Probably the most important Relief Society Documents are the Minute Book, the Relief Society Declaration and the Purpose statement. Here’s why:
Sarah Kimball was a resourceful sister, living in Nauvoo, wanting to find a way to help build the temple. She and her maid decided to form a sewing group of ladies to make shirts for the men. She had her good friend, Eliza Snow, write up a guideline for the group in order to keep them focused and purposeful. When finished writing, Eliza showed it to Joseph Smith who said it was good, but the Lord had something better for the sisters. Thereafter, he called a meeting for all the women to meet in the large room above his store. According to Eliza, he told the women the church could not have been fully organized without the women being organized under the priesthood, and that women throughout time have always been organized as long as the priesthood has been on the earth. More is explained in this post.
At that first meeting, and throughout all the meetings held in Nauvoo, Eliza began writing down notes of what was said. This notebook became The Minute Book, which has become the Constitution of the Relief Society, as declared by Brother Joseph. He spoke to the women six different times, in those early days. Each Relief Society General Presidency has had access to The Minute Book and have drawn from his words to keep the Relief Society focused on the original purposes he taught them.
Throughout the early years of the church, the Relief Society organized countless projects that helped communities live better lives. They stayed true to the motto, stated by Pres. Emmeline Wells’ presidency, Charity Never Faileth. Service was our calling card. A sister’s faith and steadfastness brought unity and determination to the Relief Society.
During the following years, wars were fought, and time droned on. When the Relief Society Magazine was discontinued in 1970, sisters likely lost a little of their identity. They maintained their original fervor, but without that visual, monthly focus found in their magazine it was easy to become too busy and less focused.
Then in 1999, feeling the guiding influence of the Lord, in order to help sisters “catch the vision of the magnificent potential of the Relief Society organization,” President Mary Ellen Smoot and her counselors wrote The Relief Society Declaration to unite the sisters in our devotion to Jesus Christ in an effort to be more prepared for His Second Coming. When this document was announced during the General Women’s Meeting that fall, powerful talks were given that set the stage for our future and ultimate destiny.
President Julie Beck took what was said in the Minute Book and the Declaration and shortened our purpose and vision to a mere three words: Faith, Family, Service. This was easy to remember and put into practice at every Relief Society gathering. With these three action words we could set ourselves apart from the world and stand strong and immoveable. President Linda Burton drew these three words together into one complete purpose statement:
“Relief Society helps prepare women for the blessings of eternal life as they increase faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and His Atonement; strengthen individuals, families, and homes through ordinances and covenants; and work in unity to help those in need.”
These two modern documents, the Declaration and our Purpose, work together to keep Relief Society focused on centering our vision on Jesus Christ. Everything we do must be in His name. Every act of faith. Every act of service. And every time we teach and train our children and seek to maintain the spirit in our homes. As a sisterhood, 8 million strong, and fully united, we can “reflect righteousness and articulateness in [our] lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from the women of the world” (President Kimball, “The Role of Righteous Women”).
Today, President Russell M. Nelson has invited each Relief Society sister to reacquaint herself with these documents, fully participate in Relief Society, learn how to use the power given to her through the priesthood, and gain priesthood power through her covenants. Sisters, we have a destiny to fulfill and all the heavens are watching!
Pres. Nelson’s most recent talks to the Relief Society: