Relief Society (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Corporate History
The Relief Society is the women's organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which was initially led by Emma Hale Smith in Nauvoo, IL in 1842. During the group's existance, it has been an organization dedicated to providing lessons, activities, and service opportunities for the women of the Church in both a ward and stake setting.
The Relief Society was established by various women of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sarah M. Kimball's house in Nauvoo, IL in 1842. After giving their constitution to Joseph Smith, they set up various presidencies within their wards/stakes and selected Joseph Smith's wife Emma to serve as the overall president of the Society.
Between Joseph Smith's martyrdom in 1842 and 1866, the Society fell into disarray under Brigham Young's leadership of the Church. While he did allow various female-led societies to assist in the Church's exodus to Utah to assist in midwifrey (The Female Council of Health) and in developing bonds with the Native Americans, the general involvement of the Relief Society in the Church was weak.
From 1866 on, Brigham Young and later leaders of the Church made more of a concerted effort to make sure that the Relief Society would play a more predominant role in the Church. Not only did he call a new General President of the Society to lead the group (starting with Eliza Snow), but he permitted the Society to create magazines, be more actively involved in the ward, etc. Through the group's involvement of the Church, they contributed to the Church's welfare program, strengthen homes during times of war, and became Red Cross units in wartorn nations in World War I and World War II. They also worked to prevent the passage of the Equal Rights Ammendment, established the Women's Research Center at BYU, and so on.
Citation:
The Encyclopedia of Mormonism, via WWW, August 19, 2016 (Relief Society)Found in 42 Collections and/or Records:
Mary Andrus papers
Collection contains an autobiography, certificates, family history, legal documents, letters, photographs, talks and tributes. Also includes material relating to the Latter-day Saint Church Spanish Fork, Utah 1st Ward Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association, 5th Ward Relief Society, Spanish Fork Public Library, the Icelandic Association, and Alma Archibald Andrus' journal (1909-1968).
Mary Andrus photographs
This collection includes photographs of various members of the Erickson and Andrus families, and of the Spanish Fork Relief Society form 1929 to 1962, including photos of the Relief Society presidencies and centennial and birthday celebrations.
Moana Bennett papers
Collection of personal papers and production materials from Moana Bennett. Includes material concerning the play Because of Elizabeth and other plays.
Bathsheba W. Bigler papers
Photographs, articles, letters, receipts, a patriarchal blessing, and other personal papers of Bathsheba W. Bigler, 1855-1910.
Brigham Young University 2nd Ward scrapbook
Bound scrapbook (42 pages) with newsletters, poems, newspaper clippings, programs, brochures, and miscellaneous items relating to the BYU 2nd Ward Relief Society. Materials document the activities of the ward's women between 1956 and 1962.
Castle Dale Ward record
Photocopies of the history of the Relief Society, Castle Dale Ward in the Emery Stake, Utah, 1882-1976. The history includes photocopies of photographs of presidents and officers of the organization, an 1894 Sunday School class, and a quilt made in 1976.
Collection on Relief Society at Wymount Terrace
Contains scrapbooks, filmstrips, a record, and recording tape regarding the Brigham Young University Wymount Terrace 1st Ward and 44th Ward, and dates from between 1958 and 1979.
Elizabeth Davis letter
ALS which asks "Sister Hammond" of Providence, Utah to prepare her local Relief Society for a visit from the Relief Society presidency.
Mary Ellen Edmunds papers
Female Relief Society record book
Minute book of the Female Relief Society in Salt Lake City, Utah, which outlines the activities, resolutions and meetings of the society. The record was kept by Louisa R. Taylor, the society's secretary, and includes entries for meetings from January 9-June 13, 1854.