The world is so big and there is so much need amongst the children of our Heavenly Father. The membership of the Church (16 Million) is so small in comparison to the population of the world (7.5 Billion). The Church of Jesus Christ has a responsiblity to organize and carry out efforts to bless the earth. The work of preaching the gospel, offering saving ordinances, and ministering to spiritual and temporal needs takes all of us. If the populace was divided up equally, every member be responsible for loving and caring for 468 people each. Clearly, the work of the Church is more than anyone prophet, one organization, or one gender can do alone.
Under the direction of key holders,
God has instituted two service organizations that are united in purpose and
effort. The Priesthood quorums of the Church house the men, and the women of
the Church are members of the Relief Society. These two organizations work side
by side, and hand in hand doing God’s saving work.
All Church service is Kingdom work. The Relief Society is the sisterhood (2) where women are instructed in duties, rallied to action, and supported. (3) The Priesthood Quorum is a brotherhood (4) where men are taught their responsibilities, given their charge and mobilized, and sustained. (5) In speaking about church councils that include men and women, Elder M. Russell Ballard has said, “It takes a man and a woman to create a family, and it takes men and women to carry out the work of the Lord in the Church.” (6)
Just as we see the strength and capacity of men as they serve in callings and do the work of the Kingdom, President Hinckley reminded that, “… There is strength and great capacity in the women of this Church. There is leadership and direction, a certain spirit of independence, and yet great satisfaction in being a part of this, the Lord’s kingdom, and of (the Relief Society) working hand in hand with the priesthood (quorum) to move it forward.” (7)
One caution, because a man has been ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood and a woman has not, we may think that they have an extra layer of authority or an extra layer of access to heaven’s help in callings. We may mistakenly think that the power of the quorum is greater than the power of the Relief Society. This is all incorrect. The vast majority of the men and women of the Church serve in exactly the same way and with the same power and authority— called by God, set apart for the work, and under the direction of a guardian key holder. (8) The unique task of members of a priesthood quorum is that they can actually perform the ordinances when the work of the men and women of the Church have brought a child of God to the waters of baptism, to the Sacrament table, or to the altar.
The Lord’s Service Organizations
By definition, a priesthood quorum is an organized group of brethren who hold the same office in the Aaronic or Melchizedek Priesthood. (9) Heavenly Father established priesthood quorums to organize boys and men in a brotherhood to give service, to learn and carry out their duties, and to study the doctrines of the gospel. (10)
The priesthood quorums of the Church are directed by key holders. For example, the Deacons and Teachers Quorums are presided over by their Quorum Presidents. The presiding High Priest of the ward, the Bishop, presides over the Priests Quorum. The Elders Quorum serves under the keys of the Stake President.
Relief Society also serves under keys the direction of key holders like the priesthood quorums do. It is a sisterhood and an official part of the Lord’s Church. Sarah Kimball, who was there at the Relief Society’s inaugural beginnings in this dispensation said that the prophet Joseph taught them, “I will organize the women under the priesthood after the pattern of the priesthood.” (11)
Relief Society is divinely ordained of God to teach, strengthen, and inspire women in their purpose regarding faith, family, and relief. It is also organized to serve, to teach and learn the gospel, and to help each other carry out their duties. (12)
While reading the scriptures it is easy to see examples of the Melchizedek Priesthood key holders and the quorums working together. The Relief Society is a little less obvious. But Sister Eliza R. Snow, the second Relief Society General President, recalled instruction from Joseph Smith, “We were told by our martyred prophet that the same (Relief Society) organization existed in the church anciently.” (13) Relief Society follows the pattern of female disciples who served with the Lord Jesus Christ and His Apostles in His ancient Church. (14) Relief Society has belonged to the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ, in all dispensations when the Church is in perfection. (15)
It is no wonder that President Joseph F. Smith said, “This (Relief Society) is divinely made, divinely authorized, divinely instituted, and divinely ordained of God to minister for the salvation of the souls of women and of men.” (16)
The combination of organized and inspired men and women is a powerful union. The women of Relief Society work alongside men who are doing their priesthood quorum duties. They share a mission to increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help those in need. This pattern works beautifully as ward elders quorum presidents and ward Relief Society presidents counsel together and coordinate. They are companions and partners. (17) This unity and strength brings miracles and changes people’s lives.
