Mormons Mark Anniversary of Establishment of Women's Organization

Women from around the world in over 170 countries will be meeting together this month to celebrate the anniversary of the Relief Society organization.

With over six million members, this society of women is one of the oldest and largest women’s service organizations in the world.

All women members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints belong to the Relief Society.

In 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, the Prophet Joseph Smith met with a small group of women to organize a vehicle for service.  

He admonished the women “to provide relief from all the ills of human life:  relief from poverty, from selfishness, sorrow, apathy, ignorance, immorality, worldliness, mediocrity, fear, personal limitation, and loneliness.” 

Mormon women embrace their heritage as female disciples of Jesus Christ.  They consider it an important mission to reach out to those in need and to care for the best interests of their families, congregations and broader communities.

The purpose of the Relief Society, as stated on LDS.org., is “to prepare women for the blessings of eternal life by helping them increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes and help those in need.”

Women belonging to the Relief Society represent a vibrant and diverse array of nationalities, races, cultures, and experiences.  They are married and single; they are mothers, aunts, sisters and daughters.  They work in the home and out of the home and live in large cities and remote villages.

Relief Society creates a sisterhood for women in the Church and opportunities for rendering service to anyone in need.

The Relief Society Motto is “Charity never faileth” (1 Corinthians 13:8).