44a Voices of the Restoration: The Relief Society
Voices of the Restoration: The Relief Society
Voices of the Restoration: The Relief Society
“The Church was never perfectly organized until the women
were thus organized.” The Relief Society, itself is “a restoration of an
ancient pattern” of female disciples of Jesus Christ.
Eliza R. Snow was present when the Relief Society was organized,
and was the secretary. She later became the 2nd General President of
the Relief Society. She knew that the sisters needed to understand the divine
work entrusted to the covenant daughters of God.
Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of Relief
Society (2017), 1–25; The
First Fifty Years of Relief Society (2016), 3–175.
Eliza shared much with the sisters concerning the importance
of the Relief Society.
There were those who were called “Elect Lady” during the New
Testament times.
2 John
1:1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the
truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
Doctrine
and Covenants 25:3 Behold, thy sins are forgiven
thee, and thou art an elect lady, whom I have called.
The Lord also called me an elect lady, through the Spirit,
when Bob was in San Francisco before Eliza was born.
“This is an organization that cannot exist without the
Priesthood, from the fact that it derives all its authority and influence from
that source. When the Priesthood was taken from the earth, this institution as
well as every other appendage of the true order of the church of Jesus Christ
on the earth, became extinct.”
“I may communicate a few hints that will assist the
daughters of Zion in stepping forth in this very important position, which is
replete with new and multiplied responsibilities. If any of the daughters and
mothers in Israel are feeling in the least circumscribed in their present
spheres, they will now find ample scope for every power and capability for
doing good with which they are most liberally endowed.”
“Should the question arise in the mind, of any, What is the
object of the Female Relief Society? I would reply—to do good—to bring into
requisition every capacity we possess for doing good, not only in relieving the
poor but in saving souls. United effort will accomplish incalculably more than
can be accomplished by the most effective individual energies. …
We can do a far greater work as a body of sisters, than we
could ever do on our own.
“It would require volumes in which to define the duties,
privileges and responsibilities that come within the purview of the Society. …
Go at it (under the direction of your bishop) coolly, deliberately,
energetically, unitedly and prayerfully, and God will crown your efforts with
success.”
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