Plans Announced for Celebration of 150 Years of Relief Society

The First Presidency has announced plans for celebration of one hundred fifty years of Relief Society in 1992 with projects focusing on service. A letter sent to General Authorities and regional and local priesthood leaders on August 1 expressed strong support for the planned projects.

“The celebration of the Relief Society sesquicentennial during 1992 is an event of great importance in the Church. When the Relief Society was organized on 17 March 1842, Joseph Smith said, ‘This Society shall rejoice, and knowledge and intelligence shall flow down from this time henceforth; this is the beginning of better days to the poor and needy, who shall be made to rejoice and pour forth blessings on your heads.’ (History of the Church, 4:607.)

“Our sisters have indeed blessed countless people through the charitable and educational activities of Relief Society,” the letter continued.

“We are grateful for our sisters who play a vital role in building the kingdom of God throughout the earth. We rejoice in the organization of the Relief Society, in its mission, and in the good that comes to the entire world because of the women who are its members.”

In a letter accompanying the First Presidency message, the Relief Society general presidency invited all members to join in the anniversary celebration.

“When the Relief Society was founded,” the letter recalled, “Emma Smith, the first Relief Society General President, said, ‘We are going to do something extraordinary.’ Because our sisters are extraordinary, so are the accomplishments of Relief Society throughout its history. Our celebration should lift and bless all members of the Church and give us cause to thank our Heavenly Father.”

A bulletin titled Relief Society Sesquicentennial Celebration outlines activities and projects that may be part of local commemorations of the Relief Society anniversary. These include:

—A “Celebrate through Service” project that should be “the heart of each local celebration.” The project chosen should “bless people living in the community,” “involve all sisters in meaningful service,” and help them “to develop and exercise charity” and “to enjoy a unified sisterhood.”

—A presentation of “A Society of Sisters,” a program that will feature not only Relief Society history but also life stories and testimonies of local sisters. It is to be presented on 17 March 1992, or as close as possible to that date.

—A ninety-minute international satellite broadcast to link sisters throughout the world, to be broadcast live from the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on Saturday, 14 March 1992. It will go to stake centers throughout the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, and also to Mexico City, Mexico; Frankfurt, Germany; Johannesburg, South Africa; Seoul, Korea; and Sydney, Australia. This is the only activity throughout the year-long celebration that will not be held at the ward or branch level.

—Preparation of a historical record. Each local unit will be encouraged to prepare a history of its Relief Society, including sesquicentennial activities.