Relief Society

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members strive to care for those in need as Christ did during His mortal ministry. Through volunteer service, collaborations with aid organizations, and monetary donations, the Church provides worldwide aid and service to all of God’s children with the hope of building self-reliance. Initiatives include improving access to clean water, feeding the hungry, helping with resettlement of refugees, administering lifesaving vaccines, improving outcomes for pregnant women, education, and more. Visit caring.churchofjesuschrist.org to learn more.

The Relief Society is a key part of the Church’s humanitarian efforts. In one example, the Relief Society General Presidency is currently leading a $55.8 million initiative to improve the health and well-being of women and children. The initiative partners with nonprofits and charities such as CARE International to provide nutrition support and resources to 12 million children and 2.7 million women. Learn more about this initiative here.

In their communities, Relief Society leaders help administer their congregation’s welfare program for those in need and organize community service projects such as feeding the hungry. All women in the Relief Society are invited to be part of the ministering program, where women are put into partnerships and assigned to reach out to specific women in their congregation as “ministers”. Ministers are built-in friends and supports, who might lend a listening ear over a monthly lunch date or help with laundry after someone has had surgery.

When you visit The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for Sunday worship services or other activities, everyone running the meeting is a member of the local community volunteering their time. These volunteer positions, which we call “callings,” change over time, giving Church members a wide variety of opportunities to serve and grow if they choose to accept the invitations extended.

As a result, a young woman may start out in a leadership position as young as 12 years old, serving as a leader for the other young women in her congregation. As an adult, she might serve a full-time mission, direct the choir, teach a Sunday School class, or serve in a presidency for an organization such as the Relief Society. She would also have opportunities to give a sermon over the pulpit during our main Sunday worship services, where all members of the congregation take turns fulfilling speaking assignments.

Because The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints follows the pattern Jesus Christ set during His ministry when He called Twelve Apostles and gave them the keys of the priesthood authority from God, women don’t serve in certain positions in the Church requiring priesthood keys, such as bishop, apostle, or prophet. The Savior made it clear during His ministry that women were a valuable part of His Church, and He trusted them to spread the news of His divinity and His Resurrection. Similarly, women today are an integral part of Jesus Christ’s Church and His direction to share the gospel with all the world. 

The Relief Society was organized on March 17, 1842, in Nauvoo, Illinois, by direction of Joseph Smith, the prophet and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the time. Its original mission was focused on administering to temporal welfare needs but quickly expanded to nurturing spiritual strength as well.

The Relief Society was disrupted in 1844 when members of the church had to flee violent persecution in Nauvoo and cross the plains to a new home in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was officially reorganized in 1867, and it created initiatives ranging from securing medical training for women to storing grain that eventually became an invaluable resource during the world wars of the early 20th century. Today, the Relief Society has more than 7 million members worldwide. Read more about the history of the Relief Society here.

The women of the Relief Society are all unique children of God, and their day-to-day lives reflect that. They are from countries all over the world, young and old, married and single, stay-at-home moms and women with careers of all kinds. What unites them is their love of God and faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior.

If you’re looking for a group for women who are followers of Jesus Christ, you can find the Relief Society within your local congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You’re welcome to worship with us any Sunday!

The Relief Society studies the gospel together as a women’s organization two Sundays a month, and members of the congregation can share more information with you about local service projects, social gatherings, and other Relief Society activities. You can look up your nearest congregation here: Find a Church