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SALT LAKE CITY -- Some 6 million Latter-day Saint women throughout the world gathered Saturday night for their annual Relief Society Conference. The messages they heard focused on themes in the new Relief Society book.
The new book, "Daughters in My Kingdom," is a gift from Church leaders to each woman of the faith.
Marking the 170th anniversary of their organization, 21,000 woman filled the Conference Center downtown, while millions more watched and listened at meetinghouses in 175 nations. The women leaders of the Relief Society asked their sisters to study the new book and let the timeless messages influence their lives.
My dear Relief Society sisters, you are closer to Heaven than you suppose. You are destined for more than you can possibly imagine. Continue to increase in faith and personal righteousness.
–President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
"Knowing that the organization of the Relief Society was divinely inspired, President Joseph F. Smith told Relief Society sisters, ‘It is for you to lead the world and to lead especially the women of the world… you are the head,' he said, ‘not the tail,'" said Relief Society General President Julie B. Beck.
Silvia H. Allred, First Counselor in the Relief Society, emphasized charity. "When we have charity, we are willing to serve and help others when it is inconvenient and with no thought of recognition or reciprocation," she said. "We don't wait to be assigned to help because it becomes our very nature."
"Keeping covenants is true joy," said Barbara Thompson, Relief Society Second Counselor. "This is comfort and peace. This is protection from the evils of the world. Keeping our covenants will help us in times of trial."
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church, reminded women of the faith of their divine worth.
When we have charity, we are willing to serve and help others when it is inconvenient and with no thought of recognition or reciprocation.
–Silvia H. Allred, First Counselor in the Relief Society
"My dear Relief Society sisters, you are closer to Heaven than you suppose," he said. "You are destined for more than you can possibly imagine. Continue to increase in faith and personal righteousness."
Women leaving the Conference Center said they appreciated the messages.
"We feel a lot of pressures on ourselves nowadays as being women in the Church and we need to relax and try to enjoy the small things and take time in doing what we do," one woman said.
Now the focus turns to the Church's General Conference Meetings. We will broadcast four sessions of General Conference next Saturday and Sunday on KSL 5.
Email:cmikita@ksl.com
