The Know

After the Latter-day Saints were driven out of Missouri, they were welcomed for a time in the state of Illinois. They moved to a small town named Commerce and built it into a thriving, bustling city they called Nauvoo. Then, in 1841, Joseph Smith received an important revelation directing the Saints’ activities in the new settlement. Among other things, the Lord stressed the importance of building a temple: “I command you again to build a house to my name, even in this place, that you may prove yourselves unto me that ye are faithful in all things whatsoever I command you, that I may bless you, and crown you with honor, immortality, and eternal life” (Doctrine and Covenants 124:55).

Like in Kirtland, the Latter-day Saints strove to fulfill this commandment as they worked on the second temple of this dispensation, having been prevented by mobs from building any of their planned temples in Missouri. The work ahead of them was great, and many Latter-day Saint families consecrated much of their income to fund the construction of the temple. In addition, most of the men in Nauvoo consecrated one day in ten to work on the construction itself, dedicating their time and talents to the Lord to enjoy the blessings of the temple.1

During this time, many of the women in Nauvoo wanted to contribute more to the construction of the temple as well. One woman, Sarah M. Kimball, was approached by a seamstress named Margaret Cook who observed that “clothing, bedding, and general supplies for the workmen and their families” were needed, and “she would be pleased to contribute needle work if it could be made available.”2 Kimball agreed and soon the two had gathered other women who also wanted to help provide clothing and other necessities for the temple workers.

This group of women decided that they should formally organize themselves into a body not unlike other women’s societies in nineteenth-century America. Many “female benevolent societies” were organized throughout the nation and “had programs for missionary work, the distribution of tracts and Bibles, and charitable work.”3 Eliza R. Snow wrote a constitution for the new society. When Sarah Kimball and Eliza Snow showed Joseph Smith a proposed constitution for this society, Kimball recalled that Joseph “pronounced it the best constitution that he ever read, then remarked this is not what the sisters want, there is something better for them.”4

Joseph Smith then organized the Relief Society on March 17, 1842. Emma Smith, previously called an “elect lady” by the Lord, was unanimously selected to be the first president, fulfilling a calling she had received in 1830.5 In response to the constitution the sisters had drafted earlier, Joseph said, "Let this Presidency serve as a constitution—all their decisions be considered law; and acted upon as such.”6

The society was so named because, at the time, the word relief carried connotations of extraordinary aid, and Emma declared, “We are going to do something extraordinary.”7 Far from being another benevolent society, the Relief Society was organized with the expectation of helping in all situations and of being a great force for good in the world in both “extraordinary occasions and pressing calls.”8

While women in the Church today automatically join the Relief Society when they come of age, in Nauvoo care was taken to determine who could enter. Each prospective member had to be voted in, and especial consideration was made of their moral character while any shortcomings were looked upon with charity.9 In time, many women became active in the Nauvoo Relief Society and did much to help the poor and needy during their first year alone.10 Together, they were able to raise much-needed funds for the construction of the temple as well.11

In addition to providing for the temporal affairs of the Church, the Relief Society was organized to provide for spiritual needs. As Joseph Smith taught, “The Society is not only to relieve the poor, but to save souls.”12

In many ways, the Relief Society also served as a form of temple preparation. The requirements of living a morally clean life prepared the sisters, in part, to live up to the covenants they would make in the temple that required upright living before the Lord. Similarly, as they focused on service for others, the sisters appreciated more fully what it meant to live the laws of sacrifice and consecration in building the kingdom of God. Emma Smith and other leaders of the Church also taught the sisters from the scriptures, further preparing members spiritually to make covenants.13 Thus, as Rachel Cope observed, “The Prophet’s interest in organizing a society for women became an invitation to them to participate in temple worship.”14

Carol Cornwall Madsen has similarly noted, “It is evident from several of the Prophet’s messages to the Relief Society during his nine visits in 1842 that its organization was but another step toward preparing the women of the church to receive the fulness of the gospel” as would soon be found in the Nauvoo Temple.15 Indeed, the Relief Society was organized just a month and a half before Joseph offered the first endowments, on May 4, 1842, to nine men in the upper room of his Red Brick Store. In September 1843 Emma Smith was the first woman to receive the temple endowment.16 Bishop Newel K. Whitney, after receiving his endowment from Joseph, also addressed the Relief Society, noting that it allowed the Saints and especially the women to “improve [their] talents and prepare for those blessings which God is soon to bestow upon [them].”17 Thus, in addition to serving as a restoration of an ancient organization of women in the early Christian Church, the Relief Society prepared women to faithfully live and keep covenants they would make in the sacred temple.

After Emma Smith was endowed, she became an officiator of the endowment to other women. Similarly, three subsequent Relief Society general presidents—Eliza R. Snow, Zina D. Young, and Bathsheba W. Smith—would serve as temple matron while they were also serving as presidents of the Relief Society, thus further connecting the Relief Society to the preparing of Latter-day Saint women to enter the temple. Jennifer Reeder has observed, “The sacred connection between Relief Society and the temple was significant in preparing women to understand priesthood in the temple ordinances.”18

The Why

The Relief Society has always been deeply connected with encouraging both the temporal and spiritual refinement of people everywhere. Because the temple workers in Nauvoo needed adequate supplies and because of the faith of the women and their desire to assist in building the temple, the members of the Relief Society sought Joseph Smith’s guidance in how they should best organize themselves. In response, as Joseph Smith spoke to the women on April 28, 1842, he first drew upon the Apostle Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 12 about spiritual gifts and instructed the sisters in “filling the several offices to which they were appointed” and “to magnify their respective callings.”19 He then taught from 1 Corinthians 13, emphasizing the ultimate principle that “charity [love] never faileth,”20 thereby connecting the command to build a holy temple with the need to provide temporal blessings as well. This not only allowed the Church to be organized more completely according to the pattern of the priesthood but also provided the world with an organization that has become an enduring force for good to people everywhere.

In Nauvoo, women indeed sacrificed much to see the temple built. They were instrumental in raising thousands of dollars to fund the construction and in providing clothes, shoes, and other necessities to temple workers and immigrants coming to Nauvoo. The society also provided a forum where righteous women could meet, be taught, and teach one another from the scriptures. Through word and deed, they thereby created something truly extraordinary for the world, just as Emma Smith and other founding members declared they would.21

Today, the Relief Society is still responding to “extraordinary occasions and pressing calls,” wherever they arise.22 This can be seen in how the Relief Society inspires women to worship in the temple, to keep their covenants, to judge not, and to “follow after charity” (1 Corinthians 14:1). Thus, the sisters of the Relief Society have become not only an extraordinary force for good among people throughout the world today, they are also an extraordinary force for good in the world to come, for the living and also for their ancestors, as they provide eternal relief to those on the other side of the veil who anxiously await the blessings of their temple ordinances.