Show J FEMALE E RELIEF SOCIETY BY ELIZA R B SNOW This is ia the name of a Society which was organized in N Nauvoo on the of March 1842 by President Joseph Smith assisted by Elders Willard Richards and John Taylor Although the name may be of modern date the institution is of ancient origin We were told by or our martyred prophet that the same organization existed in the church anciently allusions to which are made in some of the epistles record record- recorded recorded recorded ed in the New Testament making use use use-of of the title elect lady This is an organization that cannot exist without the Priesthood from the fact that it derives all its authority and influence from that source When the Priesthood was taken from the earth this institution as well as every other oiher appendage to the true order of the church Christ Jesus of on the earth be- be became became be became came extinct and had never been re- re restored restored re restored stored until the time referred to above Last winter President Young in- in instructed instructed in instructed the Bishops to organize Female Relief Societies in their various Wards and at our last Conference repeated the requisition extending it to all the set set- settlements settlements set settlements calling upon the sisters to enter into organizations not only for forthe forthe forthe the relief of the peor but for the accomplishment accomplishment accomplishment of 01 every good and noble work He urged upon them the manu manu- manufacture manufacture manufacture facture of articles made of the straw straw cultivation of silk and the establishing of fashions that wo would ld be becoming becoming- such as would be worthy the patronage of sensible refined and intelli intelligent ent wo- wo women women wo women men who stand as we in reality do at atthe atthe atthe the head of the world Having been present at the organization organization tion of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo and having now in in my pos pos- possession possession possession session the minutes of the organization and the records of that Society which is a sample si for all others and also hav hav- having having having ing had considerable experience in that association perhaps I may mav communicate communicate communicate cate a few hints that win will assist the daughters of Zion in stepping forth in inthis inthis inthis this very important position which is replete with new and multiplied res- res responsibilities responsibilities res responsibilities If any of the daughters and mothers in Israel are feeling in the least c circumscribed in their present spheres they will now find ample scope for every power and capability for doing good with which they are most Ii liberally endowed The Female Relief Belief Society of Nau Nau- N Nauvoo Nauvoo au- au was organized after the pattern of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Latter- Latter day day Saints with a who chose two Counselors These were or- or ordained ordained or ordained and set t apart by the Priesthood and were to fill those offices so long as they faithfully discharged the trust committed to them then This quor quorum m was fully authorized to appoint such officers c committees and assistants as were re- re requisite requisite re requisite from time to time either to fill permanent offices or to perform any temporary agency that might demand But to mak make these appointments legal they had to be sanc sane sanctioned sanctioned by vote of the majority of the meeting when such appointments Were made In organizing Societies it is necessary to have hare a competent Secretary and ana these Treasurer these and aU all at other officers must be nominated and the nomina nomina- tion must be seconded and then a vote of the House called with o opportunity for any to object if they should feel disposed President Joseph Smith told the sis sis- sisters sisters sis sisters that he not nob only wanted them to learn to do business but he wanted them to learn to do it correctly and in a like business like business manner He ee set the example example ex- ex example ample and kindly proffered his only through the but often met with the Society and gave ave much wise counsel and precious Instruction and encouragement copies encouragement of which are carefully preserved Confidence being the key to union and union the soul of successful con con- concentrated concentrated concentrated action he instructed the Society to be very careful in admitting members that none be be- received but those of strictly virtuous character character- those who could be received with confidence confidence confidence dence and full fellowship and then they should sustain and hold each others other's characters sacred In dealing with members when they sit in judg judg- judgment judgment judgment ment on those whose conduct was call call- called called called ed in question they could not be too cautious lest they eh should uld falsely con con- condemn they they must imitate the example of Jesus and like him be forbearing merciful and forgiving I Through the authority which Pres President President i- i ident dent Young has conferred upon the Bishops they now stand in the same relation with the Societies which have bave been and are to be organized in the wards and settlements as President President President dent Joseph Smith did with the one in Nauvoo No Society can overstep the counsel of its his Bishop Bishop his word is law to which all its doings are amenable Should the question arise in the mind of any What is the object of the Fe- Fe Female Female Fe Female male Relief Belief Society I would reply reply- reply to do to good good to bring into requisition every capacity we possess for doing good not only in relieving the poor but in saving souls United effort will accomplish incalculably more than