Regardless of what calling a man or a woman may have in the Church, they are always doing the serving and saving work of the quorum and the Relief Society. Elder Boyd K Packer made that point when he said, “Many of you are not able to attend the Relief Society Sunday meeting because you are called to serve in the Primary or the Young Women. This, again, is according to the pattern. Many brethren serve the Aaronic Priesthood. (And) just as their service strengthens the (Melchizedek) Priesthood, so your service (in Primary and Young Women) will bless Relief Society…To unselfishly render this service is to show devotion to Relief Society.” (18)
When a man serves in the Young Men’s program, he is doing the work of the Quorum. When a women serves in Young Women’s, she is doing the work of Relief Society. When men and women serve in callings in the Primary, they are showing “devotion” to the quorum and Relief Society through their ministry with the children. Sister Julie B. Beck taught that we are always connected to the purpose and responsibilities of Relief Society (and Priesthood Quorums) and are blessed by all opportunities to be examples and faith-filled shepherds to all of our Heavenly Father’s children. (19)
Late Sunday afternoon on May 22, 2011, my family and I were sitting in a Seminary graduation in our chapel when rain and hail began to pour down and tornado sirens started blaring. The meeting continued, but there was a quiet stir as people started seeing messages on their cell phones that there was big trouble 55 miles north of us in Joplin, Missouri. A catastrophic EF-5, multi-vortex tornado roared over the top of Joplin. With winds over 200 mph, the tornado was a full one-mile wide and stayed on the ground for more than 22 miles, taking out a major swath of the city.
The death and destruction of this disaster was overwhelming and within a few days of the storm the Church (via Mormon Helping Hands) called for men and boys, 14 years and older, to spend the next weekend helping with clean up from the devastation. There was a real feeling of urgency and also a profound gratitude to be able to be part of relieving the suffering of our neighbors in Joplin. Many, many men and young men prepared for the assignment.
Way in advance of this storm, our son had arranged for
these same men and boys to assist him with his Boy Scout Eagle project. His
conservation project consisted of planting trees in a city park for erosion
control. McKay had arranged the pre-work with the city horticulturist, and the
grading and dirt dumping was ready to go. We decided that McKay should go ahead
with the project despite the tornado clean-up assignment. He would invite the
12 and 13 year old boys, who were not involved in the Joplin clean-up, to
assist him instead. We sent out an email plea to "Mothers of Deacons"
and we hoped for helpers.
While grateful that the husbands and boys were working for our friends in
Joplin, wives and mothers were a bit at a loss. Womens’ hearts were also heavy
with a desire to help with tornado relief. Complementary to the quorum miracle
that was happening in Joplin, what happened next in Bentonville was a Relief
Society miracle. The mothers poured their energy for good into our son’s
project. Early on this Saturday morning, not only did the mothers bring their
12-13 year olds to the Eagle project, they came in work clothes ready to pitch
in themselves. They brought their younger children, too, and families stayed
for hours working together. 34 mothers and children under 13 arrived to help!
These children and women hauled eight 200 pound trees and three maples. They
wheel-barrowed load after load of top soil. They pick ax'ed 4 foot wide, three
foot deep holes into Arkansas' unfriendly soil. The top soil had to be moved
down steep hills into the forest. And water, to feed the trees, had to be
brought from the far-away creek down the steep trails. The weather was hot and
very humid making this very hard work.
Despite the labor, we were all so happy. There was a
sense of purpose and satisfaction in knowing that our men and boys were serving
in Joplin and that the women and children were also working with intention.
Several of the ladies commented that it felt like Zion's Camp, where the men of
the quorums were called to labor away and the women also served with great
purpose. The men, women, and children were all united in doing the work of the
quorum and the Relief Society that day.
Sourced by God, Inspired by the Holy Ghost
Men and women of the priesthood quorums and the Relief Society have power and authority to do the work of the Kingdom because they are collectively being directed by Melchizedek Priesthood keys. (Chapter Ten through Twelve) They also benefit individually from God’s total priesthood power and authority through the influence and enhancement of the Holy Ghost. (See Chapters One through Three)
The Duties and Blessings of the Priesthood manual makes this doctrine clear: “The source of the power of the (Melchizedek) priesthood is God, who works through the Holy Ghost…Power in the (Melchizedek) priesthood comes to us only from our Heavenly Father through the Holy Ghost. With the power of the priesthood, we can do the Lord’s work; without that power, we cannot.” (20)
Joseph Smith taught that the Spirit is the key to success in the ministry. He taught the Relief Society about the Apostle Paul’s teachings in 1 Corinthians 12–13 about the gifts of the Spirit. He emphasized that “these signs (i.e. the gifts of the Spirit), such as healing the sick, casting out devils etc. should follow all that believe.” (21) Men and women who have received the gift of the Holy Ghost, can seek and be blessed by spiritual gifts such as “the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.” (22) Throughout the history of the Church, men and women have received of the gifts of the Spirit and have used these generous endowments to bless their families and others.
Duty, Responsibility, and Service
As stated, the duty and responsibility of the priesthood quorums and the Relief Society is the great work of ministering. They succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees. (23) A priesthood holder or a Relief Society sister who is doing his or her duty, is serving humankind in callings in these organizations. This life of ministry was mandated, first, by baptismal covenants, then expanded by all of the other covenants of the gospel that follow.
