of the lesson material, share it, and create conversation with millions of others who have had their own private study. There is power in mutual learning, sharing, comparing, and growing. Relief Society provides this.

During her presidency, Sis. Spafford had a Relief Society-wide Book of Mormon Reading Project. Today, we may have a stake-wide class, Relief Society class, or our own personal study goal. However we choose to study the Book of Mormon, let us make a daily affair of it.

Every Fast Sunday lesson has always been designed to give sisters the opportunity to bear testimony. J. Reuben Clark Jr. once said,

 

“The sole ultimate aim and purpose of the auxiliary organizations of the Church is to plant and make grow in every member of the Church a testimony of the divinity of the Christ and of the gospel, of the divinity of the mission of Joseph Smith and of the Church, and to bring the people to order their lives in accordance with the laws and principles of the restored gospel and of the Priesthood” (The Relief Society Magazine, Dec 1950)

Sis. Spafford shares her thoughts on this unique-to-Mormons time on Fast Sunday. “A special period has been set aside at the meeting for testimony bearing. The class leader has opportunity through her preparation and presentation of lesson material to create an atmosphere conducive to the bearing of testimony, and to awaken in the sisters a desire to express their appreciation to their Heavenly Father for their blessings and to bear witness of the truths of the gospel. To slight the testimony period is to deny the sisters an important opportunity, privilege, and blessing.”

With regard to welfare activities, Sis. Spafford makes an interesting observation. After quoting the Prophet Joseph Smith, when he spoke at the sixth meeting of the society where he said, “…this is the beginning of better days to the poor and needy who shall be made to rejoice and pour forth blessings on your heads.” She reminds presidents to make a conscious effort in providing opportunity for the poor and needy to serve within the ward. The Church requires hours of volunteer work for those who receive any monetary aid. It would be helpful for the Relief Society to provide a list of service needs and opportunity to the Bishop that he can draw from when occasion calls.

The Church doesn’t change much. Over the years, leaders change, personalities differ, programs may even modify, but looking at the big picture, our purposes, concerns, and goals pretty much stay the same. As we follow our leaders–past, present, and future–following the plan they’ve laid out for us, we have nothing to fear and much to gain. Let us all help in the work of the Lord fortifying ourselves, our families, and our fellowmen.