Relief Society

The Relief Society is an auxiliary to the priesthood. All auxiliary organizations exist to help Church members grow in their testimonies of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the restored gospel. Through the work of the auxiliaries, members receive instruction, encouragement, and support as they strive to live according to gospel principles.

 

 

9.1 Overview of Relief Society

 

9.1.1

 

Purposes

 

 

Relief Society prepares women for the blessings of eternal life by helping them increase their faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and help those in need. Relief Society accomplishes these purposes through Sunday gospel instruction, other Relief Society meetings, visiting teaching, and welfare and compassionate service.

 

9.1.2

 

History

 

 

The Prophet Joseph Smith organized the Relief Society on March 17, 1842. He taught that the Relief Society was organized for "the relief of the poor, the destitute, the widow and the orphan, and for the exercise of all benevolent purposes" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 452). In addition, he taught that the Relief Society was "not only to relieve the poor, but to save souls" (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 453). The larger part of the work of Relief Society today is "to look after the spiritual welfare and salvation … of all the female members of the Church" (Joseph F. Smith, in Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith [1998], 185).

 

 

The Relief Society was "divinely made, divinely authorized, divinely instituted, divinely ordained of God" (Joseph F. Smith, in Teachings: Joseph F. Smith, 184). It operates under the direction of priesthood leaders.

 

9.1.3

 

Motto and Seal

 

 

The Relief Society's motto is "Charity never faileth" (1 Corinthians 13:8). This principle is reflected in its seal:Relief Society Seal

 

9.1.4

 

Membership

 

 

All adult women in the Church are members of Relief Society.

 

 

A young woman normally advances into Relief Society on her 18th birthday or in the coming year. By age 19, each young woman should be fully participating in Relief Society. Because of individual circumstances, such as personal testimony and maturity, school graduation, desire to continue with peers, and college attendance, a young woman may advance into Relief Society earlier than her 18th birthday or remain in Young Women longer. Each young woman counsels with her parents and the bishop to decide what will best help her remain an active participant in the Church.

 

 

Young Women and Relief Society leaders work together to make the transition into Relief Society successful for each young woman.

 

 

Adult sisters who serve in Primary, Young Women, or other callings that prevent them from attending Sunday Relief Society meetings continue to participate in Relief Society. Visiting teachers are assigned to them, and they are assigned to serve as visiting teachers. They may also be given assignments to provide compassionate service and to teach classes at other Relief Society meetings when such assignments do not impose an undue burden on them.

 

 

Women under 18 who are married are also members of Relief Society. For other exceptions, see 10.12.4.

 

 

Women of other faiths who attend Relief Society are warmly welcomed and encouraged to participate.

 

 

9.2 Ward Relief Society Leadership

 

 

This chapter focuses on administering the Relief Society in a way that will strengthen individuals, families, and homes. Relief Society leaders frequently review chapter 3, which outlines general principles of leadership. These principles include preparing spiritually, participating in councils, ministering to others, and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

9.2.1

 

Bishopric

 

 

The bishop and his counselors provide priesthood leadership for the Relief Society.

 

 

The bishop calls and sets apart a sister to serve as Relief Society president. He oversees the calling and setting apart of counselors in the ward Relief Society presidency, the ward Relief Society secretary, and other sisters who serve in Relief Society callings. He may assign his counselors to call and set apart these sisters.

 

 

The bishop meets with the Relief Society president regularly to discuss Relief Society and welfare matters.

 

9.2.2

 

Ward Relief Society Presidency

 

 

The Relief Society presidency consists of a president and two counselors. They are spiritual leaders in the effort to strengthen sisters and their families. They work under the direction of the bishopric. They also receive orientation and ongoing support from the stake Relief Society presidency.

 

Ward Relief Society President

 

 

The Relief Society president has the following responsibilities:

 

 

She serves as a member of the ward council. As a member of this council, she participates in efforts to build faith and strengthen individuals and families (see chapter 4).

 

 

She meets regularly with the bishop to report on and discuss Relief Society and welfare matters.

 

 

At the bishop's request, she visits homes of members to evaluate welfare needs and suggest ways to respond to them (see 9.6.1). In the absence of the Relief Society president, the bishop may assign a counselor in the Relief Society presidency to respond to an urgent need.

