The lyrics to a song in my hymnbook are,
I belong to one of the oldest and largest women's organizations in the world. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and I am a member of the Relief Society organization. Someone has said, "Relief Society isn't where we go, it is who we are!" I love that! I AM Relief Society. The three-fold purpose of Relief Society is to strengthen faith and personal righteousness, strengthen family and provide relief by seeking out and helping those in need. Can you think of any greater purposes of any organizations. Today at my church I was deeply moved by a number of things. First, a beautiful woman, Ruth, told the story of her mother, in fact, the spouse of my blog, A Giant in My Neighborhood. She too is a giant in her own right, but today her status in my eyes grew by leaps and bounds. The daughter touched my soul ... she testified with such strength and humility. She and her mother are angels. She said that when she was a child, living in Japan, she learned from her mother's service. At least twice a week her mother would make meals for those in her church who needed food or support. The boundaries of their congregation or ward were large and her mother did not drive, so after the meals were made she would put her son on her back or in the stroller and they, four children and one mother, would either walk or take public transportation to deliver these meals to those who were in need. Twice a week ... walk or take a bus ... Not only did she care for her own young family she sought out and took care of many, many others. In that single act she fulfilled all three purposes of Relief Society and what should be purposes of our lives; she strengthened her faith and her family's faith and sought out and helped those in need. I think she accomplished much more ... because her acts were magnificient teaching moments, as evidenced in the lives of her family. Our world concerns itself with the the acrument of awards and fame and things. This woman would not be found in the halls of fame, and she seeks neither reward or recognition. She knows what is important to herself, her family and to her Father in Heaven ... that is where she puts her time. A giant, a giant wife and a giant daughter ... I love them all and I am so grateful they are my neighbors and sisters ... they are so humble, yet so powerful; so quiet, yet so loud, so unassuming, yet so assumed; so loving and so loved ...
As sisters in Zion, we'll all work together; The blessings of God on our labors we'll seek. We'll build up his kingdom with earnest endeavor; We'll comfort the weary and strengthen the weak.
The errand of angels is given to women; And this is a gift that, as sisters we claim: To do what-so-ever is gentle and human, To cheer and to bless in humanity's nake
How vast is our purpose, how broad is our mission, If we but fulfill it in spirit and deed. Oh, naught but the Spirit's divinest tuition Can give us the wisdom to truly succeed.
I belong to one of the oldest and largest women's organizations in the world. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and I am a member of the Relief Society organization. Someone has said, "Relief Society isn't where we go, it is who we are!" I love that! I AM Relief Society. The three-fold purpose of Relief Society is to strengthen faith and personal righteousness, strengthen family and provide relief by seeking out and helping those in need. Can you think of any greater purposes of any organizations. Today at my church I was deeply moved by a number of things. First, a beautiful woman, Ruth, told the story of her mother, in fact, the spouse of my blog, A Giant in My Neighborhood. She too is a giant in her own right, but today her status in my eyes grew by leaps and bounds. The daughter touched my soul ... she testified with such strength and humility. She and her mother are angels. She said that when she was a child, living in Japan, she learned from her mother's service. At least twice a week her mother would make meals for those in her church who needed food or support. The boundaries of their congregation or ward were large and her mother did not drive, so after the meals were made she would put her son on her back or in the stroller and they, four children and one mother, would either walk or take public transportation to deliver these meals to those who were in need. Twice a week ... walk or take a bus ... Not only did she care for her own young family she sought out and took care of many, many others. In that single act she fulfilled all three purposes of Relief Society and what should be purposes of our lives; she strengthened her faith and her family's faith and sought out and helped those in need. I think she accomplished much more ... because her acts were magnificient teaching moments, as evidenced in the lives of her family. Our world concerns itself with the the acrument of awards and fame and things. This woman would not be found in the halls of fame, and she seeks neither reward or recognition. She knows what is important to herself, her family and to her Father in Heaven ... that is where she puts her time. A giant, a giant wife and a giant daughter ... I love them all and I am so grateful they are my neighbors and sisters ... they are so humble, yet so powerful; so quiet, yet so loud, so unassuming, yet so assumed; so loving and so loved ...
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