Mormon Women Archive
In the April 2013 General Conference held by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are sometimes called Mormons, Elaine Dalton gave her final address as president of the Young Women’s program. This program serves teenage girls around the world and she oversaw a program that included about a million girls and their leaders worldwide.
Sister Dalton’s Theme was “We are Daughters of Our Heavenly Father.” This is a gospel truth Mormons teach their members from the very youngest age—that we are all, every single person ever born, literal children of God, not by adoption if we make good choices, but by birth. Mormons believe God created our spirits, entitling Him to be our literal father. All mortal beings have a Heavenly Father as well as a mortal one.
“In every country and on every continent, I have met confident, articulate young women, filled with light, refined by hard work and trial, possessing pure and simple faith.... Read the rest of this entry »
In 1999, Mary Ellen Smoot, who was then president of the Relief Society presented a new and official declaration. The Relief Society is the women’s auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are sometimes called Mormons. The Declaration was created to outline what Mormon women believe and how they live. The teen girls had a theme they recited weekly, and now the women had one of their own. The Declaration helps to show how Mormon women are followers of Jesus Christ:
“We are beloved spirit daughters of God, and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction. As a worldwide sisterhood, we are united in our devotion to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Exemplar. We are women of faith, virtue, vision, and charity who: Increase our testimonies of Jesus Christ through prayer and scripture study. Seek spiritual strength by following the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Dedicate ourselves to strengthening marriages, families, and... Read the rest of this entry »
By Keith Lionel Brown
Church services in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes inadvertently referred to as the “Mormon Church” in the media) are divided into three segments. The first and most important segment is Sacrament meeting, where members meet together to partake of the sacrament of the Lord’s supper and hear talks given by various members of the congregation. The second segment is Sunday School. During the third segment, members split into various groups and attend separate meetings: Priesthood Meeting for the men, Relief Society for the women, and Young Men/Young Women meetings for the youth. “Primary”activities and classes are provided for children 18 months to 12 years of age during both the second and third segments.
Mormon Women As Leaders and Teachers
Women are equal participants as teachers and leaders in every one of these church programs except for Priesthood Meeting. Along with the men, they pray and... Read the rest of this entry »
Barbara B. Smith died on September 13, 2010. She served as the General Relief Society President for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) from 1974 to 1984 and was the first president born in that century. As General Relief Society president, she oversaw this official women’s auxiliary for the entire world-wide church. A life as a wife and as a mother of seven might not seem to be the usual preparation to head up one of the largest women’s organizations in the world, but it taught her organization, leadership, teaching skills, and service. Over the years, she had served in a variety of volunteer positions within the Church, including serving on the governing boards of a number of official LDS auxiliaries prior to overseeing the Relief Society. Read the rest of this entry »
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March 17th is the anniversary of the Relief Society, one of the oldest and largest women’s organizations in the United States. From its beginnings as an organization to assist women in serving others, it has also allowed women to gain a wide range of skills, including leadership skills.
The Relief Society today is headed by Julie B. Beck, born in Utah. She spent much of her childhood, until age nine, in Brazil, where her father served as a mission president. She has a degree from Brigham Young University. Today, she leads the Relief Society for the entire international church, serves on the Church Board of Education and the Boards of Trustees of Church schools and universities; and is on the executive and general councils for Welfare and the Perpetual Education Fund of the Church. Read the rest of this entry »
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People often ask why Mormons don’t have female priesthood leaders. Today, there are still many churches, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that do not have women in the priesthood, having noted from their study of the Bible that this was not the way it was done. Jesus had many women who followed Him, and whom He pointed out as outstanding examples of gospel living, but He didn’t select any of them to be His apostles. It was not that He considered them unable to do the work, or unworthy of the role; it was simply not the role assigned to women by God. Read the rest of this entry »
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What is the Relief Society?
Personal Response by Bethany
The Relief Society is an organization including all female Church members ages 18 and older. The Relief Society was founded in Nauvoo, Illinois by the Prophet Joseph Smith on March 17, 1842. At that time, it served for two main purposes which were to provide relief for the poor and needy and to bring people to Christ; these purposes stand the same today.
Joseph Smith personally instructed the women in the same gospel principles he taught the men, with particular emphasis on humility, charity, and unity and also introduced them to sacred doctrines relating to temple worship. This instruction set the pattern for meetings in which women could talk about religious principles and testify of their faith in the restored gospel. Read the rest of this entry »
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Personal Response by Natalie
A Glimpse Into a Mormon Student’s Values & Lifestyle
Attending Brigham Young University, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church), has helped me realize that the key aspects of my religion–repentance, revelation, prayer, and coming closer to Jesus Christ- are applicable to all areas of my life.My religion has become more than a Sunday trip to church, or an occasional reading of scriptures. The gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is my life.As I study the bones in the human skull or the process of embryo development in my anatomy class, I am reminded that God is the creator of all men and women and that He created us in His image, and that the body is a sacred gift from God. As I study American History, I am reminded that the Lord’s hand was in the making of our country and the unfolding of our Constitution so that the gospel could later be restored on this earth.As... Read the rest of this entry »
Personal Response by Karen R. Merkley
Mormon women are key players and equal partners in the work of the Lord, in families, in communities and in the world. In the words of Brigham Young, early President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
One thing is very true and we believe it, and that is that a woman is the glory of the man. …
When I reflect upon the duties and responsibilities devolving upon our mothers and sisters, and the influence they wield, I look upon them as the mainspring and soul of our being here. Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1954], 199).
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