Relief Society and Charity

The General Relief Society Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Photo: lds.org

The General Relief Society Meeting of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was held this evening in Salt Lake City, UT. It was broadcast to millions of meeting houses and homes - one of them mine. For the first time, I watched it at home. I also recorded it at the same time with my TIVO. It was a choice experience for me because I was able to pause and rewind to hear things I missed. I have never experienced it so deeply. Wonderful! In part one, I will cover the talks of Sister Julie Beck and Sister Silvia Allred (left and center in the photo above.

I plan to quote the talks below. I want to let you know that all of them are exact quotes (barring human error) from the broadcast tonight. I will list the author after each quote. To view the broadcast or read the text of these talks, please visit www.lds.org (usually it takes a few days for the text versions to appear online).


First I would like to give a tremendous shout out to the amazing women's choir that performed (or 'favored us' in the vernacular! :) ) tonight. Absolutely beautiful. I can honestly say that I was pleased with every arrangement as well. I especially loved "The Morning Breaks" which I believe was arranged by Mack Wilberg. A gorgeous arrangement usually sung by SATB choirs. On the third verse the women covered all the parts. It was SO beautiful. I recommend listening to it immediately! That's ok, we'll wait. Go ahead!


The first talk was by Julie B. Beck, the General Relief Society President (i.e. the president of the organization for the world-wide church. Others serve as presidents of their wards, branches, stakes and districts). She spoke about what she hoped her granddaughters understand about the Relief Society. It was a great talk that really raised the bar for me in my thinking about this great organization. 


My first pull quote came after a discussion of how the Lord organized the women in his ancient church - they were very much a part of the "pattern of discipleship" that was lost with the apostasy. With the restoration of the church and priesthood, the women were organized after the pattern of the priesthood, and "authorized to receive direction from the Lord for a specific work."

That work is the purpose of Relief Society:

• Increase faith and personal righteousness
• Strengthen families and homes
• Seek out and help those in need

It was to be, as Joseph Smith said, "a select society separate from all the evils of the world." Additionally, one of the Lord's purposes in organizing the sisters in a discipleship was to, "Provide relief that would lift them above all that hinders the joy and progress of woman." The sisterhood of Relief Society can provide a place of safety and refuge.

The next great doctrine taught by Sister Beck was concerning visiting teaching--something I don't believe I have ever done well. She said:

Visiting Teaching is an expression of [our] discipleship and a significant way to honor [our] covenants. This element of [our] discipleship should closely resemble the ministry of the Savior...

I wonder what does that look like? When can I know if my Visiting Teaching reaches the level of the Savior's ministry? Heady question, indeed.

She then quoted the prophet, Thomas S. Monson:

When we strive with faith, nothing wavering, to fulfill the duties appointed to us. When we seek the inspiration of the Almighty in the performance of our responsibilities, we can achieve the miraculous!"

 WE CAN ACHIEVE THE MIRACULOUS!!!!!


I was so moved thinking about that! Honestly, there are some sisters that to reach them would be a miracle of epic proportions. I say that, referring to my ability to love them and communicate with them in the right manner - not that THEY are the problem. 

She then said that she hoped her granddaughters would, "participate in miracles as they help Visiting Teaching become a pattern of discipleship that the Lord will recognize when He comes again." 

I hope that my Visiting Teaching can become something recognizable to the Lord as a form of discipleship. She closed with a quote from Joseph F. Smith (I think that's who said it): "It is for you to lead the world, especially the women of the world. You are the head - not the tail!"

The next talk was by Sister Silvia Allred - a counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency. She spoke about charity. Something I definitely need help with. The first quote that really got me was from Joseph Smith:

Don't be limited in your views with regard to your neighbor's virtues. You must enlarge your souls toward others if you would do like Jesus. As you increase in innocence and virtue, as you increase in goodness, let your hearts expand. Let them be enlarged toward others. You must be long-suffering and bear with the faults and errors of mankind. How precious are the souls of men.

I was struck by two things in this passage.

1. As you increase in
1. innocence
2. virtue
3. goodness

I love what that implies - we can INCREASE in those. We aren't stuck on stupid! We can practice and get better at those attributes. Isn't that a liberating thought?

2. Let your hearts expand.

It brought to my mind the imagery used in "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" cartoon where it breaks the frame of the xray.

from "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" by Chuck Jones

I love that. She went on to say, "Charity is a state of being or a state of the heart." It is something we can cultivate and BECOME, and as we have a measure of it, "Charity purifies those who have it."

She some direction on how to cultivate it - desire it, pray for it, read the scriptures daily to bring your heart and perspectives in line with the Savior's. To, "minister to those around you and pay special attention to those around you."

I have a co-worker much like that. She is aware of what is going on with others. She does what she can to make them feel loved and appreciated and understood. She is an example to me of Charity. I know that Savior pays special attention to each of us. He loves us as we are and knows whom we can become - AND He's willing to help us become it. He already paid for it, we just have to try.

The last quote I wrote in my journal from her talk really, REALLY got me. I felt that I was to receive this as instruction and a beckoning upward. She quotes President Monson:

Charity is having patience with someone who has let us down. It is resisting the impulse to become offended easily. It is accepting weaknesses and short comings. It is accepting people as they truly are. It is looking beyond physical appearances to attributes that will not dim through time. It is resisting the impulse to categorize others.

source: mormon.org

 It is simply, the Pure Love of Christ. If the Lord looketh on the heart, then we need to strive to do the same with those we have the privilege of mingling with in this life. I pray to work towards that end.