LDS Church Combines General Young Women Meeting And General Relief Society Meeting Into A Single Session

On November 4th, 2013, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that the General Young Women Meeting held during the April General Conferences and the General Relief Society Meeting held during the October General Conferences will no longer be separate. They will be combined into a "general women's meeting", as it was from 1984-1993. The meeting will still take place on the Saturday one week before General Conference. From the LDS website:

"The general women’s meeting will be held the Saturday before each general conference and will be conducted by the general presidencies of the Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary organizations. All women, young women, and girls age eight years old and older will be invited to attend".

This is a positive step because it now places the women's meetings on more of a similar plane with the General Priesthood Meeting, which has been open to all males of Priesthood age. What will be interesting is to find out which auxiliary presidency will conduct the combined women's meeting. Will it be the Relief Society Presidency, the Young Women Presidency, or the Primary Presidency? My guess is the Relief Society Presidency would take precedence.

Another positive step the Church could consider would be to bring the new women's meeting directly into the General Conference weekend itself. The best time would be on Saturday afternoon. Of course, this would supersede the Saturday Afternoon General Session of the conference, but we already have three other general sessions, so nothing of substance would be lost. The idea is for the women's meeting to be treated as the direct female equivalent of the men's meeting on Saturday evening. While men and women aren't identical, they should be treated as equally as LDS doctrine permits.

Unofficial LDS Reaction: Posted on Millennial Star and Mormon Momma; there's also an open discussion thread on the feminist-oriented Segullah blog. Most commenters are supportive of the idea, although a significant number question including girls as young as eight years old (the earliest age for baptism). Some suggest the age limit should be 12, just as it is for the General Priesthood Meeting. Ordain Women organizer Kate Kelly also reacted, writing on Facebook, "I see this as a really positive sign that our leaders are hearing our pleas and our prayers are being answered. While this meeting does nothing to address the question of the priesthood and all clerical, fiscal, ritual and other decision-making authority in the church, I see it as an attempt to acknowledge women and men are currently treated unequally in the church..."

We Never Walk Alone: Covenant-Keeping Gets Top Billing At The September 2013 LDS General Relief Society Meeting

On September 28th, 2013, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held its annual General Relief Society Meeting for women 18 and older at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City. This is different than the women's meeting held during the April Conference, which is known as the General Young Women Meeting and is geared more towards teenage girls and their adult female leaders. While these meetings take place the week before the General Conference, they are considered part of the overall General Conference agenda. The primary theme of the Relief Society meeting was covenant-keeping.

-- Find mainstream media coverage on the Deseret News General Conference Page and on the KSL Channel 5 General Conference Page.

-- Audio/video archives of the talks are now available HERE, and written transcripts will be soon to follow. A big hat tip to Kathryn Skaggs, whose frequent, timely, and pertinent Tweets were absolutely indispensable in enabling me to get these summaries out so quickly.

Sister Linda K. Burton, Relief Society General President. Sister Burton led off by discussing covenant-keeping, explaining that covenant-keeping strengthens, empowers, and protects, and suggesting the covenant-keeping is essential for true happiness. Covenant-keeping also demonstrates our love for the Father and the Son. Sister Burton also characterized ordinances as spiritual milestones, and noted that the crucial test of life is to see if we will make and keep covenants. Sister Burton cited eight ways in which Church members can create a Christ-centered home to prepare their children to make and keep temple covenants.

Sister Carole M. Stephens, First Counselor, Relief Society General Presidency. Sister Stephens has also picked up on the theme of keeping covenants. She notes that when you love and watch over and serve others, you are actively keeping your covenants, and that keeping covenants enables God to pour out His blessings upon us. Interestingly, Sister Stephens said that life is not merely about specific challenges that we have, but is also about how we help each other overcome those challenges along the way, which implies that service to others is a form of service to the Lord. Sister Stephens also flipped a fast pitch for the new revitalized member-missionary emphasis, saying that now is the time for members and missionaries to come together, and encouraging the women in attendance to take a moment to think of another daughter of God who needs encouragement to stay on the path or return from the wilderness to the path. Sister Stephens also reminded the audience that a woman does not need a Priesthood holder in the home to feel God’s power each day in fulfillment of her temple covenants as she presses forward on the path, so long as she is a covenant-keeping disciple of Jesus Christ. In closing, Sister Stephens reminded the audience that they are covenant daughters in the Lord's Kingdom and they have the opportunity to be tools in His Hands.