 

 

She submits recommendations to the bishopric for sisters to be called to serve as leaders and teachers and to fulfill other callings in the Relief Society. In making these recommendations, she follows the guidelines in 19.1.1 and 19.1.2.

 

 

She coordinates ward Relief Society welfare efforts during emergencies.

 

 

She teaches other Relief Society leaders and teachers their duties, using this handbook as a resource.

 

 

She oversees the records, reports, budget, and finances of the ward Relief Society. The Relief Society secretary helps with this responsibility.

 

Ward Relief Society President and Counselors

 

 

The Relief Society president and her counselors work together to fulfill the following responsibilities. The Relief Society president assigns her counselors to oversee some of these responsibilities.

 

 

They organize and oversee visiting teaching.

 

 

They oversee compassionate service in the ward.

 

 

They oversee efforts to improve gospel learning and teaching in the Relief Society. In these efforts, they follow the principles in 5.5.3 and 5.5.4.

 

 

Under the direction of the bishop, they plan ways to address welfare needs (see 9.6 and chapter 6).

 

 

They plan and conduct Relief Society meetings.

 

 

They hold Relief Society presidency meetings.

 

 

As needed, they visit Relief Society sisters.

 

 

The Relief Society president assigns one of her counselors to coordinate the Relief Society's efforts to help the young single adult sisters in the ward. If the ward has a young single adult committee, this counselor serves on the committee. (See 16.3.3 and 16.3.4.)

 

9.2.3

 

Ward Relief Society Secretary

 

 

The Relief Society secretary has the following responsibilities:

 

 

She consults with the Relief Society president to prepare agendas for presidency meetings. She attends these meetings, takes notes, and keeps track of assignments.

 

 

Each month, she compiles a visiting teaching report for the Relief Society president to give to the bishop unless a visiting teaching coordinator has been assigned to do so (see 9.5.4). At least quarterly, she compiles attendance information, reviews it with the Relief Society president, and submits it to the ward clerk.

 

 

She ensures that the Relief Society presidency is aware of young women who will be entering Relief Society.

 

 

She assists the Relief Society presidency in preparing an annual budget and accounting for expenses.

 

9.2.4

 

Relief Society Teachers

 

 

Relief Society teachers teach lessons as assigned by the Relief Society presidency. They follow the principles outlined in 5.5.4.

 

9.2.5

 

Other Ward Relief Society Callings

 

 

The callings listed in this section are suggestions. The bishop and Relief Society president may decide not to fill every position, or they may determine that additional callings are needed.

 

Visiting Teaching Coordinator and Supervisors

 

 

In a ward with a large number of women, a sister may be called to help the Relief Society president coordinate visiting teaching and make sure it is done effectively. Additionally, visiting teaching supervisors may help the visiting teaching coordinator gather information and coordinate the work.

 

 

The visiting teaching coordinator receives monthly reports of visits and other contacts that visiting teachers have made. She may be assigned to help prepare a monthly visiting teaching report (see 9.5.4).

 

Compassionate Service Coordinator and Assistants

 

 

A sister may be called to help the Relief Society presidency identify needs and coordinate compassionate service. Assistants may also be called.

 

Relief Society Meeting Coordinator and Committee

 

 

A sister may be called to help the Relief Society presidency coordinate the planning of Relief Society meetings that are not held on Sunday. These meetings may include service, classes, projects, conferences, and workshops. The Relief Society presidency may request that committee members be called to assist the coordinator. Committee members may be given specific areas of responsibility.

 

Assistant Relief Society Secretary

 

 

An assistant secretary may be called to help the secretary with her responsibilities.

 

Advisers to Young Single Adult Sisters

 

 

Advisers to young single adult sisters work under the direction of the Relief Society counselor assigned to young single adults. They watch over and strengthen young single adult sisters.

 

 

An adviser may be given any of the following responsibilities:

 

 

She may serve as a visiting teaching companion to a young single adult sister.

 

 

She may help with young single adult activities.

 

 

She may encourage young single adult sisters to participate in institute classes or other religious instruction.

 

 

If the ward has a young single adult committee, she serves on the committee (see 16.3.4).

