Formally organized by the Prophet Joseph Smith on March 17th, 1842 with Emma Smith as its first President, Relief Society has trained millions of sisters across the globe with several thousand benefiting in West Africa. Now 172 years old, Relief Society is the oldest adult female organization in the world and is currently led by Linda K. Burton as president.
Calabar Nigeria
GOSPEL PREACHED, NEEDS OF SISTERS MET, LOVE AND COMPASSION RADIATED
Among the purposes of our Relief Society are: increasing the faith and personal righteousness of our sisters, strengthening families and homes and helping those in need. These virtues have been reflected in the lives of our sisters as they carried out their visiting teaching duties effectively, visited less active sisters, donated their substances to the poor and served at the Mary Immaculate Orphanage and the old peoples’ home.
Among the purposes of our Relief Society are: increasing the faith and personal righteousness of our sisters, strengthening families and homes and helping those in need. These virtues have been reflected in the lives of our sisters as they carried out their visiting teaching duties effectively, visited less active sisters, donated their substances to the poor and served at the Mary Immaculate Orphanage and the old peoples’ home.
Sister Beatrice Ita, Calabar 3rd Ward Relief Society President said, “In the Relief Society, we do not only learn how to build the kingdom of God here on the earth, but also learn how to best support and strengthen the priesthood. As part of our program we learn how to develop and improve our skills as homemakers. “In this program, sisters are taught how to sew, bake, cook balanced meals, make beads, soda, drinks, shampoo and how to provide first aid in emergency situations. We also have a literacy class where sisters are taught how to read and write.”
Benin City Nigeria
SISTERS CREATE A HEAVEN OUT OF THEIR HOMES
The Church has been praised for inspiring sisters to make their homes a “heaven on earth” through the activities of the Relief society. Sister Rita Aiwekhoe, Relief Society president of Oregbeni Ward, Nigeria New Benin Stake, described the Church’s Relief Society program “as a place where sisters learn to be great neighbors, supportive wives, good mothers and good homemakers.”
The First Presidency, in the new guidelines for Relief Society home, family and personal enrichment meetings (released in 2005) stated, “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.”
Indeed, in an appraisal of its activities during the year 2013, the New Benin Stake Relief Society organized an exhibition of assorted foods, soups and pastries which sisters had learned to prepare in their enrichment meetings. Other items displayed included liquid soaps, pomade and powder which they had learned to make as well.
Speaking at the event, President Joy Iyeke of the stake Relief Society, expressed relief that “many sisters now have a wider variety of foods to serve their families”, adding that the variety and quality of foods and soups would no longer be an issue of concern in many homes.
Sister Iyeke also observed that the capacity of many sisters to produce moneymaking items has equally improved, noting that this would help improve the family’s income and make sisters more self-reliant.
Also on display at the exhibition of native Nigerian soups were popular foods like amala, fufu, and eba. Each display attracted marks which added color and excitement to the event.
In addition to the exhibition, there was a sharing of usable items such as clothing, footwear and books which were contributed by sisters who no longer needed the items.
The event was well attended by sisters from all of the wards of the Stake.