Sister Linda S. Reeves, Second Counselor, Relief Society General Presidency. Likewise, Sister Reeves also picked up on the covenant theme, discussing baptismal covenants. Through our baptismal covenants, we have the power to help others feel the Savior's love. The weekly Sacrament ordinance provides us an opportunity to renew those covenants and enable the Savior to cleanse us anew. For those women whose loved ones break covenants, Sister Reeves reminds them that the Lord has a plan for each of our lives, and nothing that happens in our lives surprises Him. The trials that we experience may be the very thing that guide us to Him. There was also a pitch for temple work; Sister Reeves said we can come to know the love of God even better by going to the temple and claiming our blessings. Through keeping our covenants, we will be worthy of exaltation in the celestial kingdom. Sister Reeves also advised women not to despair if their families aren't like those perfect "textbook LDS families", saying that when all is said and done, what will really matter to our Father in Heaven will be how well we have kept our covenants and how much we have tried to follow the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ. As the Parable of the Servants (Matthew 25:14-30) illustrates, the only people who'll be penalized by the Father in the end will be those who wilfully hide their talents in the earth; as long as you're making an effort, ANY EFFORT, you're in the running for exaltation.

President Thomas S. Monson. President Monson began by paying tribute to the sisters in attendance, saying that the Spirit felt this evening is a reflection of their strength, devotion and goodness. He reminded the audience that the Relief Society was organized by divine inspiration and is a vital part of the Lord's church upon this earth. He said that prayer will enable them to keep their eye on the celestial while being surrounded by the telestial. Through prayer, God will reassure us and speak peace to our souls. But don't forget that God also speaks to us through the scriptures; the words of truth and inspiration found in our four standard works are precious, and as we search the scriptures we will hear sweet whisperings of the Spirit and find answers. President Monson promised that the day will come when one looks back at the difficult times and will realize that God has always been with us.

Final Note: To those who claim that women should be admitted to the General Priesthood Meeting because President Monson was at the Relief Society Meeting, note that President Monson wasn't there because he's a man, but in his capacity as President of the Church. It is the job of the First Presidency to watch over the Church at all times, and a member of the First Presidency will be in attendance at all "auxiliary meetings" during General Conference to fulfill that responsibility.

Discipleship And Charity The Common Themes Of The 2011 LDS General Relief Society Meeting

Note: All posts on the October 2011 181st Semiannual General Conference available HERE, with the most recent post appearing first.

The 2011 General Relief Society Meeting of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took place before a capacity crowd of over 20,000 at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on September 24th, 2011, and the common theme promoted by all speakers seemed to be discipleship, although charity was a secondary theme. As expected, speakers referred at times to the newly-released Relief Society manual, "Daughters in My Kingdom: the History and Work of Relief Society" (14 MB file, may take up to five minutes to download).

A video archive is now available HERE. KSL news video embedded below:

LDS women hear messages of faith, worth | ksl.com

LDS Church News has provided summaries of the addresses, while a more personal perspective is available from the live-blogging on Scholaristas. A Well-Behaved Mormon Women also weighs in. Highlights from the LDS Church News provided below; click on the link to go directly to the summary:

-- President Julie B. Beck: Sister Beck explained that Relief Society today is organized after a pattern of discipleship that existed in the Church in ancient times, noting that when the Savior organized His Church in New Testament times, women were vital participants in His ministry. She added that as the Lord began restoring His Church through the Prophet Joseph Smith, He again included women in a pattern of discipleship.

