PROVO, Utah — When speaking of the mission of the newly organized Relief Society on March 17, 1842, Emma Smith said: … We expect special occasions and urgent calls. ”
More than 180 years later, on Wednesday night, May 3, 2023, President Camille N. Johnson, the 18th general president of the Relief Society, gathered at the Marriott Center on the campus of Brigham Young University. He told thousands of women: “We — you — are ready to offer relief —”[ing] Special occasions and pressing calls.
After a one-year hiatus and two years of online meetings, President Johnson and his counselors, Sisters J. Annette Dennis and Christine M. Yee, welcomed the audience back to one of the world’s largest gatherings of women. 2023 BYU Women’s Conference has started. presentation.
“As Relief Society members, we point to the Savior to each other for help and follow His example of giving Christlike love,” President Johnson said. “We offer material and spiritual peace through the power of our Savior, and find our own peace along the way. We find Jesus Christ.”
salvation by covenant
Sister Christine M. Yee, Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, presents at the 2023 BYU Women’s Conference on May 3 at the BYU Marriott Center in Provo, Utah.
Sister Yee, Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, spoke about the spiritual comfort of joining hands with the Lord through the covenants we have made with Him.
“He wants to be with us in our concerns and decisions. I will,” said Sister Yi.
Giving her own example of being an unmarried woman, Sister Yi said she felt the Savior’s love and comfort in her personal needs and concerns.
She spoke of a recent trip to Chuuk Island in Micronesia, about 1,500 miles southeast of Japan. There she met women who felt her loneliness but kept their covenants.
These sisters are known to Heavenly Father and the Savior. they are not alone. And neither you nor I are in the midst of trials and challenges,” Sister Yi said. “The Lord sent me on a journey of about 8,500 miles by plane, train, car and ship to bring relief to ‘him’ on the islands of the sea.
“And he will find you and me on our personal island. He will be there, ready to bless us, guide us, and comfort us.”
The Lord is willing to help and help in big and small things. He offers relief through his Atonement, she taught.
Relief by Master Healer
Sister J. Annette Dennis, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, presents at the 2023 BYU Women’s Conference on May 3 at the BYU Marriott Center in Provo, Utah.
Sister Dennis, the first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, shared some of her daughter’s journey through mental and emotional health challenges.
“Sisters, Jesus Christ is our Master Healer and our greatest source of comfort,” said Sister Dennis. She said her daughter is doing well now, thanks to the healing power of Jesus Christ and his work to provide relief through others.
“How wonderful it is that we can partner with Master Healers to help bring emotional peace to those around us.”
Sister Dennis quoted from several scriptures, including Isaiah 43:2-5. … When you walk through fire, you will not get burned. … I am the Lord your God… I am your Savior… you [art] precious in my eyes. ”
She has witnessed through her own personal experience that Jesus Christ is the ultimate source of salvation.
“He knows each of us very well, loves each of us dearly, wants to be a part of our lives, and gives us the divine relief we so desperately need. I hope it gives us,” she said.
temporary relief
Camille, Relief Society general president, presents with counselors Sisters J. Annette Dennis and Sister Christine M. Yee during the 2023 BYU Women’s Convention on May 3 at the BYU Marriott Center in Provo, Utah. • N. Johnson.
Providing the temporary relief that the Savior provides through serving others transforms and prepares them to lead to the temple, President Johnson taught.
She recently traveled to Uganda in Central Africa to see how the church is working with UNICEF to provide temporary relief to mothers and children.
“The Good Shepherd’s flock is known and numbered. He knows his children even in the remotest parts of Uganda,” she said.
President Johnson said it is both a blessing and a contractual responsibility for Church members to provide temporary relief to people around the world. In total, these efforts have cost him over $1 billion and his 6.3 million volunteer hours.
“Sisters, your time is represented in these sums,” said President Johnson. “The global initiative we are a part of is, as Emma anticipated, a special occasion and a pressing call.”