My Calling as a Counselor in the Relief Society Presidency

Answers to Questions You May Have

Many questions about your responsibilities as a Relief Society leader will be answered as you become familiar with the “Relief Society” chapter of Handbook 2 (chapter 9). Other questions will be answered as you review Handbook 2, chapters 1–5, which summarize the doctrinal foundation of God’s plan and give other guidance. The questions and answers in this section may help you as you begin your service, help lead the Relief Society, and serve as a leader in the ward.

Beginning Your Service

What am I called to do?

• You have been called by inspiration to help lead the sisters of your Relief Society in the Savior’s way—with love and by example. You lead in His way by praying for the gift of charity, which is the gift to love others as He loves them. When you feel of His love, you will have the desire to be like Him and will want to help others draw near to Him.

• You will serve as a counselor to the Relief Society president. You support and sustain her as you accept and prayerfully fulfill responsibilities she delegates to you. Seek inspiration about how to use your unique gifts to bless the sisters in the Relief Society. Together as a Relief Society presidency, you will be spiritual leaders in the effort to strengthen sisters and their families.

• Counsel with the Lord and your Relief Society president to understand and fulfill your duties as you grow in your calling and serve the members of your ward. The stake Relief Society presidency may also provide instruction and counsel in your calling.

• The Relief Society presidency will organize and oversee ministering and compassionate service, address welfare needs, plan and conduct Relief Society Sunday meetings, and oversee additional Relief Society meetings.

For more information on your responsibilities, see Handbook 2, 9.2.2.

What should our presidency focus on?

All Church leaders “are called to help others become ‘true followers of … Jesus Christ’ (Moroni 7:48)” (Handbook 2, 3.1). Your presidency’s focus is to help every woman prepare to receive the next covenant she needs on the covenant path.

At the announcement of President Russell M. Nelson’s call as President of the Church, he counseled:

“Your commitment to follow the Savior by making covenants with Him and then keeping those covenants will open the door to every spiritual blessing and privilege available to men, women, and children everywhere. … The end for which each of us strives is to be endowed with power in a house of the Lord, sealed as families, faithful to covenants made in a temple that qualify us for the greatest gift of God—that of eternal life” (“As We Go Forward Together,” Ensign or Liahona, Apr. 2018, 7).

Leading the Relief Society

How can I lead in the Savior’s way?

You are a disciple of Jesus Christ. Discipleship includes teaching, leading, and serving others. President Henry B. Eyring taught: “You are called to represent the Savior. Your voice to testify becomes the same as His voice, your hands to lift the same as His hands” (“Rise to Your Call,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2002, 76).

The following leadership principles will help your presidency as you seek to bless the sisters in your ward:

• Prepare spiritually.

• Counsel together.

• Minister to others.

• Teach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

• Administer the organization.

For more information, see Handbook 2, 3.2.

How can our presidency get to know and love each sister?

Ministering to each individual

As you seek to know each sister, work together with the other members of the Relief Society presidency to prioritize your efforts and prayerfully determine who needs your time and attention. By reaching out to those you are inspired to serve and praying for all, you will find that your love for each sister increases. As you pray for the gift of charity, your heart will be filled with the love of the Savior and with love for others (see Moroni 7:46–48).

How does our presidency organize ministering efforts?

Ministering is led by the Spirit, flexible, and customized to the needs of individuals and families, so there is not one way to organize it. Here are a few principles to consider as a presidency:

• In most cases, each adult sister should have two ministering sisters to care for her. In some situations, one ministering sister or a couple may best meet a sister’s needs.

• The Relief Society presidency has the opportunity to counsel with each Mia Maid and Laurel, as well as her parents and leaders. If a young woman can serve as a ministering sister and is willing, she serves as a companion to a Relief Society sister.

• The Relief Society presidency prayerfully considers who might be assigned to minister to each sister, coordinates assignments with the elders quorum presidency, and recommends the assignments to the bishop for his approval.

