Relief Society

Talks

Quotes

We must cherish one another, watch over one another, comfort one another and gain instruction, that we may all sit down in heaven together. – Lucy Mack Smith

“We must seek out those among us with need and, using our god given talents for charity and our means for relieving others, coordinate the two.  This has been the charge from the beginning.  It is the charge today.  We should go personally into each other’s homes, and we should turn our souls to the point that we may find those in need and offer friendship help as needed, and courage to meet each day’s challenges.”  Barbara B. Smith

Being insincere is the most exhausting thing there is.  Just be real.

Home enrichment idea: This little piggy went to market (shopping), this little piggy stayed home (interior design), this little piggy had roast beef (nutrition), this little piggy had none (food storage), this little piggy went wee wee wee all the way to the temple

The Relief Society is 100% behind the priesthood and the priesthood is 100 years behind the Relief Society.

Goals are stars to steer by, not sticks to beat ourselves with.

If we ever hope to establish a “Zion people” where we’re all of one heart, or if we ever hope to have a Relief Society where our “hearts are knit together in love” and we feel a true bond of sisterhood, we have to get real.

“Have you ever been to the Universal Studio lot in California?  If you have you’ve probably seen the Hollywood sets representing the towns.  It’s the front with nothing behind it, made up of single wall storefronts.  Sometimes we do the same thing with our lives.  We present images other than the truth about ourselves and put so much effort into perfecting that image that we neglect our real selves.  It takes time to build those false fronts, time that should be used in building real relationships and real character.  It’s a game we play that absorbs our time and attention and in the long run brings us nothing.

Sometimes we think that other won’t like us or respect us if we are seen as we really are.  But real love tolerates and even welcomes imperfections.  Flawless people are very hard to relate to, much less love.  Our hearts go out to those who struggle and don’t try to hide it.  So although we try to hide our messy houses and crummy gardens and imperfect relationships, such failings make us human and unite us.  When we are willing to share our vulnerable side, we will find ourselves competing less and caring more.” – Jean Benson

Basically, we all need to get to the point where we can say, “I’m not okay and you’re not okay and that’s okay.”

I’ve often thought about placing a box on a table outside the Relief Society room door so that as we enter, each of us could drop our mask in the box and just be ourselves 100%.  I would also hang one of those yellow diamond “Safe Place” signs on the wall that we often see on schools or banks that let kids know that they can go there anytime and find help.  In my opinion, that’s what Relief Society is for. – Shannon Williams

Virginia H. Pearce once said, “I believe that our ability to worship God, to reaffirm our covenants and receive the healing power of the Holy Ghost, to receive the instruction we need in order to make personal progress – all of these things are greatly affected by how secure and safe we feel in our Church environment during the three-hour block of time on Sundays.  If we have to spend our energy dealing with feelings that we are not accepted, being concerned about our appearance, or worrying that what we do or say will be judged harshly, in other words that the fellowship of our ward members is anything but “fixed , immovable, and unchangeable,” we certainly won’t be able to make the kind of progress we could make otherwise.”

Sisters, I promise you that as you “become real,” as you take off your mask of perfection and share your vulnerabilities and insecurities, you will give others permission to do the same. You will develop quality friendships.  You will find open arms of unconditional love waiting for you.  You will become a safe place for others suffering from similar circumstances.  Instead of spending all your time and energy maintaining a façade, you can spend that time and energy working to resolve the real issues in your life.  You will find peace. – Shannon Williams