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Relief Society Purpose

• "Relief of the poor, the destitute, the widow and the orphan and for the exercise of benevolent purposes."   Prophet Joseph Smith 
• To save souls 
• To assist priesthood leaders in carrying out the mission of the Church by helping sisters and families come unto Christ.

OBJECTIVES OF THE RELIEF SOCIETY. See Church Handbook of Instruction, Book 2, page 193 

• Build faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and teach the doctrines of the kingdom of God
• Emphasize the divine worth of each sister
• Exercise charity and nurture those in need
• Strengthen and protect families
• Serve and support each sister. 
• Help sisters become full participants in the blessings of the priesthood 

Guidelines for Relief Society Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment Meetings and Activities

Effective January 1, 2006

The purposes of home, family, and personal enrichment are to strengthen faith in Jesus Christ
and to teach parenting and homemaking skills.

Enrichment is a time for sisters to socialize, learn, and be uplifted. The enrichment program includes the following:

. Meetings: Home, family, and personal enrichment meetings held quarterly (rather than monthly) for all sisters.

. Activities: Enrichment activities offered regularly (weekly, monthly, or as determined by ward Relief Society leaders) for sisters with similar needs and interests.

In planning meetings and activities, leaders should (1) consider the needs and interests of sisters in the ward, (2) counsel with priesthood leaders, and (3) plan activities with prayer and purpose (see Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2: Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders, 222).

Efforts should be made to involve all sisters. If necessary, a children's class should be provided during meetings and activities as outlined in the Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2 on page 202.

Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment Meetings Ward Enrichment Meetings

Ward Relief Societies should hold four enrichment meetings each year. One of these meetings should be used to commemorate the March 17, 1842, organization of the Relief Society.

The meetings are planned by the home, family, and personal enrichment leader under the direction of the Relief Society presidency. Specialists may be assigned to help (see Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, 199). A president's report may be part of these meetings.

Enrichment meetings are held at a time other than on Sunday or Monday evening.

Stake Enrichment Meetings

In addition to ward meetings, the stake holds one or two enrichment meetings each year. The stake Relief Society presidency directs these meetings with the assistance of stake specialists, if necessary (see Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, 196). One of these meetings should be held in conjunction with the annual broadcast of the general Relief Society meeting.

Note: These ward and stake meetings replace ward and stake special events (see Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, 205).

Enrichment Activities

Enrichment activities are less structured than home, family, and personal enrichment meetings and bring together sisters who have common needs, interests, or circumstances. The activities should offer a safe, relaxed, and engaging environment where sisters learn and share ways to strengthen homes, families, and individuals.

Enrichment activities are planned by the Relief Society presidency; the home, family, and personal enrichment leader; and specialists, as needed.

Leaders should be flexible in planning activities, which may be held in the meetinghouse or other appropriate places as often as needed. For more information about enrichment activities, see Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, pages 204-5.

© 2005 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. English approval: 8/05. 00521 000

Given at a meeting attended by a Stake Relief Society Presidency, date unknown- Sister Smoot, then RS General President, gave the following paraphrased responses during a question and answers session: 

Question: Who can be called to the children's class? 
Answer: The Children's Class Leader is a Relief Society calling, therefore, it should be a Relief Society sister. It 
should not be a young woman or the priesthood, but that is not to say that the priesthood or young woman could not assist the Children's Class Leader. If a young woman chooses to help in the children's class for several continuous meetings, she can do this as a YW project. The Children's Class Leader, however, is responsible for overseeing the class. 

Question: Why has the name of Homemaking been changed? 
Answer: The word "homemaking" has come to mean something different than what was intended for our sisters' Meeting. It has come to mean trivial things like knick knack and crafts. The emphasis is not on the more important part of a woman's life. We feel that the spiritual needs to be emphasized. Also the word homemaking doesn't have meaning to the young adult and single sisters who make up more than 50% of the sisters in the church. 

Question: What is appropriate for the new Home, Family and Personal Enrichment Meeting? 
Answer: Crafts are all right occasionally, if they fit in with the lesson and emphasis is upon the lesson. For example, If your Enrichment lesson is on the Family Proclamation you might then offer, as one of your classes, framing the proclamation for the sisters' homes and ideas of different ways to frame or display it. Be sure, however, that there are other activities offered.