"Create" Was Opportunity to Share Talents

Lois Baker admits she wasn’t sure what she was doing when she was asked to chair the Bloomington Stake event leading up to the General Womens Conference on Saturday, September 26. But with the help of a representative from each ward, including daughter Jill Jones from the Bloomington 7th Ward Relief Society, she jumped into the project she had been asked to "CREATE!"

"It started slowly," she states. "We all wondered if we would end up with anything to display," but as the sisters of the stake caught the vision there came exquisite quilts, paintings, genealogy books, crocheted doll clothes, violin music, scrapbooks, photography and hundreds of other examples of the amazing creativity of Mormon women!

Following a delicious light meal of finger foods served by stake priesthood leaders, sisters of the Bloomington Stake gathered in the chapel for the broadcast from the Conference Center in Salt Lake City.

Julie Beck, President of the General Relief Society reminded sisters the purpose of Relief Society is to prepare women to live eternally by helping to strengthen each woman and her family. "Everything in Relief Society matters and is part of the Restoration and organized after the pattern of the Priesthood," she noted. "Relief Society magnifies and sanctifies each sister." Light laughter could be heard in the background when she announced the title "Home, Family and Personal Enrichment" would now be called simply "Relief Society meetings!" She encouraged RS leaders to rely on revelation to fulfill the purpose of their organization based on the needs of the sisters in their wards.

Silvia Allred, 1st Counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency, expressed her concern that many women in the church are not fully enjoying the blessings of their membership because they are not fully involved in Relief Society. "Relief Society’s purpose is to teach them, to testify to them, to enrich them and to extend friendship."

2nd Counselor Barbara Thompson counseled women to "‘mind the gap’ between what we know and what we do; between believing and knowing; between the completion of the Young Women’s program and becoming fully participating members of Relief Society; and between believing in Jesus Christ and being valiant in our testimony."

President Henry B. Eyring, representing the First Presidency, said "Relief Society has always had the watchful eye of a loving prophet to oversee its direction. Charity is at the heart of the Society - born of faith and the Atonement of Jesus Christ."

For those who may have missed the General Womens Conference broadcast or might like to hear the messages again, watch for a re-broadcast on KBYU / Channel 11 or follow the link at http://www.lds.org/.