I know we're not supposed to have favorites among the general authorities and general officers of the church. I know that. But I just can't help love Sister Julie B. Beck for her straightforward declarations of truth and clarity of message. It seems to me that Relief Society isn't quite the same as it once was, unless you live in an area with a fabulous Relief Society Presidency who know and act upon the purposes of the organization.
Fifteen years ago Sister Beck introduced a new resource for Relief Society, a book called, "Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of Relief Society." I've read it several times in the intervening years, learning more each time and remembering the important purposes of this society for female members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which are: increasing faith in Jesus Christ, strengthening families, and providing relief to others.
"Understanding the history of Relief Society strengthens the foundational identity and worth of faithful women."
We don't meet together to share the latest trends on Social Media, or compare notes on how to get ahead at the office. We meet together in Relief Society to affirm our eternal identity as daughters of God, and our worth as women, wives, mothers, and homemakers who "make the living worthwhile." (I learned a motto decades ago that says, "Dad makes the living, mom makes the living worthwhile" and adopted it as my own.) We meet to encourage and strengthen each other in keeping our covenants, obeying the commandments, and pressing forward with steadfastness in Christ.
Babylon all around us tells us our identity and worth comes from how much classroom education and how many degrees we have, what kind of career we pursue, and how large our net worth is. The Lord tells us that we have infinite worth as His daughters and our eternal identity is a woman with the potential to be queen, priestess, wife and mother forever.
"[The Lord] intended Relief Society to help build His people and prepare them for the blessings of the temple. He established this organization to align His daughters with His work and to enlist their help in building His kingdom and strengthening the homes of Zion. . . . The Relief Society as an organization has always had the responsibility to organize the energies of the sisters in the wards and branches of Zion."
I've spent the past fifteen years in small branches where most women are converts who never knew the Relief Society of previous generations. They haven't experienced the different types of lessons that encouraged sisters to learn more about the world, countries, cultures, become a better mother, a better visiting teacher, a better friend. They haven't experienced "workdays" when the sisters gather around a quilt, finish it and take it to a new mother or recently arrived refugee; or learn how to make a delicious meal out of food storage items. It wasn't exactly the activity that was important, it was the bonds of sisterhood that were built being, working, and learning together.
In recent years I've felt so discouraged because I find neither relief nor society when I attend Relief Society. I've long felt like the "odd-man out" because I don't have a college degree, and didn't have a career outside the home. My goodness, I hardly struggled with menopause! I miss leaders like Sister Beck who promote homemaking, motherhood, and service in the church as the highest good.
"We study our history because it helps us change. Ultimately, the value of history is not so much in its dates, names, and places. It is valuable because it teaches us the principles, purposes, and patterns we are to follow, it helps us know who we are and what we are to do, and it unites us in strengthening the homes of Zion and building the Kingdom of God on the earth. Relief Society, when it operates in an inspired way, can replace fear, doubt, and selfishness with faith, hope, and charity."
I recommend reading or re-reading Daughters in My Kingdom for a needed shot of enthusiasm for Relief Society's history and purposes as well as some ideas on ministering.
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