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1842
A
group of women in Nauvoo organize a sewing society to make shirts
for the temple workmen. The prophet praises them for their efforts
and tells them he will "organize the sisters under the priesthood
after a pattern of the priesthood".
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March 17, 1842
Joseph Smith organizes the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo. Emma
Hale Smith is elected to be president. She selects Elizabeth Ann
Whitney and Sarah M. Cleveland to be her counselors. Eliza R. Snow
is appointed to be secretary. |
Sept.
5, 1842
The sisters of the Relief Society petition Thomas Carlin, the governor
of Illinois, on behalf of Joseph Smith. One thousand women sign
the petition. |
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July 1843
A visiting committee consisting of four members is appointed
in each ward to assess the needs of the members, solicit contributions
from Church members, and to assist those who are in need of help.
This is the start of the visiting teaching
program which is still in place today. |
| March
16, 1844 Due to persecution and the events leading up to the
prophet Joseph Smith's death, the Relief Society holds its last
meeting in Nauvoo. |
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1844
The Relief Society has grown from 20 members to 1,344 members. |
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February
1854
After
settling in the Salt Lake Valley and in an effort to heed the
counsel of Brigham Young, sixteen women gather together as members
of the "Indian Relief Society" to befriend and make clothes for
the Indians. They meet weekly until June of 1854.
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June 1854
- Brigham Young exhorts each ward to form their own "Indian
Relief Society". The members of the original Indian Relief Society
disband to join their own ward organizations. Over twenty Indian
Relief Societies were organized during 1854 with member contributing
enough bedding and clothing to meet the demands of the time. The
members also assist in providing for the poor in their wards as
well as providing such things as meetinghouse carpets and supplies
for handcart companies. |
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1857
The
Relief Society efforts are interrupted due to the widespread disorganization
of wards during the Utah Expedition.
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1866
Brigham Young appoints Eliza R. Snow
to assist bishops in re-establishing the Relief Society organization
in each ward. Using the minutes she had recorded in the early Nauvoo
days, Eliza provides a "Constitution" for all local units which
unites them in name, purpose, and organization. |
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1869
Under
the direction of the Relief Society the Young Ladies' Retrenchment
Association is organized.
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1872
Concurrent with her position as Relief Society president, Eliza
R. Snow aids Louisa L. Greene with the creation of the Woman's
Exponent. |
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June
15, 1876
Under
the direction of Brigham Young the Deseret Silk Association is
organized with Zina D.H. Young as president. President Young announces
the growing, harvesting, and spinning of silk as a homemaking
skill and Relief Society sisters are called upon to assist in
these efforts.
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1876
Brigham Young appoints Emmeline B. Wells to head up a grain storage
program. Relief Society sisters are enlisted to help in this project |
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1878
Under
the direction of the Relief Society the children's Primary program
is organized with Aurelia S. Rogers acting as president.
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1880 The
Relief Society now has approximately 300 local units each providing
for the needs of those within its ward boundaries. The visiting
teaching program is in action. Eliza R. Snow is set apart as the
general Relief Society president. |
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July
1882
The
Relief Society opens the Deseret Hospital.
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1888
Zina D.H. Young is called as the General President of the Relief
Society. |
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1895
Relief
Society members successfully campaign for a provision assuring
women's right to vote and hold public office.
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1898
The increase in Relief Society membership as well as geographical
location prompt greater centralization to assure continuity and
unity throughout the Church. Annual dues for members are introduced
to help defray the general board's traveling and operating expenses. |
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1901
Bathsheba
W. Smith is called to be the general president of the Relief Society.
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1902
The first Relief Society handbook is published. |
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1902
Mothers
classes are introduced. The curriculum is prepared by each stake.
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1902
The Relief Society provides nursing classes under the supervision
of Emma A. Emprey. |
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1909
The
general Relief Society presidency establishes its first official
headquarters in a newly constructed Bishop's Building in Salt
Lake City.
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1910
Emmeline B. Wells is called as the general president of the Relief
Society. |
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1910
The
Relief Society suspends nursing program due to a concern over
whether or not the classes offered could meet the rising standards
of professional nursing
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1913
The Relief Society board revives the nursing program under the title
of 'The Relief Society School of Obstetrics and Nursing' in
order to meet the needs of the community. |
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1914
Standardized
lesson plans on theological, cultural, and homemaking topics,
are introduced by the general Relief Society board members. The
lessons are to be taught on a rotating monthly schedule with each
topic being assigned to a particular week in the month.
