On my 18th birthday, in 1978, I became a member of Relief Society, the women’s organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I have enjoyed every minute as I have participated in and been a part of the organization for the past 35 years. Using Robert Fulghum’s framework, I wrote this article to express my feelings about Relief Society, about the wonderful women I’ve met and the dear sisters that I have worked with, served with, and shared my life with.
ALL I EVER REALLY NEEDED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN RELIEF SOCIETY
Much of what I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be, I’ve learned in Relief Society. Wisdom was not at the top of the undergraduate mountain but here in the trenches of this inspired organization surrounded by the wonderful women of God.
These are some of the things I’ve learned: Bear your testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Make friends. Do your visiting teaching – you’ll be amazed at the lasting friendships you make. Keep your house tidy. Return things that you borrow. Say you’re sorry when you hurt someone and show them an increase of love afterwards. Try to live providently. Work hard to provide balanced meals, but always make extra. You never know when you might be called on to take a meal to someone. Rotate your food storage and store only the things that your family will eat. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you – but chocolate is even better. Live a balanced life. The things that you learn here on earth will stay with you, so learn some and think some and draw or paint or sing or dance, but do it every day.
Make some time for yourself to recharge your own batteries. When you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold hands and stick together. Be prepared for challenges and adversities, disappointments and sorrows. But also be prepared for moments of unequaled joy like when you fall in love or when you lay your eyes on your first child or grandchild. Be aware of wonder – especially when you are raising your children. You’ll be amazed at how fast they grow up. Remember that you are a child of God and so are all of your friends and neighbors and even people that you don’t know.
There is a Plan of Salvation. Parents and grandparents die, and so will we. But we have the assurance that we will see them all again. And remember the scriptures and the opportunity that we have to read and ponder them daily. Remember to “feast upon the words of Christ for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.” Everything you need to know is in the scriptures somewhere: the golden rule and loving as Christ did, and the Word of Wisdom and the Plan of Happiness. And don’t forget to be at church on Sundays to partake of Christ’s sacrament and to be uplifted by the teachings shared. Make time to attend other church activities for fellowship and fun.
Think of what a better world it would be if we all – sisters in this true and restored church – loved one another unconditionally – if we reached outside of our comfort zone and made a new friend. What if we stood steadfast in faith, family, and relief; and if we took as a motto something that was quoted by President Spencer W. Kimball about the time I entered Relief Society.
“To be a righteous woman is a glorious thing in any age. To be a righteous woman during the winding up scenes on this earth, before the second coming of our Savior, is an especially noble calling. The righteous woman’s strength and influence today can be tenfold what it might be in more tranquil times. She has been placed here to help to enrich, to protect, and to guard the home—which is society’s basic and most noble institution. Other institutions in society may falter and even fail, but the righteous woman can help to save the home, which may be the last and only sanctuary some mortals know in the midst of storm and strife.”
The Relief Society organization, now over six million members strong of sisters between the ages of 18 and 100 (or more) has a place for each of us. Being a part of such an organization is a privilege not to be taken for granted. We need Relief Society and Relief Society needs each of us to do our part in helping fulfill the Lord’s purposes of mortality.
It is still true, no matter how old you are – just starting out your adult life, or in your later years – when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together. As it says in Ecclesiastes, “Two are better than one, … for if they fall, the one will lift up her fellow: but woe to her that is alone when she falleth: for she hath not another to help her up.” We can lift and strengthen each other. And remember that much of what we really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be, can be learned and practiced in Relief Society.
-Susan Curtis