President Harold B. Lee once taught that when man becomes a holder of the priesthood, he becomes an agent of the Lord. He said that a man should think of his calling as though he were on the Lord’s errand and that ministering was what it meant to magnify the priesthood. (24) Elder Stephen L Richards called quorums “the perfect plan of service.” (25)
When men and women serve together in temporal ways, miracles are wrought. In talking to the Relief Society, President Gordon B. Hinckley marveled, “Who, even in the wildest stretch of imagination, can fathom the uncountable acts of charity that have been performed, the food that has been put on barren tables, the faith that has been nurtured in desperate hours of illness, the wounds that have been bound up, the pains that have been ameliorated by loving hands and quiet and reassuring words, the comfort that has been extended in times of death and consequent loneliness?” (26)
Sister Belle Spafford was the 9th General President of the Relief Society. She led the organization at a time when The Church was participating in the National and International Councils of Women. She had great influence as she served in her assignment on the Social and Moral Welfare committee for some years. In 1954 she was chosen as the leader of the United States delegation at the International Council in Helsinki, Finland. As she led a grand march at the opening of the conference, her thoughts went back in time:
“As I looked out at the glittering audience made up of people of many nations…my mind suddenly flashed back to the words of our pioneer (Relief Society) leaders…‘standing as we do at the head of the women of the world,’…‘for the rights of the women of Zion and the rights of the women of all nations.’…I knew that our pioneer women leaders had been given by divine insight a knowledge of the destiny of Relief Society…It is my conviction that the time had come for Relief Society’s influence to be felt worldwide among womankind.” (27)
In addition to a temporal ministry, President Spencer W. Kimball encouraged women to serve people spiritually. He inspired us in this way, “There are many sisters who are living in rags—spiritual rags. They are entitled to gorgeous robes, spiritual robes…It is your privilege to go into homes and exchange robes for rags…You are going to save souls.” (28)
Similarly,
President Gordon B. Hinckley spoke of the powerful potential of the priesthood
quorums when he said: “It will be a marvelous day, my brethren—it will be a day
of fulfillment of the purposes of the Lord—when our priesthood quorums become
an anchor of strength to every man belonging thereto, when each such man may
appropriately be able to say, ‘I am a member of a priesthood quorum of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I stand ready to assist my
brethren in all of their needs, as I am confident they stand ready to assist me
in mine.’ Working together, we can stand, without embarrassment and without
fear, against every wind of adversity that might blow, be it economic, social,
or spiritual.” (29)
The Willie and Martin Handcart Companies of 1856 had a late start onto the trail west from Florence, Nebraska to the Salt Lake Valley. They departed in August and by the beginning of October they were stranded in an unseasonably cold and early winter. The companies were stalled in Wyoming without supplies, and people were freezing, starving and dying. (30)
Missionaries of the Church, on their way home from Europe, passed the group of troubled Saints. They quickly brought word to President Young in Salt Lake City that more than a 1000 members of the Church were trapped. In the October General Conference, President Brigham Young announced with grave concern that there were handcart pioneers who were still on the trail. He declared: “Your faith, religion, and profession of religion, will never save one soul of you in the celestial kingdom of our God, unless you carry out just such principles as I am now teaching you. Go and bring in those people now on the plains, and attend strictly to those things which we call temporal…otherwise your faith will be in vain.” (31)
In a beautiful act of service, a group of men in wagons and on horses immediately prepared to venture in the wilderness to rescue the imperiled companies. Dispatched to relieve and save those suffering Saints who were trapped on the trail, we could call this an amazing priesthood quorum effort.
The Relief Society also pitched in. Sister Linda K Burton told this story: “Sister (Lucy Meserve) Smith recorded…that after President Young’s exhortation, those in attendance took action…Women (removed) their petticoats, stockings, and everything they could spare, right there in the Tabernacle, and piled (them) into the wagons to send to the Saints in the mountains.”
Several weeks later, President Brigham Young gathered the Saints again in the old Tabernacle as the rescuers and the handcart companies got closer to Salt Lake City. With great urgency, he pleaded with the Saints—especially the sisters—to nurse the sufferers and feed them and receive them, saying: ‘Some you will find with their feet frozen to their ankles; some are frozen to their knees and some have their hands frosted…We want you to receive them as your own children, and to have the same feeling for them.’
Lucy Meserve Smith also recorded: ‘We did all we could, with the aid of the good brethren and sisters, to comfort the needy…They got their hands and feet badly frosted…We did not cease our exertions (until) all were made comfortable.’ I never took more satisfaction and, I might say, pleasure in any labor I ever performed in my life, such a unanimity of feeling prevailed…‘What comes next for willing hands to do?’” (32)
Cumulatively,
the efforts of priesthood quorums and the Relief Society can do so much
good. With so many consecrated and
capable hands, and with hearts full of love, disciples of Christ can make a
wonderful difference. This is the duty, responsibility and opportunity of the
men and women of the Church. This is the work that covenant-keepers do.