 

 

If the ward has a Relief Society class for young single adult sisters, she may attend the class.

 

Committees

 

 

The Relief Society presidency may form committees to accomplish ongoing work such as strengthening individuals, families, and homes; watching over young single adult sisters; welfare; emergency preparedness; temple and family history work; missionary work; convert retention; and activation. Leaders of the committees report to the Relief Society president or an assigned counselor. Committee members may be given specific areas of responsibility.

 

 

While not required, committees may be formed if they will help accomplish the work of Relief Society and give more sisters opportunities to serve.

 

 

Some committees may be temporary to fill a short-term need. Sisters on such committees do not need to be called and set apart. Sisters who lead or serve on long-term committees are called and set apart by a member of the bishopric.

 

Music Leaders and Pianists

 

 

Appropriate music helps invite the Spirit in Relief Society meetings. The Relief Society presidency may recommend sisters to serve as music leaders and pianists for Relief Society meetings.

 

 

9.3 Leadership Meetings

 

9.3.1

 

Ward Council Meeting

 

 

The Relief Society president serves as a member of the ward council (see chapter 4).

 

 

As needed, the bishop may invite the Relief Society president to attend some ward priesthood executive committee meetings to discuss confidential welfare matters and to coordinate home teaching and visiting teaching assignments.

 

9.3.2

 

Ward Relief Society Presidency Meeting

 

 

The Relief Society presidency holds a presidency meeting regularly. The president presides at the meeting and conducts it. The secretary attends, takes notes, and keeps track of assignments.

 

 

The agenda may include the following items:

 

 

1. 1.

 

 

Discuss ways to organize, teach, and inspire sisters in the work of Relief Society.

 

2.

 

 

Review counsel and assignments from the bishop, including assignments from ward council meetings, and plan ways to fulfill them.

 

3.

 

Discuss ways to help Relief Society sisters and their families meet welfare needs. This may include discussions about compassionate service.

 

4. Review visiting teachers' efforts to watch over and strengthen Relief Society sisters and their families. Give special attention to the needs of new members in Relief Society and young single adult sisters.

 

5. Discuss the effectiveness of teaching in Sunday Relief Society meetings and other Relief Society meetings and make plans to improve.

 

6. 6.

 

 

Plan Relief Society meetings.

 

7. 7.

 

 

Consider sisters to be called to serve in Relief Society, and prepare recommendations for the Relief Society president to share with the bishopric. Also consider sisters to ask to help with short-term assignments.

 

 

9.3.3

 

Stake Relief Society Leadership Meeting

 

 

Stake Relief Society leadership meeting is generally held once a year, as explained in 18.3.11. Ward Relief Society presidencies and secretaries attend. Others with Relief Society callings may be invited to attend as needed.

 

 

9.4 Ward Relief Society Meetings

 

9.4.1

 

Sunday Relief Society Meetings

 

 

In Sunday Relief Society meetings, Latter-day Saint women learn doctrines and principles of the gospel that will help them increase their faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and help those in need.

 

 

A member of the Relief Society presidency conducts Sunday meetings. Each meeting begins with a welcome by a member of the presidency, a hymn, a prayer, and brief announcements about opportunities to serve, upcoming events, illnesses, and other appropriate information. Maximum time is reserved for a gospel lesson. The meeting closes with a hymn and a prayer.

 

 

Each month, the Relief Society presidency plans Sunday meetings according to the following pattern.

 

First Sunday

 

 

A member of the ward Relief Society presidency teaches on the first Sunday. She uses the scriptures, the teachings of latter-day prophets, and approved Church materials. Relief Society leaders use this meeting to teach the doctrines of the gospel and help sisters become actively engaged in the work of Relief Society.

 

 

Members of the Relief Society presidency seek the guidance of the Spirit as they determine subjects to teach. The Relief Society president may also counsel with the bishop about subjects he would like the sisters to discuss. Subjects may include women's roles and responsibilities in the gospel, strengthening marriages and families, visiting teaching, service, missionary work, convert retention, activation, spiritual and temporal welfare, temple and family history work, and the history and purposes of Relief Society. Time may be given for sisters to share their testimonies.

