Women's Conference Talk

Speaking at Women's Conference was an incredible experience. It is like nothing I have ever done before and will probably ever do again. I learned so much about the Legacy of Relief Society as well as my family. Due to the circumstances of Women's Conference it had to be perfectly times so it's written out word for word. I hope you enjoy it and if you ever get the chance, go to Women's Conference, it is wonderful!

Passing the Legacy of the Relief Society from Heart to Heart

“We are going to do something extraordinary” were the words by the first relief society president, Emma Smith, at the very first meeting of the relief society in 1842. Now, 169 years later we are still doing something extraordinary. There is a great legacy that has been laid before us. Women all over the world are following the council from so many years ago. Joseph Smith said, “…to illustrate the object of the Society, that the Society of the sisters might provoke the brethren to good works in charity and in administering to their wants-to assist by correcting the morals and strengthening the virtues of the community, and save the elders the trouble of rebuking; that they may give their time to other duties, in their public teaching.” Joseph Smith said the church was not perfectly organized until the women of the church were organized. As an organization of sisters we can come together and learn from our fellow sisters in Relief Society of all ages to fulfill the call of the Relief Society.
On March 17, 1842, 18 women, some in their teens, gathered in the upper room of Joseph Smith’s store. President Eyring said,
“They came from a great diversity of circumstances. All faced the universal trials and heartaches of life. Their determination born of faith to serve the Lord and others seems to take them not around the storms of life but directly into them. Some were young and some old. They were from many lands and peoples, as you are today. But they were of one heart, one mind, and with one intention. They were determined to help the Lord build His Zion, where there could be the happy existence the Book of Mormon had described so vividly for them.” We too, are just like the sisters that gathered that day. We all have our own circumstances, our own trials but together as sisters we can build up a sisterhood no matter our age no matter our circumstance to continue to build this legacy of the Relief Society. The Relief Society published a declaration that states:

We are beloved spirit daughters of God,
and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction.
As a worldwide sisterhood, we are united in our devotion
to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Exemplar.
We are women of faith, virtue, vision, and charity who:

Increase our testimonies of Jesus Christ
through prayer and scripture study.

Seek spiritual strength by following the
promptings of the Holy Ghost.

Dedicate ourselves to strengthening
marriages, families, and homes.

Find nobility in motherhood
and joy in womanhood.

Delight in service and good works.

Love life and learning.

Stand for truth and righteousness.

Sustain the priesthood
as the authority of God on earth.

Rejoice in the blessings of the temple,
understand our divine destiny,
and strive for exaltation.

Together as sisters of all ages we can work together and help each other as we strive to be better. The Lord put us together to strengthen each other. Each of us has strengths that we can share and build each other that will help us all be better and stronger daughters of our Heavenly Father.
It is a responsibility of sisters who have been in Relief Society to befriend the young or new sisters and teach them of the legacy of the Relief Society. Share the love you have found for Relief Society with those new sisters. This is a great organization that brings sisters of all ages together. As Sister Beck said this morning: These sisters coming into relief society are prepared to be under the direction of the priesthood. Relief Society is to prepare women for the temple and to make temple covenants. Teach these sisters of the legacy of being organized under the priesthood and the power it brings. This legacy will help sisters become sufficiently matured and prepared to attend and better understand the ordinances temple. Young sisters are anticipating that bond of sisterhood and to be welcomed as a part of relief society. These sisters are at a pivotal point in their lives making decisions that will affect them throughout eternity, befriend them, share your wisdom and knowledge with them and help them grow in the gospel.
President Eyring said, “Now it’s time to talk about what you must do to pass this marvelous and sacred legacy of Relief Society on to those who will follow you. It will take small and simple things. Just remember that the legacy is passed from heart to heart. Charity, the pure love of Christ, is part of the mighty change of heart which the Lord promises to His faithful disciples. So it is not hard to see what simple things you can and must do to pass the legacy along…You pass the heritage along as you help others receive the gift of charity in their hearts. They will then be able to pass it to others. The history of Relief Society is recorded in words and numbers, but the heritage is passed heart to heart. That is why families are such beneficiaries of Relief Society.”
I would like to share a letter written by my great-great grandmother Jemima Daines to the Relief Society in her later years. This letter is a declaration of her dedication to the sisters in the Relief Society that she was a part of:
If by writing a few lines to you, my dear sisters, who have met here today would encourage you in your labors, I would willingly do so, but I realize unaided by the spirit of the Lord we can do but little. It will be 40 years the 13th of next month (April) since I, with my husband and baby then a little over two months old, arrived at this place and since the first organization of the Relief Society in this ward. I have been laboring with my sisters until compelled through failing health to stay at home. When the Society was first organized I was appointed treasurer. I assure you at that time we had very little to take care of, but we had good meetings and in our weakness we tried to do our duty. We are blessed in our labors. In a few years we were reorganized. I was chosen second counselor to Sister M. L. Woolf. With her and Sister Sally Hyde I labored many years and our associations were always pleasant. As the town increased in numbers our labors also increased. When Sister Woolf moved to Canada, Sister Sally was put in as president and I was her first counselor with Harriet Woolf as second counselor. With them I labored until my health broke down. I can truly say I have spent many happy days with them visiting with the people of this ward in our meetings and ministering to the needy. Many times I have hoped and prayed I might still have the privilege to labor with my sisters in the Relief Society. But in all of our afflictions what a blessing it would be if we could always feel that our Heavenly Father does all things well.
Do not get discouraged, my sisters, if things do not go as smoothly as you would wish. Remember, if we are humble and those that preside over us approve of our labors and we do our duty to the best of our ability, our Heavenly father will overrule all things for good and we will get our reward.
I have often thought what a blessing it is to be numbered with the people of God. Let us labor with all our might to merit that blessing and not do or say anything to bring a blot or stain upon our characters, but remember his eye is over us and he knows the secret of our hearts. Let us labor diligently to fill the mission assigned us here on this earth.
~Jemima Daines
As I read this letter I feel of her passion and love for the sisters in the Relief society. This great love is lost if we do not share it with the sisters around us. She has passed her legacy of service and dedication to the relief society on to those around her as well as her posterity.
I am grateful for the legacy of the Relief Society that has been passed down to me through the sisters in my family. For the example of my great-great grandmother and her dedication to the relief society until she was no longer capable of serving, for my grandmother who shares the stories of our ancestors and follows their examples, for my mother who is a great example of service and ministering to the needy and fulfilling the calling we have as sisters in the Relief Society, for the sisters who have welcomed me and shared their love for the Relief Society and lit a passion and love for Relief Society in me.
Let us stay the course. Let us fulfill our calling to bring relief to our children, our families, those sisters we visit, as well as anyone in need of “Relief”. Let us be excited for the new sisters coming into this great organization and welcome them with loving arms. And like they said in the very first meeting of the relief society, “This institution is a good one… We must cherish one another, watch over one another, and gain instruction that we may all sit down in Heaven together. “ I pray that as President Eyring said we can pass this beautiful legacy of Relief Society from heart to heart. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.