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SALT LAKE CITY — Women from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in many parts of the world gathered Saturday for their annual meeting.
Some 4 million Latter-day Saint women around the world belong to their own organization, the Relief Society. Saturday was the first opportunity the women of the church had to hear from the new leaders of their General Relief Society Presidency since they were called in April.
The new presidency's message urged each woman to know of Jesus Christ's presence in her life.
"How can we expect to strengthen families or help others unless we first have written in our own hearts a deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ and his infinite atonement?" said Sister Linda K. Burton, the Relief Society General President.
"Relief society prepares women for the blessings of eternal life by awakening us spiritually to increase in faith and personal righteousness," said First Counselor, Sister Carole M. Stephens. "Let us begin with ourselves."
Relief society prepares women for the blessings of eternal life by awakening us spiritually to increase in faith and personal righteousness.
–- Sister Carole M. Stephens
"Whatever sin or weakness or pain you have, whatever trial or struggle you are going through, he knows and understands those very moments," said Sister Linda S. Reeves, the Second Counselor in the presidency. "He loves you!"
President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors were also there. President Henry B. Eyring talked of Relief Society members who recently helped his daughter.
"She and tens of thousands of others who have given such inspired service over the generations have not only the thanks of those they helped and their loved ones, but of the Lord," President Eyring said.
Those in the Conference Center were grateful they had come.
"I loved the sense of community," said Wendy Tyler, a resident of Logan who attended the conference. "It's just amazing that you can have that many women in one place and feel love and acceptance and just a great feeling of all of us being together."
"I always feel like I can conquer the world when I leave," said Holladay resident Amy Sackett. "I love that we can all come, gather together and leave with something that we all personally need for ourselves. It's beautiful."
As the women leave this meeting, they look forward to next week when all Latter-day Saints will gather for their semi-annual general conference.