 

Second and Third Sundays

 

 

On the second and third Sundays, the lesson is taught by a member of the Relief Society presidency or a Relief Society teacher. She uses the current Relief Society manual. Lessons are generally taught in the order they are presented in the manual and on the same Sunday they are taught in elders quorum and high priests group meetings.

 

 

The Relief Society presidency sees that all women in the ward ages 18 and older receive a copy of the Relief Society manual for their personal study, regardless of whether these members are able to attend Sunday Relief Society meetings. Leaders encourage those who attend to bring their copies of the manual and, where possible, their personal copies of the scriptures.

 

Fourth Sunday

 

 

On the fourth Sunday, the lesson is taught by a member of the Relief Society presidency or a Relief Society teacher. The teacher uses messages from the most recent general conference. The stake president or bishop selects the messages.

 

Fifth Sunday

 

 

On a fifth Sunday, the bishop determines the subject to be taught, the instructor (usually a member of the ward or stake), and whether Relief Society sisters and Melchizedek Priesthood holders meet separately or combined.

 

9.4.2

 

Additional Relief Society Meetings

 

 

To supplement the instruction in Sunday meetings, Relief Society sisters may participate in additional meetings. These may include service, classes, projects, conferences, and workshops. In these meetings, sisters learn and accomplish the charitable and practical responsibilities of the Relief Society. They learn and practice skills that will help them increase their faith and personal righteousness, strengthen their families and make their homes centers of spiritual strength, and help those in need. They learn and apply principles of provident living and spiritual and temporal self-reliance. They also increase in sisterhood and unity as they teach one another and serve together.

 

 

All Relief Society sisters, including those who serve in Young Women and Primary and those who do not actively participate in the Church, are invited to attend. Sisters may also invite their friends of other faiths.

 

 

Sisters should not be made to feel that attendance at these meetings is mandatory.

 

 

The Relief Society president oversees all Relief Society meetings. As part of this responsibility, she counsels regularly with the bishop about how the meetings can help meet the needs of individuals and families in the ward.

 

 

Although the Relief Society president oversees the meetings, she does not need to attend all of them. However, at least one member of the Relief Society presidency should be in attendance at every meeting.

 

Frequency and Location of the Meetings

 

 

The Relief Society presidency prayerfully considers how often they should hold additional Relief Society meetings and where they should hold them. When they have made a decision, the Relief Society president seeks approval from the bishop.

 

 

These meetings are usually held at a time other than on Sunday or on Monday evening. They are generally held monthly, but the Relief Society presidency may recommend that they be held more often or less often. Efforts should be made to meet at least quarterly.

 

 

In determining the frequency, location, and length of additional meetings, the bishop and Relief Society presidency consider time commitments of sisters, family circumstances, travel distance and cost, financial cost to the ward, safety, and other local circumstances.

 

Planning the Meetings

 

 

Relief Society leaders prayerfully counsel together about the topics that will strengthen sisters and their families and about the best ways to teach those topics.

 

 

The Relief Society president ensures that plans for all Relief Society meetings are approved by the bishop. She also ensures that all plans are in accordance with the guidelines in chapter 13.

 

 

Although the Relief Society president oversees these meetings, she may ask her first or second counselor to assume the responsibility for planning them and carrying them out. She may also recommend another sister to be called as Relief Society meeting coordinator to fulfill this responsibility (see 9.2.5).

 

 

Meetings may focus on one topic or be divided into more than one class or activity. Generally, teachers should be members of the ward or stake. Each year, one meeting may commemorate the founding of the Relief Society and focus on its history and purposes.

 

 

In planning these meetings, Relief Society leaders give special attention to topics that the bishop has asked them to address to help meet local needs. Leaders also give priority to the following topics:

 

 

Marriage and family: preparing for marriage and family, strengthening marriages, motherhood, early childhood education, preparing youth for future responsibilities, encouraging and preparing for family home evening, and strengthening extended family relationships.

 

 

Homemaking: learning and improving skills for the care of the home and family, such as cleaning and organizing, home beautification, cooking, and sewing.

