A few women wanted to help their community.

Have you ever stopped to think about what the name “Relief Society” means? It’s a group that provides relief from suffering.

The global organization we have today started with a handful of women who wanted to help temple construction workers. Here’s the backstory:

• In the early days of the restored Church, a group of women wanted to sew clothes for the men who were building the Nauvoo Temple.
• They told Joseph Smith about their idea for a “Ladies Society.” The prophet felt inspired that this should be more than a service club—that it should be officially organized as part of the Church.
• So on March 17, 1842, the Relief Society was formed! The prophet said, “The Church was never perfectly organized until the women were thus organized.”¹
• Emma Smith was the first Relief Society president. President Jean B. Bingham is our General Relief Society President today.

And here’s something interesting to think about. Although we don’t know what the “Relief Society” was named back when Jesus Christ was on earth, it makes sense that a similar organization has always existed. As Eliza R. Snow 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.”²

Interesting to think about, right? Next week we’ll celebrate the 180th birthday of this inspired organization! How can you celebrate?

Notes

1. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 451.
2. Eliza R. Snow served as secretary in the first Relief Society presidency and later as General President. This quote can be found in “Relief Society: A Restoration of an Ancient Pattern,” Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of Relief Society (2017), 7.