Brotherhood
and Sisterhood
A secondary purpose of priesthood quorums and the Relief Society is to gather men into a grand “fraternity” (33) and women into a noble “sorority”. (34) While brotherhood and sisterhood are not an end in themselves, each organization is a means of support and love, individual spiritual growth and cooperative service. (35) The feelings of unity and closeness come as men and women spend time together in the work of the Church.
Pertaining to quorums, President David O. McKay said, “If we can get the spirit of unity in our quorums, then we are beginning to understand the full meaning of our priesthood organization in the Church.” (36) The comradery, alliances and fellowship of men in the quorums is an impressive thing to witness. Not only is love and admiration seen as they meet and serve together, they also laugh, joke and have fun. This is witnessed as men play basketball, serve in Young Mens, camp, move boxes, set up chairs, and clean the church. When the men of quorums do spiritual work, they bond on a different, elevated level that creates beautiful feelings of strength and solidarity. There is a strength and goodness when righteous men do God’s work.
Many years ago, Greg called me late in the evening and asked me to come to the church. I put my four, little, pajama’ed boys into the van and we headed into the night. We entered to a very dark, quiet, and desolate building. We tip-toed through the foyer and then into the cultural hall to where we saw lights on the other side. Then, we opened the doors.
I had to catch my breath a little. I was overcome at the sight. There stood seventeen strong, sober, clean, kind, powerful men at the church late at night, doing the spiritual work of the Church. Their collective power enveloped me with an overwhelming feeling. It was clear to me that these powerful individuals were working for God that night and had His authority.
There is a strength and security in men who unite and serve. Bona fide “manhood” is the guy who “wears out his life” (37) serving his family, and whose days are full of benevolence in the work of the priesthood quorum. The Brethren have often encouraged men to study and live with this purpose by becoming converted to the Gospel and serving in callings. (38)
Elaine L. Jack, former Relief Society General President, told of the many, many acts of service surrounding the 150th anniversary of Relief Society in 1992. The theme for the celebration was, “Something Extraordinary”. This was meant to inspire individuals to know that they were very special, but also to make obvious the power and influence possible as women served collectively.
Sister
Jack explained that one of the activities that were outlined was for each ward
Relief Society throughout the world to find a project to serve the specific
needs of their sphere. She directed, “You look to the needs in your own
community and decide what would be best for your area.”
Sister Jack described one ward’s efforts, “One of our Relief Society presidents went to the city council in a California city and said, ‘What are the things that you feel are needed in this community that we could do?’ And after discussing what Relief Society could do to bless that city, the community leaders said, ‘You mean 20,000 units (meaning 20,000 worldwide ward Relief Societies) throughout the world are going to be doing this?’ When the Relief Society sister said, ‘Yes’, the councilman said, ‘Then you’ll change the world.’” (39)
True, heroic “womanhood” is the gal who is immersed in the work of God within her family and in the saving work of the Relief Society. Recently, President Russell M. Nelson invited women to study the Relief Society’s mission and allow it to guide the development of a personal purpose statement for life. (40) This includes strengthening individuals, families, and homes through ordinances and covenants; and working in unity for the benefit of those in need. (41)
President Boyd K. Packer said of the sisterhood in Relief Society, “This great circle of sisters will be a protection for each of you and for your families. The Relief Society might be likened to a refuge—the place of safety and protection…You will be safe within it. It encircles each sister like a protecting wall.” (42) Women feel comfort and strength when they are together. As they serve, they laugh, share and find release from trouble and worry. Relief Society is a place of love, hugs, sensitive sympathizing, sweet words, and soft hearts. As President Packer stated Relief Society is a place of emotional and spiritual safety and protection.
The
world is in commotion. There is wickedness today akin to Sodom and Gomorrah of
Old Testament fame. Anciently, Abraham was aware that the destruction of those
awful cities was imminent. But, he felt compassion for the people and he begged
the Lord, “Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city” will you
spare the others of the city? When fifty could not be found, Abraham amended
his request asking that the city be saved if there were just 45, then or 40 or
30 or 20 or down to ten, but apparently there could not be found even ten
people in those cities, who were righteous. (43) Isn’t it wonderful to know that that is not
the case today! Even in a wicked world,
there are righteous men and women of the Church of Jesus Christ in nearly every
corner of the globe! There are men and women who have made covenants and feel
bound to nourish, minister, lift, and love. It is so wonderful to have the
Relief Society and priesthood quorums serving under the direction of
Melchizedek Priesthood keys in order to coordinate this work. It is also
generous and beautiful that men and women can be inspired and magnified in the
work by God the Father through the Holy Ghost.
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