 

 

Self-reliance and provident living: finances (budgeting, debt relief, and employment qualifications); education and literacy (studying the scriptures and learning the gospel, teaching others to read, tutoring children and youth, choosing children's literature, using computers and other technology, and developing cultural awareness); health (physical health, fitness, addiction prevention and recovery, social and emotional health, and preventing illness); gardening; food production and storage; and emergency preparedness.

 

 

Compassionate service: care of the sick, elderly, homebound, disabled, and poor and needy; support for new mothers and babies; and humanitarian and community aid.

 

 

Temple and family history: collecting and preserving family history information, writing family histories, preparing for the temple, and doing temple work.

 

 

Sharing the gospel: member missionary efforts, fellowshipping new and less-active members, neighborhood outreach, activation and retention, welcoming new sisters into Relief Society, and preparing for full-time missions.

 

Children's Class

 

 

A children's class may be held to allow mothers of young children to attend meetings held on days other than Sunday. With the approval of the bishopric, the Relief Society presidency asks Relief Society sisters or other ward members to supervise and teach this class. If Relief Society sisters teach the class, the Relief Society presidency rotates this responsibility so all the sisters can have the opportunity to attend the meetings. If men teach the class, the Relief Society presidency follows the guidelines in 11.8.1.

 

 

Teachers for the children's class plan age-appropriate activities that teach children about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. They may use Primary manuals and other Primary materials to teach the children.

 

 

If food is provided in the children's class, leaders first consult with the parents of each child about any dietary restrictions due to conditions such as diabetes or allergies.

 

 

9.5 Visiting Teaching

 

 

Visiting teaching gives women the opportunity to watch over, strengthen, and teach one another. Through visiting teaching, the Relief Society president helps the bishop identify and resolve short-term and long-term needs of sisters and their families.

 

 

Members of the Relief Society presidency instruct visiting teachers on ways to care for, watch over, remember, and strengthen one another. Presidency members can give this instruction in a lesson on the first Sunday of the month or in another Relief Society meeting.

 

 

Visiting teachers are not sustained or set apart.

 

9.5.1

 

Responsibilities of Visiting Teachers

 

 

Visiting teachers sincerely come to know and love each sister, help her strengthen her faith, and give service. They seek personal inspiration to know how to respond to the spiritual and temporal needs of each sister they are assigned to visit.

 

 

Taking into account each sister's individual needs and circumstances, visiting teachers have regular contact (monthly if possible) with those they are assigned. When a personal visit is not possible, visiting teachers may use phone calls, letters, e-mail, or other means to watch over and strengthen sisters.

 

 

When appropriate, visiting teachers share a gospel message. These messages may be from the monthly visiting teaching message printed in the Ensign or Liahona magazine and the scriptures.

 

 

Visiting teachers give compassionate service during times of illness, death, and other special circumstances. They assist the Relief Society president in coordinating short-term and long-term assistance when invited.

 

9.5.2

 

Organizing Visiting Teaching

 

 

The structure of visiting teaching in the ward is determined by the bishop and Relief Society presidency after prayerful consideration of local needs and circumstances. Where possible, the presidency assigns sisters into companionships of two. Because visiting teaching focuses on individual sisters, Relief Society leaders do not organize women in groups for the purpose of visiting teaching.

 

 

In organizing visiting teaching, members of the Relief Society presidency prayerfully discuss the needs of individuals and families. They give special priority to ensuring that the following sisters are cared for: sisters coming into Relief Society from Young Women, single sisters, new ward members, recent converts, newly married sisters, less-active members, and others with special needs. They also consider factors such as distance, travel, and safety.

 

 

Based on these discussions, they assign visiting teachers to each sister in the ward. They obtain the bishop's approval for each assignment.

 

 

With approval from the bishop in exceptional cases, Melchizedek Priesthood leaders and Relief Society leaders may assign a husband and wife as a companionship where visits by a couple are needed. Couples report these visits as home teaching and visiting teaching. Normally, young parents are not given such an assignment because it takes them away from their children.

 

9.5.3

 

Adapting Visiting Teaching to Local Needs

 

 

In a ward with limited resources, leaders may adapt visiting teaching to ensure that sisters with the greatest needs always receive a monthly visit.

