Callings Councils Dress Standards Family Services Finances History Leadership Meetings Military Families New Relief Society Sisters (Transition) Relief Society and Personal Progress Sunday Meetings and Lessons Temple Clothing Visiting Teaching Weekday Relief Society Meetings Welfare   Callings Ward Relief Society Presidency How often should a Relief Society president hold a presidency meeting? See Handbook 2, 9.3.2. Why does the presidency meet? See Handbook 2, 9.3.2. What are the counselors called to do? See Handbook 2, 9.2.2. Who trains and gives ongoing support to the ward Relief Society presidency? See Handbook 2, 9.8.2 and 15.4.1. Ward Relief Society Secretary Does the secretary conduct Relief Society meetings? See Handbook 2, 9.2.2 and 9.2.3. What is the role of the secretary? See Handbook 2, 9.2.3. Advisers to Young Single Adult Sisters Who gives direction to the Relief Society young single adult adviser? See Handbook 2, 9.2.5, 9.7.2, 16.2, and 16.3.3. Committees Are sisters who serve on committees called and set apart by a member of the bishopric? See Handbook 2, 9.2.5. Relief Society Music Leaders and Pianists Do we still have the practice song? See Handbook 2, 9.4.1, and “Sunday Relief Society Meetings” at reliefsociety.lds.org. Stake Relief Society Leadership What are the responsibilities of a stake Relief Society presidency? See Handbook 2, 9.8.2 and 15.4.1. See also Handbook 2, 5.2.9. Who trains a stake Relief Society presidency? See Handbook 2, 9.8.1. They are trained by the stake president, using the information found in Handbook 2: Administering the Church. Additional information that can be used in training is also available at reliefsociety.lds.org. Sisters Serving in Other Auxiliaries Can sisters who serve in other auxiliaries teach classes in Relief Society and be given assignments to provide compassionate service? See Handbook 2, 9.1.4. Councils How do I prepare effectively to participate in a council with priesthood leaders? See Handbook 2, 9.3.1 and 4.6.1. Dress Standards How can we encourage our sisters to dress more modestly and appropriately for church and as they attend the temple? See Handbook 2, 9.10.2. Refer to For the Strength of Youth, which outlines dress standards for Church members. You may also refer to the addresses and articles listed below: Robert D. Hales, “Modesty: Reverence for the Lord,” Ensign, Aug. 2008, 34–39. Jeffrey R. Holland, “To Young Women,” Ensign, Nov. 2005, 28–30. D. Todd Christofferson, “A Sense of the Sacred,” New Era, June 2006, 28–31. Elaine S. Dalton, “Arise and Shine Forth,” BYU Women's Conference, Apr. 30, 2004. Susan W. Tanner, “The Sanctity of the Body,” Ensign, Nov. 2005, 13–15.   Family Services Where is help available for those who have family challenges? See Handbook 2, 10.12.4. No one is immune from challenges in this life. When social or emotional challenges arise, help is available. Encourage sisters and their families who encounter the following challenges to work with their bishop, who can put them in contact with professionals from LDS Family Services. Counseling and Resources Information about counseling services and a library full of articles dealing with social, emotional, and spiritual challenges. Birth Parents Assistance for birth parents, including unwed mothers, and others facing an unplanned pregnancy. Adoptive Couples Help for couples interested in adoption. Addiction Recovery Program LDS Family Services sponsors addiction recovery support meetings to assist individuals who desire freedom from addiction and a better life through gospel fellowship. How to Contact LDS Family Services A comprehensive list of LDS Family Services agencies in the United States, Canada, and abroad. Finances Do we have a budget for Relief Society meetings? See Handbook 2, 13.2.8, and “Weekday Relief Society Meetings” at reliefsociety.lds.org. Can we ask sisters to pay for supplies for Relief Society meetings? See Handbook 2, 13.2.8, and “Weekday Relief Society Meetings” at reliefsociety.lds.org. Can we ask sisters to bring food for weekday Relief Society meetings? See Handbook 2, 13.2.8, and “Weekday Relief Society Meetings” at reliefsociety.lds.org. History When will the history book of Relief Society be published? See “History” at reliefsociety.lds.org. The history will be published in 2011. An exact date for its release has not been determined. Updates and additional information will be available on the Relief Society section of LDS.org and on the visiting teaching message page of the Liahona and Ensign, where you will find excerpts from the history of Relief Society. How can we prepare for the Relief Society history? See “History” at reliefsociety.lds.org. The Relief Society general