We all know that Disneyland is the “Happiest Place on Earth.” This is their purpose. The way they got there can actually help Relief Society reach its own potential. This is what Relief Society can learn from Disney.
Disney teaches every employee about their purpose and their mission. They do it by being intentional and overmanaging. And it works. So, let’s see what Relief Society might look like using these principles.
First of all, we need to clarify the difference between purpose and mission. Purpose is the reason why we do something. It instills ownership, fuels passion, and builds community (Disney’s words). Mission involves the operation, the strategy, and the motivation of what you want to accomplish. The mission is how you fulfill your purpose.
I’ve merely taken Disney’s ideas and put them into Relief Society language.
Purpose
Disney’s purpose is to literally be the happiest place on earth. For all employees to understand this Disney talks about the history of the company and the dream-like future they strive to attain.
Every sister needs to understand the purpose of Relief Society. Its history shows how our early sisters understood this purpose. Knowing why Relief Society is important to the Restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will instill ownership in its membership, it will fuel passion and love for it, and it will build community and eternal friendships. It will most importantly ensure that we fulfill our marked destiny.
The purpose of Relief Society is to “relieve the wants of the distressed and do all the good we can.” It is to “set an example for all the world.” It is also to “purge out iniquity.” “This Society shall have power to command Queens” and to “save souls” (Quotes from The Female Relief Society of Nauvoo Minute Book).
Mission
What makes Disney unique is that they work very hard to stick to the mission at hand. They stay focused and they work together in that focus until it is accomplished.
Each of our General Relief Society Presidents has focused on her unique mission while in office. It has not changed the purpose of Relief Society, but according to her natural abilities, the spirit has led her to emphasize certain aspects that define her presidency.
Every ward Relief Society president will find greater satisfaction when she can define her mission to her sisters during the course of her calling. It doesn’t change the purpose of Relief Society, but according to her natural abilities, the spirit can lead her to emphasize certain focus areas.
Intentional
When I learned that Disney uses this particular word to emphasize their teaching, I immediately remembered when President Nelson talked about “intentional parenting” in one of his addresses (“The Sabbath is a Delight,” April 2015).
What would our Relief Societies be like if presidents were “intentional” with how they led their sisters? A defined mission that brings everyone on board to stay focused could make a huge difference in what is accomplished in that Relief Society.
Overmanaging
When you see this word, don’t mistake it for micromanaging. Disney’s definition is to pay attention to the little details. Every employee is an important asset to the company and every job is important in fulfilling the purpose of making Disneyland the happiest place. Overmanaging ensures that the 
leaders are truly leading and seeing that the mission becomes everyone’s focus.
Because Relief Society is a spiritual organization, it cannot ever compete with the world. It must always allow itself to be led by the Spirit. When the mission is set by the president, and supported by the sisters, it will likely become the powerful, spiritual support it was always meant to be in relieving the wants of the distressed, setting an example for all the world, purging out iniquity, having power to command Queens (we are the queens!), and saving souls.”
Now, Relief Society is not Disney, nor should Relief Society be compared to them. But the principles are true, and hopefully, this is something that teaches us to be better.