 

 

With approval from the bishop, Melchizedek Priesthood leaders and Relief Society leaders may temporarily assign only home teachers or only visiting teachers to certain families. In some cases, leaders may assign home teachers to visit a family one month and assign visiting teachers to visit Relief Society members in that family the next month.

 

 

With approval from the mission president, leaders may consider asking full-time sister missionaries to help with visiting teaching on a limited basis. The mission president communicates this approval to the stake president, who informs bishops. When such approval is given, full-time missionaries are assigned primarily to visit new members, part-member families, and less-active members.

 

9.5.4

 

Reporting Visiting Teaching

 

 

The Relief Society presidency or those who are called to assist them receive monthly reports from visiting teachers. The visiting teachers report any special needs of the sisters they visit and any service rendered. In addition, presidency members meet with visiting teachers regularly to discuss sisters' spiritual and temporal welfare and to make plans to help those in need. Confidential information should be reported only to the Relief Society president, who reports it to the bishop.

 

 

The Relief Society president gives the bishop a monthly visiting teaching report. Each report includes a list of those who were not contacted. If a sister and her family have urgent needs, the Relief Society president reports this information to the bishop immediately.

 

 

9.6 Welfare and Compassionate Service

 

 

Welfare and compassionate service are central to the work of Relief Society.

 

 

Under the bishop's direction, the ward Relief Society presidency, the elders quorum presidency, and the high priests group leadership share the following welfare responsibilities:

 

 

They teach principles of temporal and spiritual self-reliance.

 

 

They care for the poor and needy and encourage members to give service.

 

 

They help individuals and families become self-reliant and find solutions to short-term and long-term welfare concerns.

 

 

For more information on these welfare responsibilities, see chapter 6.

 

 

The following sections outline responsibilities that apply specifically to the Relief Society president and her counselors.

 

9.6.1

 

Family-Needs Visits

 

 

The bishop normally assigns the Relief Society president to visit members who need welfare assistance so she can evaluate their needs and suggest ways to respond to them. If there is not a woman in a home she visits, she takes one of her counselors, the Relief Society secretary, or the compassionate service coordinator with her.

 

 

To prepare for a family-needs visit, the Relief Society president considers information the bishop provides about the family and seeks guidance from the Lord.

 

 

The Relief Society president evaluates the family's resources and prepares an itemized list of the family's basic food and clothing needs. She gives this list to the bishop. She also may prepare a Bishop's Order for Commodities form for the bishop to review and approve. She provides this service with sensitivity and understanding, helping those who receive assistance to maintain their self-respect and dignity.

 

 

The Relief Society president reports to the bishop on the general condition of the family. She reports any needs in the areas of food (for normal needs but not for food storage), clothing, home management, health, and social and emotional well-being. She also may share her assessment of family members' work capabilities and the opportunities family members have for work.

 

 

The bishop helps the family develop a self-reliance plan. He also counsels with the Relief Society president regarding additional opportunities to help the family. In some cases, the most valuable assistance may include (1) helping a sister manage income and resources and (2) teaching homemaking skills such as cleaning, sewing, organizing, planning menus, preserving food, and promoting good health.

 

 

The Relief Society president and anyone who assists her keep strictly confidential any information they obtain during the visit or from the bishop.

 

9.6.2

 

Compassionate Service

 

 

All Relief Society sisters have a responsibility to be conscious of the needs of others. They use their time, skills, talents, spiritual and emotional support, and prayers of faith to help others.

 

 

Through the help of visiting teachers and others in the ward, the Relief Society presidency identifies those who have special needs because of old age, physical or emotional illness, emergencies, births, deaths, disability, loneliness, and other challenges. The Relief Society president reports her findings to the bishop. Under his direction, she coordinates assistance. She assesses the skills and circumstances of all sisters as she determines who may be able to help.

 

 

She may ask a counselor, a compassionate service coordinator, or a visiting teacher to help coordinate these service efforts. She may also form a committee to help. Sisters can assist by providing meals, providing child care or home care, helping individual sisters improve literacy skills, providing transportation for needed medical assistance, and responding to other needs.

