Relief Society initiated the Gospel Literacy Effort to teach basic literacy Relief Society collected 350,000 New release of history of Relief Society General President Linda K. Burton invited skills to Church members who could quilts in response to a need for announced in the October 2010 general con- Church members worldwide to come to the not read or write. 30,000 quilts for Kosovo refugees. ference by General President Julie B. Beck. aid of refugees (see IWasAStranger.lds.org). d au g hters i n mƴ Daughters ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ kingdom in Mƴ Ƙingdom ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ 2020 Relief Society General President Elaine L. Jack asked Relief

DESERET NEWS THE HISTORY AND 1992 Societies around the world to 1999 2004 JULIE B. BECK WORK OF RELIEF SOCIETY 2010 2011 2016 2017 150th celebrate through community General First world- 06500_000_Cover.indd 1 2007 4/27/11 7:56 AM Daughters in anniversary service and President Mary wide My Kingdom: of Relief other projects. Ellen W. Smoot leadership “Studying and applying the history The History

Society. spoke at the BY STUART JOHNSON, training of Relief Society gives definition and Work of 175th

second World SMOOT ELLEN W. PHOTOGRAPH OF MARY meeting for and expression to who we are as Relief Society anniversary Congress of women’s . . . followers of our Savior, Jesus released by of Relief 12 PHOTOGRAPH BY Families, in auxiliaries. Christ.” —Julie B. Beck the Church. Society. JASON SWENSEN, DESERET NEWS Rome, Italy.

ELAINE L. JACK MARY ELLEN W. SMOOT BONNIE D. LINDA K. BURTON For more Relief 1990 1997 PARKIN 2012 Society history, go to 2002 history.lds.org/women.

NOTES 1. Emma Smith, in Relief Society Minute Book, Mar. 17, 1842, 13, Church History Library, Salt Lake City. people”—both men and women—can be 8. What is the most important thing 2. Joseph Smith, in Relief Society Minute Book, June 9, 1842, 63. “armed with righteousness and with the you would like Relief Society sisters 3. See Handbook 2: Administering the Church (2010), 9.1.1. to remember? 4.  Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball power of God in great glory.” This is the (2006), 223.

Today, divine destiny for all of God’s children Sister Burton: In Doctrine and 5. Russell M. Nelson, “Stand as True Millennials,” Ensign, Oct. 2016, 27. thanks to the leader- 6. Teachings of Presidents: Spencer W. Kimball, 223. who are covenant keepers. Covenants 45:3 it says: “Listen to him who 7. See Jill Mulvay Derr, Janath Russell Cannon, Maureen Ursenbach ship of faithful Relief Beecher, Women of Covenant: The Story of Relief Society (1992), 138. Sister Stephens: Understanding the is the advocate with the Father, who is Society sisters over the 8. Zina D. H. Young, “First General Conference of the Relief Society,” reach of our divine destiny is found in pleading your cause before him.” Women’s Exponent, Apr. 15, 1889, 172. past 175 years, Relief 9. Russell M. Nelson, “A Plea to My Sisters,” Ensign, Nov. 2015, 96, 97. the answers to two questions: (1) Do you “Wherefore, Father, spare these my breth- 10. Young Women Personal Progress (booklet, 2009), 3. Societies throughout 11. See “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Ensign, Nov. 2010, the world help those know who you are? (2) Do you know ren [and sisters] that believe on my name, 129. 12. Julie B. Beck,“‘Daughters in My Kingdom’: The History and Work in need. For instance, what you have? If we understood what that they may come unto me and have of Relief Society,” Ensign, Nov. 2010, 114. Relief Society leaders we have, we’d understand that we have everlasting life” (verse 5). I love Christ’s ten- in Caracas, Venezuela, all that we need. Through the ordinances derness toward us. He is pleading our cause This interview was conducted by LaRene Porter Gaunt, wanted to find ways for and covenants we make in the temple, because He loves us! He wants us to come Church Magazines. Time line and sidebar information by the sisters to serve. They we have the blessings, the power, and the unto Him! Let us love and increase our faith Kate Holbrook, Church History Department. visited a facility for the authority of all things pertaining to priest- in Jesus Christ and in our Heavenly Father. elderly and were shown hood. We’re not ordained. We don’t know As covenant daughters of God scattered to a room of women why. Being ordained to the priesthood upon all the face of the earth today, we are PURPOSE OF RELIEF SOCIETY who were lying curled from father to son has been the order of armed in great glory with righteousness and Relief Society helps prepare women for the blessings up on the floor and not God since the days of Adam and Eve. with the power of God. As we remember our of eternal life as they wearing any clothing. Sister Reeves: I have a testimony that purpose, rejoice in and keep our covenants, • increase faith in Heavenly Father and in Jesus The Relief Society sisters Christ and His Atonement; wept as they bathed, covenant-keeping women recognize that we will be seen as “distinct and different—in dressed, and fed our Father has given us all we need to happy ways—from the women of the world,” • strengthen individuals, families, and homes the women and cut return to His presence through making and we can help prepare the world for the through ordinances and covenants; and their hair. and keeping covenants. return of our Savior Jesus Christ. ◼ • work in unity to help those in need.

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