presidency encourages sisters to record what is happening in their own lives. Though you might not feel that you are making history, sisters around the world can learn from you and your personal experiences. Leadership Meetings How often should we hold stake Relief Society leadership meetings? See Handbook 2, 18.3.11. Military Families What does a ward Relief Society president need to know to effectively counsel with the bishop to support military families? The following are suggestions from spouses of active military service members: Consider receiving priesthood blessings. “I don’t know how our family could have made it through my husband’s five deployments to Iraq without priesthood blessings.” Military families need to know that they are not alone. Find out about a sister’s support system. Does she have a good relationship with her parents? Does she have friends? Does she have a calling that is not isolating, but gives her plenty of interaction with strong sisters? Here are some ideas to support the sister: “In a ward, I formed a playgroup that met each week at a park. We got together and talked about our common struggles and supported each other.” “As a Relief Society service project we made care packages for all our deployed servicemen. We included in the package notes from the Primary, the Young Women, and the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood quorums.” Keeping in frequent communication with military families is essential. Home teachers or other priesthood holders could invite children of deployed military families to participate with them in various activities. Visiting teachers may care for the children of military families occasionally or exchange babysitting. “That time away lifted my spirits and it helped me to be more patient. I looked forward to it all week like a light at the end of the tunnel.” Encourage other families, or older couples, to adopt a military family during deployment. Lift, love, and serve them. Remember them in your prayers, invite them to dinner, celebrate special events, and include them in service opportunities. Ward leaders are encouraged to be aware of the deployment status of the military spouse and particular needs of the family. Assign home teachers and visiting teachers who will keep priesthood and Relief Society leaders up-to-date on the needs of the family. The Relief Society presidency should arrange a children’s class or nursery to allow mothers of young children to attend Relief Society meetings held on days other than Sunday. Consider inviting a military spouse to teach a class on self-reliance for a Relief Society meeting, class, or workshop. Encourage sisters in the ward to make a sustained effort to befriend new military families, even those who will be living in the ward for only a short period of time. Be sensitive to the special needs that occur during the adjustment period when military service men and women return home. New Relief Society Sisters (Transition) Who are the new Relief Society sisters? See “New Relief Society Sisters” at reliefsociety.lds.org. There are three groups of new Relief Society sisters: Young women who turn 18 and come into Relief Society New converts Sisters who return from inactivity How do we orient a new Relief Society sister? See “New Relief Society Sisters” at reliefsociety.lds.org. It is the responsibility of the Relief Society presidency to look after each new Relief Society sister. With the help of your secretary, identify the new sisters entering Relief Society. Relief Society leaders show their love and interest as they embrace, teach, orient, and engage these sisters in the work of Relief Society through callings and meaningful assignments. How does the new quarterly report help a Relief Society presidency shepherd young single adult sisters? See Handbook 2, 9.2.3 and “New Relief Society Sisters” at reliefsociety.lds.org. Come to ward council prepared to inform priesthood leaders on the number of sisters not attending Relief Society. Report on the efforts you are making to seek after and bring them back to activity and to help them receive their endowment in the temple. If the young women and Relief Society meet together for opening exercises, who conducts? See Handbook 2, 9.7.1. Where can we find guidelines to help young women make the transition to Relief Society? See Handbook 2, 9.7.2. New information regarding new sisters transitioning can be found under “New Relief Society Sisters” at reliefsociety.lds.org. Relief Society and Personal Progress Should Relief Society sisters be working on an achievement program such as Personal Progress? Personal Progress is a goal-setting program for young women ages 12 to 18. Relief Society sisters