can be accomplished by the most effective individual energies I As its ita name indicates the first grand object of the Society is to seek out and andI I relieve the wants of the poor President President President dent Smith in giving instruction to the Society in N Nauvoo said that the sisters could much better look into and un- un understand understand un-I un the circumstances of destitute families than the brethren and as they were more sympathetic in their natures they could better enter into the feelings of the afflicted and administer aid and aud consolation Relieving Believing the poor in most of instances instances instances ces requires something beyond administering admin- admin ing to present necessities When giving encourages people in idleness it has a demoralizing tendency The sick must be provided for but to those who have strength to labory labor labor- y it is far more charitable to give employment and so direct their energies that they can earn what they need and thus realize the fruits of their own la- la labors labors la labors bors President Joseph Smith proposed deeding a city lot to the Society in Nauvoo on which we purposed build build- building building building ing comfortable houses for homes for forthe forthe forthe the homeless sick and destitute and furnish such varieties of remunerative labor as would be adapted to the strength and capacities of such as were able to work But the sudden death of the Prophet and subsequent expulsion from Nauvoo blasted all these fond anticipations and instead of the gene gene- generous generous generous rous pleasure of providing and tending superintending homes for others we were our our- ourselves ourselves ourselves selves homeless until we found an abiding place in the lone wilderness Although the existence of the Society was short it accomplished much Da- Da Daring Daring Da Daring ring one extremely severe winter in particular it was instrumental through the blessing of God in preserving the lives of many who otherwise must have perished The climate of N Nauvoo was a very sickly one it was a climate in which none but a people of faith and right right- righteousness righteousness righteousness could prosper The location was beautiful and very desirable but butin in consequence of its it had been abandoned by those who had from time to time tried the experiment as a place that could not be built up We had been expelled from Missouri and in our transit transit subjected to great hardships and exposures and aDd our teme systems were more predisposed to sickness than they would have been under more favorable circumstances and with all the faith we could exercise we experienced experienced experienced much sickness In consequence of this in with other ether adverse ad circumstances many were unable to obtain those comforts that nature re- re required required re required Previous to the organization of the Relief Society President Smith said that the sisters by relieving the Bish Bish- Bishops Bishops Bishops ops and Elders of the care of the poor would perform a very important work and be instrumental in doing much good by liberating their hands so that they might devote their time and ener ener- energies energies energies gies to other labors tabors he said that such an organization belonged to and should exist in the that Church Church that he had long had it on his mind but had been too much crowded with other duties to attend to it The care of the poor was a prominent item in the teachings of the Savior and it always stands prominently forth forth among the requirements of our holy re- re religion re religion ligion and the business of caring for forand and attending to the wants of the poor was a heavy tax on the time as well as ason ason ason on the means of the authorities of the Church in addition to all the cares and labors incident on commencing settle settle- settlements settlements settlements ments in new locations In administering to the poor the Fe- Fe Female Female Fe Female male Relief Belief Society has other duties to perform than merely relieving bodily wants Poverty of mind and sickness of heart also demand attention and many times a kind expression GI a u few words of counsel or even a warm and affection affection- affectionate affectionate affectionate ate shake of the hand will do more good and be better appreciated than a purse of gold Evil communications corrupt good manners Many have apostatized through the influence of bad associations they they come here without the ex- ex experience experience ex experience that is necessary to know how to estimate char character and forgetting that the net which is cast into the sea gathers of every kind they are often deceived by fair appearances and oily tongues When the Saints gather from abroad strangers to everybody and subject to be led astray by those who I lie in wait to deceive the F R B Society should be prompt in looking after the stranger sisters and introduce them in- in into into in into to the society that will refine and elevate elevate ele- ele elevate vate and above all strengthen them in inthe inthe inthe the faith of the Gospel and in so doing may be instrumental in saving many It would re require require volumes in which to define the duties privileges and responsibilities responsibilities responsibilities that come within the purview of the Society President Young has turned the key ker to a wide and extensive sphere of action and usefulness But says one Where are the means The means will accumulate Do not refuse anything that may be donated from froma a shoestring or patch or a carpet rag to an elegant house and lot with appurtenances thereof Go at it under the direction of your bishop coolly de- de deliberately deliberately de deliberately ener energetically and prayerfully and God will crown your efforts with success X V |