For more information, see ministering.lds.org.

How does our presidency organize and conduct ministering interviews?

Ministering interviews can be a spiritual highlight of your service. You will be blessed as you draw close to members of your Relief Society and counsel together about their well-being and the well-being of those to whom they minister.

A member of your presidency meets quarterly with each companionship of ministering sisters for a ministering interview. The interview is held to:

• Counsel about the strengths and needs of assigned sisters.

• Determine what needs the Relief Society or ward council might assist with.

• Help ministering sisters learn from you and be encouraged in their efforts.

The Relief Society secretary may help schedule appointments for ministering interviews. The president may also counsel with the bishop about calling one or more ministering secretaries. These secretaries may help schedule ministering interviews and prepare quarterly reports of interviews.

Seek to follow the Savior’s example as you focus on ministering. The Church has prepared materials and videos that will help you catch the vision of this important work.

For more information, see ministering.lds.org.

What are my welfare responsibilities?

Improving spiritual and temporal welfare is central to the work of the Relief Society. Counsel with the Relief Society president about your welfare responsibilities. The following resources will assist you as you help others with sensitivity and love:

• “Welfare Principles and Leadership,” Handbook 2, chapter 6

• “Welfare and Compassionate Service,” Handbook 2, 9.6

• Welfare page at LDS.org

• Self-Reliance Services page at LDS.org

Ministering to all sisters

How can our presidency use Sunday meetings to minister to the needs of our sisters?

Sunday Relief Society meetings are sacred opportunities for sisters to increase in knowledge and testimony of our Savior. In these meetings, sisters also counsel about local needs, apply doctrine from the scriptures and general conference messages, and make plans to work together to further the work of salvation.

For more information, see the Come, Follow Me website.

How can our presidency use additional Relief Society meetings to help sisters increase in skills and testimony?

Additional Relief Society meetings that are prayerfully planned can meet a variety of needs. At these meetings, sisters can practice skills that will help them increase in faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families, make homes centers of spiritual strength, and help those in need. Sisters can also learn and apply principles of spiritual and temporal self-reliance. These principles include temple and family history work, compassionate service, literacy, and nutrition. Additional Relief Society meetings also provide an opportunity to increase in sisterhood and love as sisters learn and serve together.

For more information, see Handbook 2, 9.4.2.

Serving as a Leader in the Ward

How do I work with the bishopric?

The Relief Society president meets regularly with the bishop to counsel about Relief Society and welfare matters. In these meetings they discuss the needs of sisters and their families. She may also recommend sisters for callings in Relief Society. You may work with a member of the bishopric to fulfill assignments the Relief Society president gives you.

For more information, see Handbook 2, 9.2.1.

How do I help coordinate Relief Society efforts with the elders quorum?

• Relief Society and elders quorum presidencies meet quarterly. In these meetings you discuss the strengths and needs of individuals and families you have learned about through ministering interviews. As needed, you also coordinate ministering assignments.

• The Relief Society president and elders quorum president also meet together quarterly with the bishop to address the needs of individuals and families. As needed, they also coordinate ministering assignments and obtain the bishop’s approval for their recommendations.

See “Frequently Asked Questions” at ministering.lds.org.

What is my role in the ward council?

The Relief Society president may invite you to attend ward council meetings in her absence. As assigned by the president, you bring items before the council for discussion. You may also offer input on matters presented by other ward leaders. In addition, elders quorum and Relief Society leaders counsel with the other ward council members about the strengths and needs of individuals and families identified in ministering interviews. The ward council then works together to make and enact plans to serve and bless ward members.

See Handbook 2, 4.4 and 9.3.1, and “Frequently Asked Questions” at ministering.lds.org.

How can the stake Relief Society presidency help me?

The stake Relief Society presidency will be a resource to you, providing support and ongoing encouragement. In stake Relief Society training meetings, you will receive instruction to help in your service.