Monthly RS Presidency Message - March

This year we celebrate the 170th birthday of Relief Society! So many wonderful things have happened since March 17, 1842 in Relief Society. In the first meeting of the Relief Society, Sister Emma Smith said, “We are going to do something extraordinary.” She was right. The history of Relief Society is filled with examples of ordinary women who have accomplished extraordinary things as they have exercised faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The history of Relief Society teaches the divine identity and infinite worth of daughters of God. It is a Spirit- filled story of strong, faithful, purposeful women who have served with little public recognition. It is through selfless acts of love that not only the one we serve is blessed, but we too are blessed.

Sister Belle S. Spafford, the ninth Relief Society general president, said: ”The average woman today, I believe, would do well to appraise her interests, evaluate the activities in which she is engaged, and then take steps to simplify her life, putting things of first importance first, placing emphasis where the rewards will be greatest and most enduring, and ridding herself of the less rewarding activities.” Even though she said that many years ago, I think it is applicable today. Let’s think about what is important in our lives. Is it serving the Lord or, for me, buying a new pair of shoes? Is it spending time with our families or working 80 hours a week? Is it spending hours on Pinterest or Facebook or reading our scriptures?

Sister Julie B. Beck, the fifteenth Relief Society general president, said, “Through Relief Society we practice being disciples of Christ. We learn what He would have us learn, we do what He would have us do, and we become what He would have us become.” One of the lines in my favorite hymn “As Sisters in Zion” says, “the errand of angels is given to women." What does that mean to you? To me it means serving one another, doing our visiting teaching, being a friend to all, sharing a smile, giving a hug, comforting those that mourn, sharing a meal, sharing the gospel, loving one another, to name just a few. After reading that, I am going to challenge myself to be a better disciple of Christ and sister in Zion.

I love you sisters. I am grateful to serve my Heavenly Father and to serve you. Let’s all go out and try to ‘do something extraordinary!'

Love,
Maxine Hoff