February Presidency Message

Happy February, Sisters! This month’s presidency message comes from the February visiting teaching message titled “A Restoration of All Things”.

The Prophet Joseph Smith organized Relief Society as an essential part of the Church.

When the Relief Society was formally organized on March 17, 1842, the Prophet taught the women about their essential place in the restored Church. He said, “The Church was never perfectly organized until the women were thus organized.” ³

And so it is carried on down to us as we participate in His work at this time, in this place.

Several New Testament woman showed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and participated in His work. Think about your favorite women from the scriptures and how they did all they could to make sure the Lord’s work went forward.

Mary, Martha, Phebe, and Tabitha all showed great examples of faith and participation in the Lord’s work.

We read about Martha and Mary in Luke and again in John. They were the dynamo sisters whose faith never wavered. Not even when their brother had been dead for days. These sisters knew Jesus would come and help Lazarus one way or another. They also had others around them who needed to be shown the way and were as they watched Christ raise Lazarus from the dead.

Sister Julie B. Beck, general relief society president, says, ““Just as the Savior invited Mary and Martha of New Testament times to participate in His work, women of this dispensation have an official commission to participate in the Lord’s work. … The organization of Relief Society in 1842 mobilized the collective power of the women and their specific assignments to build the Lord’s kingdom.”

We accomplish our work as we focus on Relief Society’s purposes: to increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help those in need.

My questions to you sisters are simple.

What can we do to increase our faith and personal righteousness?

What do you do to strengthen your family and home?

What are we doing and can we do to seek out and help those in need?

I leave you my testimony that if we do these things we accomplish the work we were brought here to do. As we increase our faith and personal righteousness, we are more likely to share the gospel with others. As our families and homes are strengthened, others seek out what they feel in our homes and the strength they see in our family. As we seek out and help those in need, we give a part of ourselves; a part of our strength, our soul, our love, and our faith.

In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.