Relief Society
Responsibilities


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group of women smiling

My Calling as a Relief Society Secretary

Responsibilities

The Lord is grateful for your willingness to serve in His Church. Below is an overview of the responsibilities for your calling.

Purpose of Relief Society

Relief Society is a divinely instituted organization for all adult women in the Church. Relief Society helps God’s children prepare to return to His presence. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that the purpose of Relief Society is to “save souls and relieve suffering”—providing the Savior’s relief (see General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 9.1).

Secretary

The Relief Society presidency and secretary meet regularly (see 9.3.2.3). The secretary’s responsibilities could include preparing agendas for and taking notes in meetings, tracking assignments, scheduling ministering interviews, keeping attendance, submitting reports, helping prepare an annual budget, and tracking expenses (see 9.3.3). Assistant secretaries and a ministering secretary may be called to assist the secretary (see 9.3.4).

Leadership and Councils

Relief Society leaders plan Sunday meetings, activities, ministering, service, and other interactions to provide women with experiences in God’s work of salvation and exaltation. Members of the Relief Society and elders quorum work in unity (see 9.2).

Sunday Meetings

Relief Societies meet on the second and fourth Sundays with a purpose to increase faith in Jesus Christ, build unity, and strengthen families and homes. Meetings begin with prayer and include time for counseling together and gospel instruction and discussion based on recent general conference talks (see 9.2.1.2).

Service and Activities

Relief Society presidencies may plan activities to strengthen sisters’ faith in Jesus Christ, increase their desire to make and keep covenants, and give them opportunities to serve together. The president oversees these activities and may ask a counselor or another sister to take the lead in planning and carrying them out (see 9.2.1.3).

Guidelines and Policies

Additional guidelines and policies are found in section 9.6 of the General Handbook.