should encourage all children and youth to set and achieve righteous goals. Mothers of children and youth are invited to help their young women with Personal Progress, their Primary-age children to work on Faith in God, and their young men to complete Duty to God. Instructions can be found in the Personal Progress book regarding Relief Society sisters who are serving as Young Women leaders, sisters who are assigned to assist a young woman with Personal Progress, and mothers of young women who want to work with their daughters on Personal Progress. Relief Society sisters should set and achieve worthy goals in their own lives as they progress toward eternal life. Relief Society sisters who would like to work on a goal-setting program could consider completing the Pursuit of Excellence program, or they could design their own goals. Chapter 8 of Preach My Gospel is an excellent resource for learning how to set and report personal goals. In setting goals, sisters are reminded that Relief Society has a significant and inspired purpose and work. Each sister is to increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help those in need. Each sister accomplishes these personal responsibilities as she seeks and acts on personal revelation. Most of the good work Relief Society sisters accomplish is not publicly recognized. Relief Society sisters should not be made to feel that they are required to work on a goal-setting program, nor should Relief Society leaders purchase Personal Progress books for Relief Society sisters. Sunday Meetings and Lessons Do we have the “Good News Minute?” See Handbook 2, 9.4.1, and “Sunday Relief Society Meetings” at reliefsociety.lds.org. What should be taught in the first Sunday lesson of the month? See Handbook 2, 9.4.1, and “Sunday Relief Society Meetings” at reliefsociety.lds.org. What materials are used for the second and third Sunday lessons of the month? See Handbook 2, 9.4.1, and “Sunday Relief Society Meetings” at reliefsociety.lds.org. What materials are used for the fourth Sunday lesson of the month? See Handbook 2, 9.4.1, and “Sunday Relief Society Meetings” at reliefsociety.lds.org. Temple Clothing How do we use and care for sacred clothing? See Handbook 2, 21.1.42. What procedures are followed to dress a deceased endowed member? See Handbook 2, 9.10.3 and 3.4.9. For more information, your priesthood leader can order the booklet Instructions for Clothing the Dead Who Have Received Their Endowments. All other questions about temple clothing and temple garments or about dressing deceased endowed members should be directed to the Temple Clothing office at 1-801-240-3333. Visiting Teaching Who organizes visiting teaching? See Handbook 2, 9.5.2. Do we visit each month? See Handbook 2, 9.5.1, 9.5.3. Is group visiting teaching acceptable? See Handbook 2, 9.5.2. Weekday Relief Society Meetings What do we call the counselor who is responsible for additional Relief Society meetings? See Handbook 2, 9.4.2, and “Weekday Relief Society Meetings” at reliefsociety.lds.org. What do we call the sister who coordinates Relief Society meetings that are held during the week? See Handbook 2, 9.4.2, and “Weekday Relief Society Meetings” at reliefsociety.lds.org. What do we call Relief Society meetings that are not held on Sunday? Individual Relief Society meetings that are held during the week can be called whatever they are: Relief Society service, classes, projects, conferences, or workshops. Examples of how Relief Society meetings can be announced: "This Thursday we will have a Relief Society meeting at 7:00 p.m. Our meeting this month will include a variety of classes to help us improve homemaking skills"; "We will have a Relief Society workshop this next month about how to be better parents"; "On Saturday we will have a Relief Society conference"; or, "We will have a Relief Society service project this coming month." Who takes care of the children when additional Relief Society meetings are held? See Handbook 2, 9.4.2 and 11.8.1. How often should we meet for additional Relief Society meetings? See Handbook 2, 9.4.2, and “Weekday Relief Society Meetings” at reliefsociety.lds.org. What can we do in weekday Relief Society meetings? See Handbook 2, 9.4.2. What is the policy about overnight activities for sisters? See Handbook 2, 13.6.12. Welfare What are my welfare responsibilities as a Relief Society president? See Handbook 2, 9.6, and the Welfare page at reliefsociety.lds.org. What is a family-needs visit and what are the Relief Society president’s responsibilities regarding the visit? See Handbook 2, 9.6.1. What is my responsibility in Relief Society with regards to literacy, and where do I find information? See Handbook 2, 9.6.3.