Sister Beck further explained that the Lord inspired the Prophet Joseph Smith to organize the women of the Church under the priesthood and after the pattern of the priesthood, which makes it possible for the presidency to receive direction from the Lord and His prophet for a specific work. Although under the priesthood, the Relief Society has been given authority to teach, inspire and organize the sisters as disciples to assist in the Lord's work of Salvation. One of those works emphasized at this meeting was visiting teaching, which is to be considered an extension of the bishop's charge to care for the Lord's flock. Sister Beck concluded by saying that Sister Beck concluded by noting that these and other essential teachings about Relief Society are now available for study in "Daughters in My Kingdom: the History and Work of Relief Society."

-- Sister Sylvia H. Allred, First Counselor: Sister Allred spoke at length about charity, characterizing it not as a single act or something we give away, but as a state of being, a state of the heart, kind feelings that engender loving actions. Individuals must first have the desire to increase in charity and to be more Christ-like. Then, they must pray to be filled with love. Those who truly possess the spirit of charity are willing to serve and help others even when it is inconvenient, and with no thought of recognition or reciprocation. When charity becomes our very nature, we react when we see a need rather than wait to be assigned to help. Sister Allred also put out a pitch for visiting teaching, noting that through effective visiting teaching, we have many opportunities to love, minister and serve others. She added that it is through the countless acts of charity performed daily by visiting teachers all over the world that individuals are able to follow the Savior and act as instruments in His hands. And it is through providing service and extending charity towards others that individuals are able to overcome their own difficulties, making them seem less challenging.

-- Sister Barbara Thompson, Second Counselor: Covenants were her hot topic as Sister Thompson noted that as individuals cleave unto their covenants, joy and happiness come into their lives. In the scriptures, we learn of men and women who have made covenants with God, who instructed people on what to do to honor those covenants, and then as those covenants were kept, God released the promised blessings. Referencing the new "Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of Relief Society" book, Sister Thompson spoke of the importance of making and keeping sacred covenants and the blessings that come as individuals live worthy of their covenants. Sister Thompson also pitched a subtle reminder that temples still exist, more are being built, and that they've been built to be used.

-- President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency: President Uchtdorf used the forget-me-not flower, which has five petals, as a metaphor to illustrate five things he would like the women in the Church to remember.

(1). Forget not to be patient with yourself.
(2). Forget not the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish sacrifice.
(3). Forget not to be happy now.
(4). Forget not the 'why' of the gospel.
(5). Forget not that the Lord loves you.

The Money Shot: "My dear Relief Society sisters, you are closer to heaven that you suppose. You are destined for more than you can possibly imagine. Continue to increase in faith and personal righteousness. Accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ as your way of life. Cherish the gift of activity in this great and true Church. Treasure the gift of service in the blessed organization of Relief Society. Continue to strengthen homes and families. Continue to seek out and help others who need your and the Lord's help."

LDS General Relief Society Meeting To Take Place In Salt Lake City On September 24th, 2011

Note: All posts on the October 2011 181st Semiannual General Conference available HERE, with the most recent post appearing first.

Update September 24th: Summaries of the talks now available in this post.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' annual General Relief Society Meeting will be held at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday September 24th, 2011, beginning at 6:00 P.M. MDT. The meeting customarily includes addresses by each member of the Relief Society Presidency and a member of the First Presidency.

The meeting is only for women 18 years of age and older. For those planning to attend in person, guidelines for dress and behavior are published HERE. Parking and transportation information is available HERE.

For those who cannot attend in person, broadcast information is provided HERE. The meeting may also be broadcast by cable and satellite providers; check HERE, then select your state and follow the instructions.

One of the hot button issues during this year's meeting will be the new Relief Society Manual entitled "Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of Relief Society". This 208-page book is organized by themes such as family, sisterhood and charity. Each chapter includes stories of Latter-day Saint women throughout history and around the world today. It is intended to be an additional resource for personal study, teaching at home, and in Relief Society and other church settings. Each LDS woman will get a personal copy, and the entire manual is now posted online HERE. One unofficial review of the manual from a mildly feminist perspective has already been posted online in The Exponent; a more faith-promoting review has been posted on A Well-Behaved Mormon Woman.

The General Relief Society Meeting is a lead-in to the 181st Semiannual General Conference to be held on October 1-2.