 

9.6.3

 

Literacy

 

 

The ability to read and write helps members find employment and develop temporal self-reliance. It also helps them increase in their gospel knowledge and spiritual self-reliance. Each ward implements literacy efforts according to its needs and resources. When basic literacy skills are lacking among members, the Relief Society presidency works with the bishop and ward council to identify practical ways to help members improve these skills. Assigned leaders and teachers may use the Church's literacy course, which includes the Ye Shall Have My Words student manual and teacher's manual and a DVD for training teachers. In addition, Relief Society leaders may devote some meetings to literacy skills.

 

 

9.7 Strengthening Young Relief Society Sisters

 

9.7.1

 

Working with the Young Women Presidency

 

 

The transition from youth to womanhood is a defining time in the life of a young woman. The Relief Society presidency works with the Young Women presidency to determine ways to support parents in their efforts to help young women successfully make the transition to Relief Society.

 

 

The following suggestions may help in this effort:

 

 

The Relief Society president may visit Young Women classes and present a preview of Relief Society.

 

 

Young women and Relief Society sisters may occasionally plan a Relief Society meeting or activity together.

 

 

When authorized by the stake president and when space permits, Young Women and Relief Society opening exercises may be combined one Sunday each month. To ensure that the young women and Relief Society sisters have enough time for gospel learning and teaching, the Relief Society presidency and Young Women presidency plan opening exercises that are well organized and brief. Responsibility for conducting is shared between the Relief Society presidency and the Laurel class presidency.

 

 

Young Relief Society sisters may be asked to assist individual young women who need support in completing Personal Progress and remaining active in the Church.

 

9.7.2

 

Responsibility for Young Single Adult Sisters

 

 

The Relief Society presidency has a responsibility to look after young single adult sisters. Relief Society leaders teach young single adult sisters the purposes of Relief Society and give them opportunities to participate in the work of Relief Society. They assign young single adult sisters to serve as visiting teachers. Relief Society leaders may also give young single adult sisters other meaningful opportunities to serve and may recommend them to receive callings to serve in the Relief Society.

 

 

The Relief Society presidency assigns visiting teachers to each young single adult sister. If a young single adult sister lives with her parents, the Relief Society presidency determines whether she should have her own visiting teachers or if her mother's visiting teachers should visit her as well.

 

9.7.3

 

Separate Relief Society Class for Young Single Adult Sisters

 

 

If sufficient numbers of young single adult sisters reside in a ward, the bishop may authorize the organization of a separate Relief Society class for Sunday lessons and occasional activities. If a sister in the ward is serving as a young single adult leader (see 16.3.3), she may serve as the class leader. Lessons are taught by members of the class, who focus their teaching on the needs of young sisters. They use the scriptures, the teachings of latter-day prophets, and the approved Relief Society manual.

 

 

9.8 Stake Relief Society Leadership

 

9.8.1

 

Stake Presidency

 

 

The stake president oversees the Relief Society in the stake. He meets regularly (usually monthly) with the stake Relief Society president or presidency. He provides priesthood direction as they counsel together about matters that pertain to Relief Society sisters and their families. These matters may include welfare needs, the progress and needs of sisters in the stake, and Relief Society meetings, instruction, and activities.

 

 

For more information about the stake presidency's responsibilities relating to auxiliary organizations, see 15.1.

 

9.8.2

 

Stake Relief Society Presidency

 

 

The responsibilities of stake auxiliary presidencies are outlined in 15.4.1. The stake Relief Society presidency also has the following responsibilities:

 

 

Under the direction of the stake presidency, they may plan and carry out one or two stake Relief Society meetings each year for all Relief Society sisters in the stake. These meetings may include service, classes, projects, conferences, and workshops. One of them may be held in conjunction with the general Relief Society meeting. The stake Relief Society presidency may form committees to help as needed.

 

 

Members of the stake Relief Society presidency ensure that ward Relief Society presidents understand welfare principles and that they understand their role to help bishops in welfare matters.

 

 

Members of the stake Relief Society presidency assist young single adult sisters in the stake. If the stake has a young single adult committee, a member of the presidency serves on the committee (see 16.3.2).

 

 

The stake Relief Society president supervises stake Relief Society welfare efforts. She also coordinates stake Relief Society efforts during emergencies.

 

9.8.3

 

Stake Relief Society Secretary

 

 

The responsibilities of the stake Relief Society secretary are outlined in 15.4.2.

