What Should I Focus On?

All Church leaders “are called to help others become ‘true followers of … Jesus Christ’ (Moroni 7:48)” (Handbook 2, 3.1). The Relief Society 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).

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 you, the Relief Society president, and her counselors 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.

Love and Know Each Sister

Your role as secretary is vital to helping the Relief Society presidency minister to the sisters in your ward. Counsel with the presidency to understand how you can support them in their efforts to love and know each sister. You may also seek inspiration about how to use your unique gifts to bless the sisters in Relief Society.

By following the example of the Savior and reaching out to those you are inspired to serve, you will find that your love for each sister increases. You will gain insights and inspiration about how best to minister to those you serve. As you pray for the gift of charity, your heart will be filled with the love of the Savior and of others (see Moroni 7:46–48).

Participate in Presidency and Other Leadership Meetings

“The Lord’s Church is governed through councils” (Handbook 2, 4.1). As secretary to the Relief Society presidency, you attend presidency meetings and, as invited, stake leadership training meetings. Under the direction of the Relief Society president, you prepare agendas for presidency meetings. Suggested agenda items are listed below.

Read and discuss scripture passages and instruction from Church leaders that relate to your responsibilities as Relief Society leaders.
Plan ways to strengthen Relief Society sisters in the ward.
Discuss ministering assignments and efforts in the ward, and plan how to improve where needed.
Review counsel and assignments from the bishop and the ward council. Plan ways to follow the counsel and fulfill the assignments.
Discuss the effectiveness of Sunday Relief Society meetings and additional Relief Society meetings. Plan ways to improve gospel teaching and learning in Relief Society.
Plan upcoming Relief Society meetings and first-Sunday council meeting topics.
Prayerfully counsel together to recommend individuals to your bishopric for callings in the Relief Society. These callings may include teachers, assistant secretary, ministering secretary, compassionate service coordinator, additional Relief Society meeting coordinator and committee members, music leader, and pianist. (For more information, see Handbook 2, 9.2.4–5.)
Review attendance records and discuss ways to encourage participation in Relief Society.
Plan ways to build sisterhood among the women in the Relief Society.

In presidency meetings, you have the following responsibilities:

Take notes and keep track of assignments.
Participate in counseling with the presidency about all items on the agenda.
Share insights from the records you keep that will help the presidency in their service.

Keep Accurate Records

Record-keeping is a scriptural mandate (see Moroni 6:4; Doctrine and Covenants 21:1). The records you keep will help the presidency better understand the needs of the Relief Society sisters.

You will be blessed as you get to know each sister in your Relief Society through the following responsibilities:

Work with the Relief Society president to prayerfully oversee the records, reports, and finances of the Relief Society.
Ensure that these reports are accurate and submitted on time to the ward clerk (see Leader and Clerk Resources [LCR]; see also Handbook 2, 17.1.8).
Record attendance at Relief Society meetings. Use Leader and Clerk Resources (LCR) and LDS Tools to assist you in this effort.
Ensure that the Relief Society presidency is aware of young women who will soon be entering Relief Society.
Help organize and track ministering interviews and prepare quarterly reports of interviews.

Help Coordinate Ministering

Ministering is Christlike caring for others. Under the direction of the bishop, the Relief Society and elders quorum coordinate their efforts to minister to individuals and families in the ward. 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. However, the following guidelines apply:

The Relief Society presidency prayerfully considers who might be assigned to minister to each sister in the ward. In most cases, each adult sister should have two ministering sisters to care for her. In some situations, one ministering sister or a married couple may best meet a sister’s needs. For some sisters, the Relief Society presidency and the elders quorum presidency may want to counsel together about the assignments before recommending them to the bishop.
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 is able and willing to serve as a ministering sister, she serves as a companion to a Relief Society sister.
The Relief Society presidency and the elders quorum presidency meet quarterly. In these meetings, discuss what you have learned through ministering interviews about the strengths and needs of individuals and families (see “Help Schedule Ministering Interviews and Prepare Reports” in this section). As needed, they also coordinate ministering assignments.

See ministering.lds.org for more details about organizing and coordinating ministering.

Help Schedule Ministering Interviews and Prepare Reports

A member of the Relief Society presidency meets at least quarterly with each companionship of ministering sisters for a ministering interview. When possible, these interviews are held in person and with both members of the companionship, if two sisters are assigned. Interviews may be held throughout the quarter and need not be long to be effective. A married couple assigned to minister together can meet with a member of the Relief Society presidency, a member of the elders quorum presidency, or both.

The Relief Society president may ask you to help schedule ministering interviews and prepare quarterly reports of interviews. The president may also counsel with the bishop about having a member of the bishopric call one or more ministering secretaries. These secretaries may help schedule ministering interviews and prepare the reports. However, secretaries do not conduct these interviews.

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

See ministering.lds.org for more information about ministering interviews.