Women of Covenant

"We are going to do something extraordinary." --Emma Smith

""Let your first business be to perform your duties at home. But inasmuch as you are wise stewards, you will find time for [other] duties because these are incumbent upon us as daughters and mothers in Zion...By seeking to perform every duty you will find that your capacity will increase, and you will be astonished at what you can accomplish." --Eliza R. Snow

"I think visiting teaching is the most important work we do in the Church....I feel I really know a woman only when I enter her home. In this way I can serve her person-to-person. I have tried not to suppress any inclination to generous word or deed." --Camilla Kimball

"We should recognize that ideals are stars to steer by; they are not a stick to beat ourselves with." --Barbara Smith 

I love Relief Society. Last week I finished reading Women of Covenant: The Story of Relief Society. I loved it; it's amazing how my appreciation of something, even something I already love, can increase when I know its history and evolution. In my personal involvement in Relief Society I have seen miracles as women work together to help one another and seek to compassionately serve and grow. I bought this book almost five years ago when serving as secretary in my singles ward RS, but have only been able to skim through it until now. Since then, I've experienced the joy of visiting teaching--and the sorrows you can share with women who become your sisters. I've seen the effort that goes into creating meetings that uplift and build. I've participated in funerals, quilting, babysitting, and music. Mostly, this book helped me remember that Relief Society is really about providing relief to our families, to each other, to the Priesthood, and by doing so becoming more Christlike. Thinking about Relief Society really just makes me want to hug people and say, "Come with me."