Mormon Sisterhood
The women's organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes called the Mormon Church, is called the Relief Society. The Relief Society was organized under the direction of the Prophet Joseph Smith after the pattern of the Priesthood of the Church in 1842, with Emma Hale Smith as its first president. It is one of the oldest and largest sisterhood organization in the world with about 7 million members.
Latter-day Saint sisterhood serves many purposes. Most important is aiding in the four-fold mission of the Church: perfecting the Saints; redeeming the dead; proclaiming the gospel; and helping those in need. Within the sisterhood, women support each others' faith and family involvements. Sunday meetings are scripture-oriented and principle-oriented. Other meetings present uplifting messages, perform humanitarian aid projects, hone homemaking skills, and focus on preparedness (including food storage and preparation). The Ministering program provides each Relief Society member with a support line. Women are assigned to watch over (two by two) a few sisters in the congregation each month. The main goal is to get to know the sister and through friendship and love come to know the possible needs of the sister, support her, and care for her. If an emergency occurs, even a period of busy-ness, the sister knows whom to call for help. The ministering sisters can report back to the and the Relief Society presidency and the Bishop of the congregation (called a Ward) and arrange to fill the needs of the sister. In some cases this might entail bringing in meals for days or weeks, helping with housekeeping, setting up church welfare to provide for the family, relieving a burdened caregiver, driving a sister to doctors' appointments, etc.
Activities and classes help the sisters draw together for emotional and spiritual support, and the building of permanent friendships. Sisters also increase in knowledge of gospel doctrines and principles as they are taught and supported by the knowledge and witness of others.
Women in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are highly involved in providing humanitarian aid. See the Church's Volunteer and Serve page of the Church's website.
Since the Church of Jesus Christ has a lay clergy, there is no paid ministry, so Relief Society sisters are engaged in volunteerism and service all the time. In addition to participating in the sisterhood, they also staff and manage auxiliary programs for young women and children. They speak and pray in church, provide music for meetings, organize congregational activities, serve with the children and youth of the Church, and many other efforts.
