What Is the Relief Society? The Women’s Organization Joseph Smith Organized in 1842

The short answerOne of the oldest and largest women’s organizations in the world

The Relief Society is the women’s organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Every adult woman in the Church belongs to it. The Church describes its purpose as helping “prepare women for the blessings of eternal life as they increase faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and His Atonement; strengthen individuals, families, and homes through ordinances and covenants; and work in unity to help those in need” (Gospel Topics, “Relief Society”).

Joseph Smith organized it in Nauvoo, Illinois, on March 17, 1842, as the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo, with his wife Emma Smith as its first president. Its motto is a line of scripture: “Charity never faileth” (1 Corinthians 13:8; Moroni 7:46).

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“Something better”How it began

In early 1842, Nauvoo women wanted to form a sewing society to help build the temple and wrote a constitution. Joseph Smith answered, as Sarah Granger Kimball later recalled: “Tell the sisters their offering is accepted of the Lord, and he has something better for them than a written constitution. … I will organize the women under the priesthood after the pattern of the priesthood” (Daughters in My Kingdom, ch. 2).

On March 17, 1842, twenty women met above Joseph’s red brick store. He taught that Emma’s calling fulfilled the 1830 revelation in which the Lord called her “an elect lady, whom I have called” (D&C 25:1–3). Six weeks later he said, “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.” And on June 9, 1842: “The [Relief] Society is not only to relieve the poor, but to save souls” (Relief Society Minute Book, quoted in Daughters in My Kingdom).

The Church teaches, in Joseph’s words, that “the Church was never perfectly organized until the women were thus organized” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 451, quoted in Gospel Topics, “Relief Society”).

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An ancient patternWomen disciples in the New Testament

The Church notes that “while little is known about a formal organization of women in the New Testament, evidence suggests that women were vital participants in the Savior’s ministry.” Paul wrote: “I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea … for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also” (Romans 16:1–2). Jesus praised Mary for choosing “that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41–42).

Relief Society lives out what James called “pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father … to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction” (James 1:27), and the baptismal covenant at the waters of Mormon: “willing to bear one another’s burdens … mourn with those that mourn … comfort those that stand in need of comfort” (Mosiah 18:8–9).

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“Charity never faileth”The motto

Under Emmeline B. Wells, the fifth general president, the presidency chose a scriptural declaration as the motto: “Charity never faileth” (Daughters in My Kingdom, ch. 5). Mormon defined it: “charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him” (Moroni 7:45–47).

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Daughters of Heavenly ParentsWhere it leads

Relief Society exists to prepare women for eternal life, and the Restoration teaches what eternal life is. Every woman is a daughter of Heavenly Parents, a Father and a Mother in Heaven. Exaltation is to become what They are: through the new and everlasting covenant of marriage, husband and wife inherit “thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers … a continuation of the seeds forever and ever. Then shall they be gods” (D&C 132:19–20). The sisterhood of Relief Society is preparation for that eternal destiny. See Do Latter-day Saints Believe in Heavenly Mother? and What Is Eternal Marriage?.

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Relief Society todayWhat it does

In every ward, a Relief Society presidency, called by the bishop, leads the women in Sunday classes, ministering to each other’s families, caring for the sick and poor, and teaching. Leaders serve without pay. See Do LDS Bishops Get Paid? and What Is the Priesthood?.

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Check the premiseThe presuppositions baked into the question

Before this question can be answered fairly, the person asking has to justify a few assumptions packed inside it:

1. That Latter-day Saint women have no organization of their own. Relief Society was organized in 1842 under priesthood authority and is led by women at every level.
2. That it is only a service club. “Not only to relieve the poor, but to save souls” (Joseph Smith, June 9, 1842).
3. That it was a later add-on. Joseph taught “the Church was never perfectly organized until the women were thus organized.”
4. That women’s eternal role is secondary. Exaltation is a Father and a Mother together (D&C 132:19–20); men and women cannot be exalted without each other.

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FAQQuick answers

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Sources

• King James Bible (churchofjesuschrist.org): Luke 10:41–42 · Romans 16:1–2 · 1 Corinthians 13:8 · James 1:27
• Book of Mormon: Mosiah 18:8–9 · Moroni 7:45–47
• Doctrine and Covenants: D&C 25:1–3 · D&C 132:19–20
• Pearl of Great Price: Moses 1:39 (listed in the Gospel Topics entry)
• Gospel Topics, “Relief Society” · Daughters in My Kingdom (2011), ch. 2 and ch. 5

• Featured image and in-article graphic: original graphics by thebookofmormon.ai (painterly backgrounds; no photographs or likenesses of real people).