A Relief Society declaration reaffirming the roles and values of women in the Church was announced Sept. 25 during the General Relief Society Meeting in the Tabernacle on Temple Square.
The declaration, issued under approval and endorsement of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, was introduced during the annual meeting and was one of two announcements concerning the 4.4 million-member Relief Society organization of the Church. The other announcement by the Relief Society general presidency was the renaming and refocusing of what has been known as the Relief Society homemaking meeting.
"This is a pivotal time in the history of the Church, and that, of course, includes Relief Society," according to a prepared statement by the Relief Society general presidency. "We are delighted about the introduction of both the Relief Society Declaration, which reaffirms who we are and what we stand for, and the change of the name of homemaking meeting to Home, Family and Personal Enrichment. This is an exciting but challenging time to be alive. We believe Relief Society is poised to help sisters gain the spiritual strength and practical skills that will sustain them as they move forward into the 21st Century."
President Gordon B. Hinckley presided over the meeting, which was sent via the Church satellite system to some 3,500 meetinghouses in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Jamaica. Beside him on the stand were President Thomas S. Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency, and President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency. President Faust represented the First Presidency in addressing the meeting.
Relief Society Gen. Pres. Mary Ellen Smoot conducted the meeting and offered remarks. Her counselors, Virginia U. Jensen and Sheri L. Dew, also delivered addresses. Members of the Young Women and Primary general presidencies and members of the Relief Society general board were among the congregation in the Tabernacle.
In his remarks, President Faust quoted a portion of the declaration, "We are beloved spirit daughters of God."
He said, "To be a daughter of God means that you are the offspring of Deity, literal descendants of a Divine Father, inheriting godly attributes and potential." Continuing, he spoke of the blessings of membership in Relief Society, "which is an automatic privilege for every adult woman in the Church [and] provides a home away from your heavenly home, where you can fellowship with others who share your beliefs and values."
Relief Society centers on four great concepts, President Faust explained. "First, it is a divinely established sisterhood. Second, the society is a place of learning. Third, it is an organization whose basic charter is caring for others. Fourth, the Relief Society is a place where the needs of women to socialize can be met.
"Participation in Relief Society can help both the younger and the older sisters become better daughters of God," he added.
President Faust also spoke of the "great debt of gratitude" owed to Eve. Without her choice in the Garden of Eden, he said, there would not have been the "momentous exit into mortality with its opposites: pain, trials and physical death in contrast to joy, growth and the potential for eternal life."
"As daughters of God, you cannot imagine the divine potential within each of you," President Faust said. "Surely the secret citadel of women's inner strength is spirituality. In this you equal and even surpass men, as you do in faith, morality and commitment when truly converted to the gospel.
"Each woman brings her own separate, unique strengths to the family and the Church. Being a daughter of God means that if you seek it, you can find your true identity. You will know who you are. This will make you free — not free from restraints, but more free from doubts, anxieties and peer pressure. You will not need to worry, 'Do I look all right?' 'Do I sound OK?' 'What do people think of me?' A conviction that you are a daughter of God gives you a feeling of comfort in your self-worth."
President Faust counseled: "It is a mistake for women to think that life begins only with marriage. A woman can and must have an identity and feel useful, valued and needed whether she is single or married. She must feel that she can do something for someone else that no one else ever born can do.
"With all my heart, I urge you sisters who have received your endowments to seek the blessings, peace and comfort of the temple. Temple worthiness affords a great spiritual protection even for sisters who do have regular access to the blessings of the temple."
Toward the conclusions of his address, President Faust declared: "Never in the history of the world has there been a greater need for your righteousness, your example and your good works to move this holy work forward than now."
Providing music for the evening was a Relief Society choir from the Tooele and Grantsville, Utah, regions, directed by Eleanor Kennard and accompanied by Linda Margetts. Offering the invocation and benediction were Sue Butterfield and Stacy Peters of the Relief Society general board, respectively.
