Visiting Teaching Transition Sunday Meetings and Lessons Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment History Open House and New Leader Training General Relief Society Meeting Leadership Handbook Attendance and Reporting Humanitarian Projects Dress Standards Super Saturdays Temple Clothing Miscellaneous   Visiting Teaching Is group visiting teaching acceptable? Please follow the approved guidelines for visiting teaching as outlined in pages 202–203 of the Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2. If a sister has requested that she not have visiting teachers, but visiting teachers send her a note or letter instead of visiting her in her home, how is this counted for visiting teaching records? There is no specific directive in the Church Handbook of Instructions. Such a decision is left to local Relief Society leaders in counsel with local priesthood leaders. Can or should visiting teachers pray in the sisters’ homes? Praying in the homes of those you visit and as companionships before you go visiting teaching has not been set forth as policy. Such decisions are left to individuals, companionships, and local Relief Society leaders in counsel with local priesthood leaders according to individual circumstances (see page 309 of the Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2). Transition Where can we find guidelines to help young women make the transition to Relief Society? Guidelines relating to young women transitioning into Relief Society can be found in the Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, pages 206 and 214, and also in the First Presidency letters dated March 19, 2003, and February 23, 2007. When young women come into Relief Society meetings for opening exercises, do the Relief Society sisters recite the Young Women Theme with them? There is no specific directive in the Church Handbook of Instructions or from the First Presidency’s February 23, 2007, letter regarding combined opening exercises. Such a decision is left to local Relief Society and Young Women leaders in counsel with local priesthood leaders. Can the young women occasionally stay after the joint Young Women and Relief Society opening exercises for the entire Relief Society meeting or lesson? Page 206 of the Relief Society section of the Church Handbook of Instructions and page 214 of the Young Women section of the Church Handbook of Instructions outline First Presidency-approved policy regarding young women transitioning into Relief Society. There is no specific directive in the Church Handbook of Instructions or from the First Presidency regarding whether or not young women can stay after opening exercises for the duration of the Relief Society lesson. Such a decision is left to local Relief Society and Young Women leaders in counsel with local priesthood leaders. Can young women conduct the joint Young Women and Relief Society opening exercises? Item #7, section B, from the “Suggestions for Helping Young Women with the Transition into Womanhood” portion of the February 23, 2007, First Presidency letter entitled, “Helping Young Women with the Transition into Womanhood; Monthly Joint Opening Exercises of Young Women and Relief Society” outlines leadership responsibilities in conducting joint Young Women and Relief Society opening exercises. Any additional decisions or concerns are left to local Relief Society and Young Women leaders in counsel with local priesthood leaders (for Young Women leadership clarification, refer to page 221 of the Young Women section of the Church Handbook of Instructions). Sunday Meetings and Lessons What materials can be used for the first Sunday lesson? Always use Church-approved materials for instruction at Church meetings. Possible first Sunday lesson materials can be found on page 4 in Information for Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders on Curriculum, 2005 through 2008. Who determines the order for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Sunday lessons? Refer to pages 7–9 in Information for Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders on Curriculum, 2005 through 2008. What do we use as materials for the 2nd and 3rd Sunday lessons?  Where do we find out how to use the manual?  Refer to page 9 in Information for Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders on Curriculum, 2005 through 2008 and to the introductory material of the Teachings of Presidents of the Church books. Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment Where can we find guidelines for home, family, and personal enrichment meetings and activities? Guidelines for home, family, and personal enrichment meetings and activities can be found in the August 19, 2005, First Presidency letter. The guidelines are also available online. Participation and attendance have declined at home, family, and personal enrichment meetings and activities because they are no longer once a month. Can we still hold these meetings monthly if that is what works for our unit? Such a decision is left to local Relief Society leaders in counsel with local priesthood leaders. What materials can be used for the home, family, and personal enrichment meeting topic presentations? Always use Church-approved materials for instruction at Church meetings. Possible home, family, and personal enrichment meeting and activity lesson topics can be found on page 4 of Information for Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders on Curriculum, 2005 through 2008 and in any Church-approved welfare and family resource, including ProvidentLiving.org. Who can be with the children during home, family, and personal enrichment meetings and activities? Does the children’s class leader always have to be there? A children’s class leader is called by the bishopric to oversee the children’s class. See page 199 of the Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2. Any additional decisions and concerns are left to local Relief Society leaders in counsel with local priesthood leaders. I read that the mothers of the children have to rotate being with the children for enrichment meetings and activities. Is this true? Refer to page 202 of the Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2. History Can you tell me about the history of the Relief Society and the Relief Society Building? Historical information is available on LDS.org regarding the Relief Society organization and the Relief Society Building. See: Boyd K. Packer, “The Relief Society,” Ensign, May 1998, 72–74. Boyd K. Packer, “The Circle of Sisters,” Ensign, Nov. 1980, 109–111. Dallin H. Oaks, “The Relief Society and the Church,” Ensign, May 1992, 34–37. “The Founding of Relief Society,” Ensign, Mar 1992, 57. Heidi S. Swinton and LaRene Gaunt, “The Relief Society Building: A Symbol