Preparatory to Queens and Priestesses

Happy Birthday to The Relief Society, also called "The School of the Prophetesses"

Mar 17, 2024

Happy Sunday sweet friend. Today marks the 182nd birthday of The Relief Society, or, my most favorite name for it, The School of the Prophetesses. The purpose of our organization at its founding is to serve the community as a benevolent society but also to teach and prepare the women of the Church to receive the blessings of the temple including the Initiatory and the Endowment. A faithful member named Sarah Grainger approached Joseph Smith and asked if the women could form a benevolent society. Read the minutes from the very first Relief Society meeting here.1

Eliza R. Snow wrote;

“We were told by Joseph Smith that the same organization existed in the church anciently.”2

In the original organization of the Relief Society, after Emma Smith was elected the first President, Joseph Smith invited her to preside over the women of the church with Priesthood Authority and invited her to select teachers and deaconesses just as the Brethren within the Elders Quorum or “School of the Prophets”. For the first 100 years of the Relief Society, the sisters were authorized to give Priesthood Blessings, Healing of the Sick and Washing and Anointing outside of the temple.3

In 1910 there was a restructuring of the Priesthood by Joseph F. Smith due to low activity by members. This restructuring changed some of the exercising of Priesthood Authority by the women of the church (such as only men can lay on hands for the sick, women can only wash and anoint inside of the temple.)4

Although the way we operate and exercise the power of the Priesthood may look different today, I testify that we as the women of the church who keep and honor our covenants and our Holy Endowment have access to this power and are still empowered by the power and authority of Jesus Christ through the Holy Priesthood. Though the administrative titles and mantles we may receive have changed, we still remain Prophetesses- preparatory to Queens and Priestesses. I have felt and seen and exercised this truth and this power in my own life-within my own family and my church family as well as friends and family outside of the Church. As I sat in Relief Society as a new convert in 2017, before receiving my temple Endowment, I saw and felt this power at work within the women of the Church. I felt blessed and I felt a peace in my life and in my home that I had not felt before.

Later, in 2019 as a newly Endowed member whose husband is not a member, I watched President Nelson during October 2019’s General Conference. As he spoke these words my heart sang, because I knew of their truth;

“If you are endowed but not currently married to a man who bears the priesthood and someone says to you, “I’m sorry you don’t have the priesthood in your home,” please understand that that statement is incorrect. You may not have a priesthood bearer in your home, but you have received and made sacred covenants with God in His temple. From those covenants flows an endowment of His priesthood power upon you. As a righteous, endowed Latter-day Saint woman, you speak and teach with power and authority from God.”5

Sister Neill F. Marriott of the Young Women General Presidency said:

“Priesthood is not the men of the Church. Priesthood is the power of God, and we all work with that power—not necessarily with keys or even with duties described in the scriptures, but we all have this power as we fulfill our covenant responsibilities. Even saying ‘support the priesthood,’ we’re really saying ‘support the power of God.’ I think we even need to go better and say we support those who work with priesthood power so that priesthood doesn’t take on this human identity. … We need to get out of that habit.”6

As a woman who walked through the world for 35 years without access to the priesthood, I can tell you that I have never felt more loved, empowered and equipped since receiving the blessings of the priesthood through my temple covenants. I have experienced blessings and miracles in my life and in the lives of my family and the people I associate with (extended family, friends, both members and non-members). I have seen this power bless those around me through fasting, healing, answered prayers and timely guidance by the Holy Spirit.

You may recall how I wrote in my article for LDS Living about during the pandemic and how I suddenly needed to lead our home church meetings as well as teach the gospel to my family. I felt overwhelmed and was not sure if I had the capacity to do it. The Holy Ghost replied, “I am pouring out an extra measure of my Spirit upon you to fill in the gaps as you lead your family. You were endowed from on high, and you have entered into the Abrahamic covenant. The Lord will increase your capacity.”7 This promise was fulfilled for me.

As a woman in the Church I feel a sense that no matter what trials I may face in my life, the Lord loves me and He has my back. I can stand in holy places and be not moved because of the blessings of my covenants. I am empowered to uplift, bless, minister, teach and influence those around me in a positive way that points others to Christ.

I highly, highly recommend you watch this lecture from Dr. Anthony Sweat where I got a lot of my information about the history of the Relief Society in the Church in the first few paragraphs: Watch here

Read “Daughters in my Kingdom: The History and Work of Relief Society” Acts 9:36, Mosiah 5:7, Doctrine & Covenants 25:1, 13

Recall How have you felt the power of the Priesthood in your life? If you aren’t a woman, how can you see this power working through the covenant women that you know?

Reflect Are there steps you need to take to either move towards receiving the blessings of the temple or to better keep your covenants and gain full access to this power?

Reclaim Jesus loves women. He offers His grace and the blessings of His Priesthood power to all- men and women alike. We are preparing to be Queens and Priestesses. There is no hierarchy in the kingdom of heaven. Feel this truth in your soul.