Turn to LESSON #39 in our Teachings of Presidents of the Church manual (Joseph Smith).  RELIEF SOCIETY: DIVINE ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN.  This is a golden opportunity to share the good this organization has done for all mankind.

This manual focuses on Joseph Smith’s involvement with the organization, as it should.  But it would be a tragedy to not bring up other accomplishments, that Joseph Smith wholeheartedly would have supported if he had been there to witness himself.

Feel free to use any of the material found on this blog to help you in teaching this lesson to sisters who don’t know what has been done in the name of RELIEF SOCIETY.

A Quick Overview:

• The Priesthood was not fully restored until the Relief Society was organized.
• The women picked the name RELIEF SOCIETY, over ruling the men, who wanted BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.
• Quotes from the first meetings of this organization show the women’s understanding that the Relief Society would be a world-wide influence for good.
• Eliza R. Snow was commissioned by Brigham Young to reorganize Relief Societies all over the territory of Utah, using the Minute Book as their Constitution.
• It was the Relief Society that started major enterprises to assist in the building of the Salt Lake Valley:  Wheat Storage, Home Industry, Silk Production, Hospitals, Medical Training, Schooling, Caring for the Poor, Women’s Rights, Publishing, etc., etc., etc.

We, Women of Covenant of Today, need to know and honor the Women of Covenant of Yesterday.

The Brethren will be having this same lesson, so I encourage you to pass this information on so they may hear of these amazing women and their accomplishments, all in the name of OUR Relief Society.