General Relief Society Organization

The Female Relief Society as it was known, was organized on 17 March 1842. At this time the Prophet Joseph stated that the restored Church could not be perfect or complete without it. The Female Relief Society of Nauvoo, however ceased to function in 1844 amid increasing tension. Although women carried out charitable works and a few meetings were conducted at Winter Quarters, Nebraska, there was no formal Relief Society during the Saints' westward trek or for several years thereafter. In 1866 President Brigham Young reorganized the Relief Society Churchwide (it had previously been established locally as early as 1854). He appointed Eliza R. Snow to assist local Bishops in establishing the organization in each ward. By 1880 there was a local unit of the Relief Society in each of the 300 wards. For more information about the First Fifty Years of Relief Society click here. In 1915 The Relief Society Magazine was introduced. In 1956 the Relief Society building in Salt Lake City, built from contributions of Latter-day Saint women and funds from the Church, was dedicated. The organization, who's motto has always been "Charity Never Faileth" celebrated its sesquicentennial in 1992. Learn more