Happy Birthday Relief Society!

This year the Relief Society lessons and meetings will be focused on the history of the Relief Society. This past Tuesday, we had our RS Birthday dinner. We talked about the past General RS Presidents and the story of the very first RS meeting.

I gathered all things old, or at least old looking, and rummaged through my house until I found enough 8x10 frames to put all the past RS President's pictures in.

This is an adorable VT handout about how the Relief Society was organized after the "pattern of the priesthood". Here's the blog I found it on and here's the actual printable. It's so cute. I made up several for my VT ladies.

The menu that evening was lasagna, salad, bread and birthday cake.

Simple, but yummy.

The sisters had plenty of time to eat and visit...

as we desperately tried to get the technical part of the program working.

After about 40 minutes, we decided to continue... video or not.

For our program, we had Emma Smith come talk to us. She shared some of her experiences and stories of being the first RS president.

Next, we wanted to play this video, ("Live Up to Your Privileges")but with our technical difficulties (getting the computer to talk to the projector) we ended up sharing it as an audio.

I thought this was a funny picture..... the past interfacing with the present. :)

In closing, Jessica Whiting (Emma) shared her personal history and testimony of the Relief Society. She talked about how when she turned 18, she was thrilled and excited to come into the program. She also talked about her early RS college experiences, her RS experiences as a young wife and as a mother. She moved around A LOT and the connecting factor in all of their moves was the Relief Society. The Relief Society was always there to welcome, to be-friend and to provide relief.

I loved hearing Jessica's testimony and history. I can attest to the things she shared. I too am thankful for the Relief Society program. I have been on the receiving end of much "relief" at times. I am proud to be a part of a world-wide sisterhood. I love the Relief Society!