What's Your Identity?

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the General Relief Society session of the October 1999 conference.

In this session a new declaration of identity and purpose for the Relief Society was shared by Sister Mary Ellen Smoot, General President. Many unit Relief Societies began reciting this at the beginning of their meetings, like the Young Women. In fact, when we began attending a branch in 2016 they were still reciting it, even though it had been replaced and units had been asked to stop. (It's important to read the Conference issue of the Ensign/Liahona to get current instructions!)

Sister Virginia U. Jensen, First Counselor, introduced the new name of midweek Relief Society meeting: Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment. Most shortened it to simply Enrichment. There was to be a 15 minute spiritual lesson, followed by 60-90 minutes of learning practical skills based on the spiritual topic. The meetings were supposed to enrich and improve our lives. 

I think it is sad that some women don't ever get the vision of what Relief Society can be and all the good that could be accomplished. Some leaders are stuck in the "crafts to decorate our homes" mode, rather than helping sisters to learn skills that further our purposes of bringing sisters to Christ and serving in our communities. 

In places such as where I live, Relief Society could help raise the profile of the church in the community through service. There are many other local churches filled with good women who are doing things that make a difference. I'd like to join them in their work and let them see that we are very much like them, Christians with hearts for service. (But I'm not in the Presidency so I can't do much.)

Sister Sheri L. Dew spoke of being Women of God. "Coming unto Christ means walking away from the world. It means placing Christ and Christ only at the center of our lives." She invited ". . . each of us to identify at least one thing we can do to come out of the world and come closer to Christ." 

The world needs women who know who they are and who can be lights to guide others. Our eternal identity as children of God, followers of Jesus Christ, and members of His true church can be a firm foundation amidst the stormy confusion of false identities put forth by both Satan and those he has deceived. 

President James E. Faust, Second Counselor in the First Presidency was the concluding speaker. His talk was titled "What It Means to Be a Daughter of God".

"Membership in Relief Society, which is a privilege for every adult woman in the Church, provides a home away from your heavenly home, where you can fellowship with others who share your beliefs and values." 

Most of the sisters in the church today do not know that in the past membership in Relief Society was not automatic. It was something you had to join, and pay dues for. I remember my mother's work as the Secretary during the annual membership drive, contacting sisters and encouraging them to join or to renew their membership. It was in 1971 that this was changed to be every adult women a member with no dues required. Hence, President Faust referring to membership as a privilege available to every sister.

Following on the themes of the other talks, President Faust says, "As daughters of God, you cannot imagine the divine potential within each of you. Surely the secret citadel of women's inner strength is spirituality. . . . This inner spiritual sense seems to give you a certain resilience to cope with sorrow, trouble, and uncertainty. . . . I urge you to enhance the natural, God-given, feminine gifts with which you have been so richly blessed."

The words of prophets are so reassuring, especially as they seem to have been written and spoken for the times we live in in the year 2023 when so many are confused and blinded by Satan's blatant attacks.

Being a daughter of God means that if you seek it, you can find your true identity. You will know who you are. This will make you free--not free from restraints, but free from doubts, anxieties, or peer pressure. . . . A conviction that you are a daughter of God gives you a feeling of comfort in your self-worth. It means you can find strength in the balm of Christ. It will help you meet the heartaches and challenges with faith and serenity.

 

He ends with this sweet hope, "May your rich womanly endowments of spiritual strength, goodness, tenderness, mercy, and kindness find full expression. This will happen as you serve the Lord, your families and your fellow beings."

I hope the women of the Relief Society will step up and show the world the blessings of following the Savior and putting Him first in our lives.