of Service and Sacrifice,” Ensign, Sept. 2006, 54–57. Open House and New Leader Training Has Open House been canceled? Open House will no longer be held. New leader training will be held prior to April general conference. Is Open House now only for newly called leaders? As April general conference gets closer, you will be notified as to who will be invited to attend the new leader training. We will then post additional information on LDS.org regarding the event and those invited. General Relief Society Meeting Where can I find the video clips shown in the general Relief Society meeting? All stake technicians are instructed to record the general Relief Society meeting on the Church satellite and then place the copy in the stake library. If your stake library does not have a copy, your stake president will need to contact the Church Audiovisual Department at (801) 240-1632. How can I obtain tickets to the general Relief Society meeting? You should request tickets through your bishop. If he has not been allotted tickets for the meeting, he may call (801) 240-0080 and make such requests. Leadership I am a newly called ward or stake Relief Society president. What do I do? Who should train me? With the approval of the bishop and stake president, members of the stake Relief Society presidency should train both new and experienced ward Relief Society presidencies. New Relief Society leaders should be provided a copy of the Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2 to refer to. Relief Society leaders should receive ongoing training in their responsibilities. Is the secretary a part of the presidency? Is she included in the teaching rotation? The Relief Society secretary is not a part of the Relief Society presidency, and as such, is not a part of the teaching rotation for first Sunday lessons and is not invited to conduct Relief Society meetings. The secretary’s duties are outlined on pages 197–98 in the Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2. Handbook Do I have the most current version of the handbook? When is a new version of the handbook coming out? The most current Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2 has the copyright date of 1998. It is a work in progress. There is no specific time established for an updated version. You have every outlined policy through the current handbook and any First Presidency letters outlining changes to policy (for copies of First Presidency letters, contact your ward or stake clerk or priesthood leader). Attendance and Reporting Who can answer attendance and reporting questions? All attendance and reporting questions should be directed to the ward or stake clerk. If Relief Society sisters attend home, family, and personal enrichment meetings or activities, does this count for regular attendance? The only meeting where attendance is taken is in Sunday Relief Society meetings. Attendance is not taken at other meetings, including home, family, and personal enrichment meetings and activities. Attendance at any other meeting does not count for Sunday Relief Society meeting attendance. Humanitarian Projects Where can I inquire regarding funding for humanitarian projects? Refer to page 206 of the Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2. Dress Standards What are the dress standards for church? Some women are wearing pants and immodest clothing. Are nylons required for church or temple attendance? Are sandals prohibited? Refer to page 207 of the Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, which outlines proper dress and grooming standards. Refer as well to For the Strength of Youth, which also states dress standards of Church members. Additional decisions and concerns are left to local Relief Society leaders in counsel with local priesthood leaders. You may also refer to the addresses and articles listed below. Jeffrey R. Holland, "To Young Women," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 28–30. Susan W. Tanner, "The Sanctity of the Body," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 13–15. Elaine S. Dalton, "Arise and Shine Forth," BYU Women's Conference, Apr. 30, 2004. D. Todd Christofferson, "A Sense of the Sacred," New Era, June 2006, 28. Mary C. Hales, "An Outward Expression of an Inward Commitment," BYU Women's Conference, May 2, 2003. Susan K. Bednar, "Safe Rebellion?" BYU–Idaho Devotional, Jan. 6, 2004. Super Saturdays Can we still have Super Saturdays? Can they replace home, family, and personal enrichment meetings and activities? Super Saturdays are not found within the Church Handbook of Instructions. You may be referring to a “Special Event” or “Enrichment Activity” as explained on pages 204–205 of the handbook. Temple Clothing Who can answer questions about temple clothing and temple garments, as well as dressing deceased, endowed members? Questions about temple clothing and temple garments or about dressing deceased, endowed members should be directed to the Temple Clothing office at (801) 240-3333. Miscellaneous Does a local Relief Society presidency need to sit at the front of the room during the entire Relief Society meeting or may they sit among the sisters during the lesson? There is no specific directive in the Church Handbook of Instructions. Such a decision is left to local Relief Society leaders in counsel with local priesthood leaders. Do we have to include the five-minute music period? According to page 201 of the Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, Relief Society meetings are to include a five-minute music period. Any additional decisions regarding alterations to the music period are left to local Relief Society leaders in counsel with their local priesthood leaders. Is it policy that we give time to sisters to bear testimony during Relief Society meetings? The Church Handbook of Instructions does not specify a policy regarding the bearing of testimonies in Relief Society meetings. Such a decision is left to local Relief Society leaders in counsel with their local priesthood leaders. Do we have to have the good news minute? It takes up too much of the teacher’s time and is turning into bragging instead of actual good news. The Church Handbook of Instructions does not specify a policy regarding a good news minute in Relief Society meetings. The purpose of Relief Society meetings is to study the gospel, and opening exercises are to set the tone of the meeting for the lesson. Please refer to pages 201, 221, and 314 of the Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, which outline the purposes, activities, and planning and conducting guidelines for Relief Society meetings. It is left to local Relief Society leaders in counsel with local priesthood leaders as to whether or not this practice will strengthen Relief Society sisters.