The Relief Society is
celebrating its 174th birthday on March 17th. Our theme for our activity this Thursday is “We are a light to the World.” The reason I wanted to about this today is so that I could remind you all
how special are. We finished up visiting teaching interviews recently and I am
always astonished by the good works and concern that you all have for each
other. Not only do you think about others, but you take time to do small (yet
big) things for one another.
It is wonderful that the Relief Society is
a restored work. Eliza R. Snow (2nd RS Pres) said, “Although the
name may be of modern date, the institution is of ancient origin. We were told
by our martyred prophet that the same organization existed in the church
anciently.” We know little about a formal women’s
organization at the time of the Savior. But the restoration of an ancient
pattern is significant. Elder James E. Talamge of the 12 said, “The world’s
greatest champion of women and womanhood is Jesus the Christ.” It has been
really enlightening reading about the change Christ brought to women while he
was on earth. I want to talk about
women in Christ day and how he was towards women.
In Christ's day men and women were physically segregated. Men and women “should not
mingle.”This physical segregation
led to emotional segregation, which developed into misunderstandings. Women
were seen as a cause of temptation, so they were veiled, silenced, and kept
away from men as much as possible. Especially
in the city, Jewish women were discouraged from going outside in order to avoid
being seen by men. Marketplaces and
council-halls, law-courts, gatherings, and meetings where a large number of
people are assembled, and open-air life with full scope for discussion and
action – all these are suitable to men both in war and peace. The women are
best suited to the indoor life which never strays from the house . . . A woman should
seek a life of seclusion. Even in the home, though, if a male guest came
for a meal, the women and girls were not to eat at the same table, but could
silently interact with the company as a servant. Synagogue worship was also
segregated. Men were commanded to
attend their Sabbath worship services, but women were not. If a woman chose to
attend a synagogue service, she sat separately. Women did not read the
Scriptures, give their opinion, teach, or pray verbally during the service, but
they were allowed to listen in silence. Segregation often inhibited a woman’s
ability to contribute within her community, to serve outside of her home, to
join in public worship, and to access education. {taken from Here}
What changes did
Christ make for women? How did He act around women?
The four Gospels describe Jesus refusing to follow the traditional
social barricades that impeded relationships between men and women. As we read,
the Lord speaks to women (John 4:7-27), motivate them toward education (Luke 10:39-42), heals
them (Mark 7:25-29), asks them to speak out as witnesses (Matthew 28:5-10),
touches them (Mark 5:30-34; Matthew 28:9), and teaches the eternal nature of
their marriage relationships (Matthew 5:3-11; John 17:21; Ephesians 5:25, 31).
This was considered scandalous.
Jesus did
not live by these segregating restrictions for women. He refused to isolate
women and treated them as valued individuals. He allowed women and children to
join the group of five thousand and later the group of four thousand who
gathered to hear Him teach in Galilee (Matthew 14:21; 15:38). He refuted those who wanted
to send the women and children away (Mark 10:13-14; Matthew 15:23). He welcomed
women to stay in the same room as men (Luke 7:38-40). He did not segregate the
unclean, whether they were sick or sinful or social outcasts. Jesus did not
silence women, but spoke with them respectfully.
How
does knowing how Christ treated women make you feel towards him?
When I was reading about all of this and Christ’s love and
respect for women I couldn’t help but feel even more love toward him. Such
gratitude. He understands us. He appreciates us. He wants us engaged and
involved in his work.
In the book, Daughter’s in My Kingdom. It
talks about what Female Disciples did in the New Testament. Much of it sounds like what we do today. This is His restored organization.
Women
journeyed with Jesus and His Twelve Apostles. They gave of their substance to assist
in His ministry. After His death and Resurrection, women continued to be
faithful disciples. They met and prayed together with the Apostles. They
provided their homes as gathering places for Church members. They participated
in the work of saving souls, temporally and spiritually. I add.. they were
doers..
Relief
Society “is a temporal and a spiritual work,” said Sister Stephens. “That is
what the women did in the Savior’s day, and that is what we continue to do.”
So, what is it that we are celebrating about the Relief Society?
1- Who we are. 2- What our work is. 3- Those who have gone before. 4- Our purpose.
Celebrate “who we are”
“The First Presidency has
told us who we are: beloved daughters of Heavenly Father and dedicated disciples of Jesus Christ who
are part of a great worldwide sisterhood,” said Sister Burton, noting that
there are almost 7 million Relief Society members in 185 different countries. “We are sisters,” she said. “We are covenant women,” added Sister Reeves. “The ordinances we receive
and the associated covenants we keep set us apart from the world,” noted Sister
Stephens.
Celebrate “our vital part” in
the work – What is our work?
"This is our opportunity to be unified in
the work—not just the temporal work, but the spiritual
work,” said Sister Stephens.
She said women are looking to accomplish something big. “But the extraordinary
thing is that we do small things behind closed doors—small and simple things
that make an extraordinary difference.”
Sister Stephens said as women “act on a prompting to do a
small and simple thing, that small and simple thing may mean the world to
someone else.”
Sister Reeves said Latter-day Saint women
should petition
the Lord about the needs of their sisters. Then they can express the love that He expresses. He is so
anxious to bless our lives, and we help Him with His work.”
Celebrate those who have gone
before - In Christ day and in 1842 when the Relief Society was organized.
The
Relief Society was organized in Nauvoo, Illinois, on March 17, 1842. On that
day, 20 women met with the Prophet Joseph Smith as he began what he later
called “a select Society separate from all the evils of the world, choice,
virtuous, and holy”
Today,
we celebrate the significant contributions of past Relief Society leaders. “Their
inspiring influence continues. “We have many of their words in Daughters in My Kingdom, side by side
with modern-day prophets.”
Celebrate the purpose of
Relief Society –
The purpose is to… Prepare
women for the blessings of eternal life by:
-
Increase faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement and personal righteousness
-
Strengthen families and homes as you make and keep sacred covenants
-
Seek out and help those in need.
-
Work in unity with priesthood holders (Sister Burton added)
Sister
Burton said understanding the purpose of Relief Society will not only bless the
lives of individual women, but it will also help them bless the lives of others
“in their homes and families and also in their communities.”
Julie B Beck, former RS Pres. - Relief
Society is a way of life. It is a way of keeping covenants. It is a
discipleship that unifies us.
I
want to close with a quote from President Utchdorf. He said “Exaltation is our
goal; discipleship is our journey. As you exercise a little faith and begin
your walk as peaceable followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, your heart will
change. Your whole being will be filled with light.”
The light is Christ. The
way we keep that light is by being his disciples. We can do that by serving
those around us. I
know that by being actively involved in the Relief Society will help us have
the light of Christ with us always.
