….We Seek After These Things!

Here is my lesson outline for lesson #39 Relief Society Divine Organization of Women. Two notes here, since the temple dedication will be on the 4th sunday this month I have invited the Laurels to attend my class this month. In my ward the Laurels typically come in for Teaching of Our times every 4th sunday but with the temple dedication and our Stake conference there will not be a 4th Sunday lesson this month. I thought it might be a good one for the Laurels and I designed the first question to get some of their thoughts and ideas about what Relief Society is to them. I have also invited my bishop to come in and speak briefly on the connection between the Priesthood and Relief Society. I have done this because I have seen many feminist blogs that would love to see the Priesthood completely taken away from the Relief Society. I feel that this attitude is in direct conflict with the organization of the the Relief Society and it being a part of the Priesthood, in asmuch as I feel that the Priesthood and Relief Society are inseparately connected in purpose and function.l
Enjoy, I know it is a bit different from other lessons, but I think there is a great deal of room for discussion in individual wards and needs of the Sisters. I also plan on getting several bookmarks from the distribution center with the Relief Society theme or declaration.

1. Ask the young women what they think when they hear “Relief Society”?

2. Open it up for the rest of the sisters to answer.

Joseph Smith Said

“This is a charitable Society, and according to your natures; it is natural for females to have feelings of charity and benevolence. You are now placed in a situation in which you can act according to those sympathies which God has planted in your bosoms.

What were the circumstances under which the Relief Society was organized?

(Margaret A. Cook and Sarah Granger Kimball decided to combine their efforts to make shirts for the men working on the building of the Nauvoo temple. They decided to invited other sisters to join them in forming a ladies society for furthering benevolent efforts. They asked Eliza R. Snow to write a constitution and By-laws and submit them to President Smith for his approval. When he looked over them he said…

‘This is not what you want. Tell the sisters their offering is accepted of the Lord, and he has something better for them than a written Constitution. I invite them all to meet with me and a few of the brethren … next Thursday afternoon.’

On March 17, 1842, The prophet met with 20 women in the upstairs room of the red brick store and officially organized the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo.

Emma Smith was Elected as President. Emma always had a strong desire to serve others, she once stated that she wanted to be “a blessing to all who may in any wise need aught at my hands.

What examples of service had Emma shown in her life?

Joseph Stated that “The sisters are always first and foremost in all good works”

The Relief Society is organized under the priesthood and after its pattern, is an essential part of the Church.

What does it mean to be organized under the pattern of the Priesthood?

Why is the Church not perfectly organized until the Women were organized in a Relief Society?

How does this set us apart from other women’s organizations in the World?

How are we as members of Relief Society to look at the Priesthood?

Joseph Smith exhorted the sisters always to concentrate their faith and prayers for, and place confidence in … those faithful men whom God has placed at the head of the Church to lead His people; that we should arm and sustain them with our prayers. … If this Society listen to the counsel of the Almighty, through the heads of the Church, they shall have power to command queens in their midst.

What are the purposes of the Relief Society?

1. Knowledge

Quote #1

This Society is to get instruction through the order which God has established—through the medium of those appointed to lead—and I now turn the key to you in the name of God, and this Society shall rejoice, and knowledge and intelligence shall flow down from this time—this is the beginning of better days to this Society.

What is this Key?

How does Relief Society aid in Knowledge and intelligence?

2. Care for those in need

“Said Jesus, ‘Ye shall do the work, which ye see me do.’ These are the grand key-words for the society to act upon.”

What are some of the different needs you have seen that the Relief Society helps relieve?

Locally, Community, Civic, Nationally, Global?

How does the Relief Society care for the needy?

We are to care for more than those in need we are to Souls by…

3. Practicing Holiness and instruct one another.

How do we become more Holy?

(obedience, putting aside iniquity, Help the Elders in Good Works.)

We are to instruct one another by expounding the scriptures.

What do we learn from the Scriptures?

4. Learn to Follow the Savior, show mercy, avoiding strife.

What are some of the weaknesses that we have as women?

List.

Quote #2

“If you would have God have mercy on you, have mercy on one another. … We are full of selfishness; the devil flatters us that we are very righteous, when we are feeding on the faults of others. We can only live by worshiping our God; all must do it for themselves; none can do it for another. How mild the Savior dealt with Peter, saying, ‘When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.’ [Luke 22:32.] At another time, He said to him, ‘Lovest thou me?’ and having received Peter’s reply, He said, ‘Feed my sheep.’ [John 21:15–17.] If the sisters [love] the Lord, let them feed the sheep, and not destroy them. …

Quote #3

Eliza R. Snow reported the following words of the Prophet: “Notwithstanding the unworthy are among us, the virtuous should not, from self importance, grieve and oppress needlessly, those unfortunate ones—even these should be encouraged to hereafter live to be honored by this society, who are the best portions of the community. Said he had two things to recommend to the members of this society, to put a double watch over the tongue: no organized body can exist without this at all. … The object is to make those not so good reform and return to the path of virtue that they may be numbered with the good. …

Quote #4

“Do not injure the character of anyone. If members of the Society shall conduct themselves improperly, deal with them, and keep all your doings within your own bosoms, and hold all characters sacred.”

What does it mean to hold all characters sacred?

How can Relief Society help us overcome these weaknesses?

How can we improve in our Ward and Homes.

Bishop to speak on how the Priesthood and Relief Society are connected and how they strengthen each other.

Close with the Words of Lucy Mack Smith

Since those early days of the Relief Society, the women of the Church have remained a tremendous force for good. At a meeting held a week after the Relief Society was organized, Lucy Mack Smith, the Prophet’s mother, gave the sisters counsel that extends to millions of women in the Church today: “We must cherish one another, watch over one another, comfort one another and gain instruction, that we may all sit down in heaven together.