Relief Society Presidents! Do you feel overwhelmed with your calling? Are you juggling everything? Are you in a slump, because it’s just too much? I have a shot of juice that hopefully will fill your empty reservoir and get you moving again. There are really only two responsibilities a president has to be concerned with:

• Relief Society presidents are to seek out the poor and supply their needs-“Seeking out” is the hard part, but seek out we must. Some people are hard to track down. Others may not “deserve” our help. Still others are difficult to work with. No matter. You will be held accountable for how far you seek. Now, please remember, you have an entire Relief Society of sisters to help you, so use those sisters, and their special gifts and talents, to help you seek and supply. You are never alone.

• Relief Society presidents must organize their sisters-It isn’t enough to make sure there is a lesson on Sundays. Sisters often want to do something, but don’t know how to do it. They need an organizer to get the ball rolling, to think out a plan, and to evaluate the results, and call it good. Luckily, presidents have counselors, who are capable of working together. And there are many many sisters who have a variety of useful talents, and want to help.

I didn’t say these responsibilities were small, but there is a whole sisterhood available to lighten your load and help you succeed. There is no reason for a Relief Society president to feel overwhelmed when they use the art of delegation. There are too many sisters in our company who love to serve, who volunteer incessantly, and who are just good at doing certain things. There are also a myriad of sisters who long to be involved, but are shy, new, or overlooked. It is the president who looks over her flock to find where the needs are, to match people up, and to organize the delegation movement. Give sisters an opportunity to serve in whatever capacity is needful. And never, never, never turn down a volunteer.

Many presidents aren’t sure what to do with additional meetings. We have been given so much freedom to do what we want, we often do nothing. Meetings only happen according to the president’s say so, so encourage get togethers, bonding meetings, and when the sisters come home enriched, all the better.

Our leaders have said the Relief Society has a specific destiny to fulfill. We will be known throughout the world as a light, and the world will come to us for advisement. What are we fulfilling in our individual wards that would make that true?

This is how I see it:

If a Relief Society president, at the advice and support of her Bishop, organizes her sisters to work together, like a well-oiled machine, in any area of our gospel (humanitarian, food storage, family history, fellowship, gospel study, the list could go on and on, just take your pick), think of what could be accomplished. The sisters would have to be supportive. A goal, a plan, a schedule, daily reminders, incentives, etc. would have to be in place. One ward Relief Society could make a difference.

Now, imagine a Stake Relief Society president, at the advice and support of her Stake President, organizes all the sisters in the various wards of her stake in working together, like a well-oiled machine, in any area of our gospel (it can be different than the ward level, but be sure to support each ward in their goals).

Let your imagination really expand and visualize several Stake Relief Society presidents getting together their sisters to work on a single project for any length of time. What would be the result?

Following are just a few inspiring quotes to get your juices flowing. You are in an inspiring position, where destiny is just beyond your fingertips:

“Sisters, this is a call to arms, it’s a call to action, a call to arise.” Sheri Dew

We will continue to be united in one purpose–namely, the furtherance of the work of the Lord.” Pres. Thomas S. Monson

“We will be noticed. We should be a light on a hill.” Patricia T. Holland

“Among the real heroines in the world who will come into the Church are women who are more concerned with being righteous than with being selfish.” President Spencer W. Kimball

“What a different world and Church this would be if every Latter-day Saint sister excelled…Think of our combined strength…if every sister was self-reliant enough to be able to give freely of her knowledge, talents, and resources.” Julie B. Beck

“If we are going to lead in righteousness, there can’t be any question where we stand.” Sharon G. Larsen

“Sisters, it is for us to be wide awake to our duties. The kingdom will roll on, and we have nothing to fear. May God bless you and endow you with energy and determination to act.” Zina D. Young

“We feel truly thankful that through the blessing of our Heavenly Father, we, His handmaidens are called to be co-laborers with our brethren in building up the kingdom of God upon the earth.” Mary Isabella Horne

It just takes a president who has the vision and is willing to organize it. You don’t even have to manage it; simply set the goal and allow other sisters to carry the ball. When goals have been met, set a new goal and move forward. You will begin seeing progress, and nothing fuels enthusiasm more than accomplishment.

(The above quotes are all on my Quotes page, as well as many other motivating words from our leaders.)