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1918
At the close of World War I, the Relief Society sells 205,518 bushels
of their wheat storage to the U.S. government at its request. A
"Wheat Trust Fund" is established for the purpose of purchasing
more wheat in the future. |
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1919
The
Relief Society Social Services Department is established by general
secretary-treasurer Amy Brown Lyman.
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1920
The Relief Society board closes the nursing program after establishing
an arrangement with LDS Hospital for those who wished to continue
in their training. |
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1921
Clarissa
S. Williams is called as the general president of the Relief Society.
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1921
National concern over high rates of maternal and infant mortality
cause the Relief Society to use interest from the Wheat Trust Fund
to sponsor hundreds of health clinics for expectant mothers, babies,
and preschool children. Sisters in European missions prepare "maternity
chests" for needy mothers and home deliveries. |
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1928
Louise
Y. Robison is called as the general president of the Relief Society.
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1936
The Church Welfare Plan is established by the Church and the Relief
Society is given the main responsibility for preserving food, providing
clothing and bedding, and teaching welfare principles to the sisters. |
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1938
Mormon
Handicraft is started in Salt Lake City to help women at home
earn money by selling their handiwork on consignment.
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1940
Amy Brown Lyman is called as the general president of the Relief
Society. |
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1940-1945
Sister
Lyman encourages efforts to limit meetings, simplify activities,
and strengthen homes fragmented by the demands of war.
Relief
Society members donate their time and efforts to the Red Cross
as well as local welfare assignments.
Because
some of the curriculum is not relevant for members in foreign
countries, the general Relief Society board begins to provide
alternative lesson materials for units in other countries.
Relief
Society sisters in the United States and Canada send clothing,
food and thousands of quilts to help the Saints in Europe after
World War II. Sisters in Hawaii send similar help to those in
Japan.
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1944
The collection of charity funds through visiting teachers is terminated.
These duties are now overseen by bishops. |
1945
Relief Society membership reaches 102,000. |
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1945
Belle S. Spafford is called to be the general president of the Relief
Society. She also serves as the president of the U.S. Council of
Women for two years (1968 - 1970).
During her administration
(1945-1974) the reporting and financing systems, magazine and
lesson materials, and Social Services become the responsibility
of the priesthood leaders and professional Church departments.
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1949
The
first Relief Society in Japan is organized.
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1966
Due to rapid growth in Mexico and South America the Relief Society
Magazine is now printed in Spanish. |
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Sept.
1971
Relief
Society membership, which now includes all LDS women, exceeds
one million.
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1974
Barbara B. Smith is called to be the general president of the Relief
Society and during her administration joins with Church officials
in opposing passage of the proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the
U.S. Constitution. |
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1978
The
Relief Society transfers 266,291 bushels of wheat and nearly 2
million dollars in assets to the First Presidency for use in the
Welfare program.
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1978
The Relief Society helps establish the Women's Research Center at
Brigham Young University. |
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1978
The
Relief Society transfers 266,291 bushels of wheat and nearly 2
million dollars in assets to the First Presidency for use in the
Welfare program.
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1978
Under the direction of President Spencer W. Kimball, the first general
women's fireside was held. This has become an annual event called
the General Women's Meeting and is broadcast worldwide. |
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February
4, 1980
President
Barbara B. Smith appears on the Phil Donahue show to "explain
the role of Mormon women in the Church".
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1984
Barbara W. Winder is called to be the general president of the Relief
Society. During her administration the focal point of Relief Society
action is aimed at the local ward levels instead of the general
board level. Local wards are encouraged to find opportunities for
service, learning, sisterhood and spirituality. |
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1988
The
Nauvoo Monument to Women Garden finds a permanent location and becomes
a visible symbol of honor for women throughout the world.
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1990
Elaine L. Jack is called to be the general president of the Relief
Society. General membership reaches 2,784,000. |
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April
5, 1997
Mary
Ellen W. Smoot is called to be the general president of the Relief
Society.
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April 1999
Hundreds of Relief Society sisters bid good-bye to the 20th century
by contributing more than 1,999 hours of service to humanitarian projects
in one evening. |
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Sept.
25, 1999
The
Relief Society issues a declaration affirming the role of women.
Mary Ellen W. Smoot, president of Relief Society organization,
reads the statement and explains that it's part of "an effort
to respond to the inquiries from outside the [LDS] church, and
to remind ourselves of the grand blessings of womanhood."
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March 2000
There are nearly 4 million members of the Relief Society in over
160 countries worldwide. |