 

 

9.9 Adapting the Relief Society Organization to Local Needs

 

 

The following guidelines are provided to help wards and stakes adapt the Relief Society organization to local needs. For general information about adapting to local needs, see chapter 17.

 

9.9.1

 

More Than One Relief Society in a Ward

 

 

Under special circumstances, the bishop and stake president may authorize that more than one Relief Society be created in a ward. Special circumstances might include wards with nursing homes, young single adult wards, wards with a large number of single mothers and widows, and wards that encompass large geographic areas. The intent of creating more than one Relief Society is to facilitate watching over and strengthening the sisters and their families.

 

 

In a ward with more than one Relief Society, the leaders in each Relief Society presidency administer the full Relief Society program for their membership, including visiting teaching and welfare. Each Relief Society president has an equal voice in ward council meetings and works individually with the bishop concerning welfare matters and efforts to strengthen the sisters and their families.

 

9.9.2

 

Relief Society in Small Units

 

 

In a small ward or branch, the Relief Society presidency may be the only Relief Society leaders and teachers. In a very small unit, the Relief Society president may be the only Relief Society leader. Counselors, a secretary, teachers, and others listed in this chapter should be called when possible.

 

 

In a very small branch that does not have a Young Women president or Primary president, the Relief Society president may help parents organize instruction for the young women and children until Young Women and Primary presidents are called.

 

 

In a small stake or a district, the Relief Society president may be the only stake or district Relief Society leader. When possible, counselors and a secretary should be called.

 

 

9.10 Additional Guidelines and Policies

 

9.10.1

 

Sisters Who Have Special Needs

 

 

Sisters who may have special needs include those who are ill, elderly, widowed, divorced, homebound, or bereaved and those who care for chronically ill family members. Other Relief Society members should offer help.

 

 

Sisters who have these and other special challenges may come to the Relief Society president with their concerns. She should listen, offer love and encouragement, and maintain appropriate confidentiality. If she learns of possible concerns with worthiness or sensitive family matters, she refers the sisters to the bishop.

 

 

For information about helping sisters with disabilities, see 21.1.26 and disabilities.lds.org.

 

9.10.2

 

Dress Standards

 

 

The Relief Society presidency teaches sisters to be well groomed and modest in their attire. Presidency members help sisters understand that at Church meetings, their appearance and clothing should show reverence and respect for the Lord. Relief Society leaders also help sisters understand that when they go to the temple, they should wear clothing that is suitable for entering the house of the Lord. On these occasions they should avoid wearing casual clothes, sports attire, and ostentatious jewelry.

 

9.10.3

 

Offering Support at Times of Death

 

 

When a death occurs in the ward, the bishop may ask the Relief Society president to contact the family to give comfort, assess needs, and offer assistance. He may request similar assistance from the elders quorum president and the high priests group leader. Melchizedek Priesthood leaders and Relief Society leaders coordinate these efforts.

 

 

In preparing for a funeral, the bishop may also ask Relief Society leaders to give service such as helping with flowers, meals, or care of children and providing a simple meal for family members after the funeral service. For additional information about funerals, see 18.6.

 

 

If possible, deceased members who were endowed should be buried in temple clothing. In some circumstances, the bishop may ask the Relief Society president to assign an endowed woman to dress or oversee the proper dressing of a deceased endowed woman. The bishop and Relief Society president ensure that this assignment is given to a person who will not find it objectionable. Guidelines for dressing deceased members are provided in Instructions for Clothing the Dead Who Have Received Their Endowments. Leaders may obtain these instructions from Church Distribution Services.

 

 

For additional instructions on dressing the deceased in temple clothing, the bishop may refer to Handbook 1, 3.4.9.

 

 

The Relief Society president, visiting teachers, and other sisters continue to offer support, comfort, and assistance to the bereaved during the period of adjustment following the death.

 

9.10.4

 

Young Women Who Are Pregnant out of Wedlock or Who Are Unwed Mothers

 

 

See 10.12.4.

 

9.10.5

 

Instructions about Temple Clothing and Garments

 

 

See 21.1.42.

 

9.10.6

 

Finances

 

 

See 13.2.8.