Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (casually known as the Mormons) has blessed my life in innumerable ways. Perhaps some of those ways might be imperceptible to onlookers, but it is undeniably true.
Not only has being a Mormon helped me to better understand and rejoice in the knowledge that God knows me, that He is my Heavenly Father, and that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to redeem me; but being a Mormon has introduced me to a powerful organization called the Relief Society.
” The organization now stands at a membership of more than 5.2 million women – in over 170 countries! Can you imagine that many women working to bring charity to the world?
The purpose of Relief Society, as I’ve experienced it, is to bring women and their families closer to Christ. And it has been an amazing experience for me to participate in the Relief Society organization. No, the women in it are not perfect. There is only One individual who is. But the women I’ve met in the Relief Society organization, by and large, are women who truly desire to better their lives and those around them with the teachings and precepts of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
These women, together with their leaders, seek to aid other Mormon women, their families, and communities through quality Sunday Gospel instruction, through welfare and literacy service, and through strengthening the family.
For more information, feel free to visit this link. But just know that as an individual who has participated in the Relief Society organization, I am full of gratitude for the experience.
Although I can remember the first time I was asked to actually teach a Sunday class to the other Relief Society sisters. For some odd reason, I thought my lesson needed to be perfect! I was in awe of these women. Therefore, after sharing my lesson with them I went home and cried. Why? Because I was intimidated to be in their presence. So many of them had qualities I desired.
I eventually learned what so many of them already had learned through the years. No-one is perfect, but we are all striving to seek Christ through serving each other, through serving our families, and through serving the community as He would. I soon learned I didn’t need to cry after teaching a lesson because I thought I’d “failed” in my delivery of it!
Far from it. Instead, I soon learned I could rejoice in the service I rendered. Because as I served the women in my presence, I learned probably more than any of them. This is the beauty of service. It turns us inside out and transforms us into daughters (and sons) of God.
Now when I have the opportunity to teach a Relief Society class, I thoroughly enjoy the experience. I no longer believe I have to set myself up as an example for the women throughout the lesson. No, my desire now is simply to reflect into their hearts and lives the beauty of the Savior Himself.
Yes, indeed, the Relief Society’s motto “Charity Never Faileth” has become more and more a part of my life as a Mormon. That very motto leads me into becoming more like Christ than I could have initially ever imagined before joining the Mormon church!
For an excellent example of Mormon women and to learn better what Latter-day Saint women do best, feel free to visit this link.
