Illinois Historic Sites missionaries reenact the March 1842 founding meeting of the Relief Society in Nauvoo, Illinois, in March 2023. Screenshot from YouTube
When the Relief Society was organized on March 17, 1842, the 20 women gathered upstairs in the Red Brick Store in Nauvoo, Illinois, had two missions — to relieve suffering and to save souls.
Today the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the largest women’s organizations in the world. The organization’s purpose continues to be to provide support for the temporal and spiritual needs of all women in the Church, as well as others who are in need.
Recently, senior missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in Historic Nauvoo reenacted the events surrounding the founding meeting of the Relief Society.
The missionaries used the original minutes of that first meeting to replay the conversation that took place — in the actual location. They created a special video available through March that could be used as a part of the commemoration of the 181st anniversary.
Below, see a selection of images from the 181 years of the Relief Society organization.
An artist’s depiction of Joseph Smith, with Emma Smith, organizing the Relief Society organization. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
“Come Let Us Rejoice” by Walter Rane depicts the first Relief Society meeting. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
inter, 11/9/04, 11:24 AM, 8C, 3956x5182 (743+1756), 75%, geclee 2\2\04, 1/12 s, R76.2, G56.7, B66.2 | Pintura de Paul Mann
Official Relief Society portrait of Emmeline B. Wells, fifth Relief Society general president. Painting by Lee Greene Richards. | Credit: Church History Museum
Fourteenth Ward Relief Society Hall. The earliest Relief Society halls in Utah were patterned after the store in Nauvoo in which the society was founded in 1842. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
This portrait, titled “Leading Women of Zion” on the frame, was taken circa 1867 by Edward Martin. Left to right: Zina D. H. Young, Bathsheba W. Smith, Emily P. Young and Eliza R. Snow. | Church History Library
The Relief Society general presidency and general board under President Emmeline B. Wells (center). | Church History Library
Relief Society sisters in Kidderminster, England, in 1912. | Credit: Public Domain, Church History Archives
An early gathering of Relief Society members in Guatemala. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
A cover of The Relief Society Magazine from January 1930. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Sisters Belle S. Spafford, Marianne C. Sharp and Louise W. Madsen with the Relief Society general board in 1962, with members of the presidency at the head of the table. | Credit: Church History Library
Relief Society General President Jean B. Bingham, center front, leads a meeting for the Relief Society, Young Women and Primary general presidencies at the Relief Society Building in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, May 18, 2021. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Women sing a hymn at the 2013 Relief Society General Meeting in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sept. 28, 2013. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Relief Society members in Tula, Hildago, Mexico, gather in March 2022 for an activity. | Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Women of all ages join to learn about the gospel in Relief Society. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson greets Latter-day Saint women in Paraguay. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Relief Society general presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints beginning Aug. 1, 2022: Sister J. Anette Dennis, first counselor, left, President Camille N. Johnson, center, and Sister Kristin M. Yee, second counselor. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
