Literacy is a lifelong process that is essential for our eternal progress. Relief Society sisters are encouraged to seek learning—both spiritual and temporal. When sisters have literacy skills, it is easier for them to worship, learn, and teach. As a woman seeks learning for herself and her family, she then naturally desires it for others.

The Church literacy effort is twofold. The first purpose is to teach basic literacy skills to those who lack them or need to improve their abilities to read and write. Local community resources or the Church-produced scripture literacy course, Ye Shall Have My Words, may be used. The second purpose of the literacy effort is to encourage all Church members to study and to increase in gospel knowledge. Decisions on how to implement the literacy effort are made at the local level. (See "Relief Society," section 3 of the Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2: Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders [1998], 204.)

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