March 16th, 2025, 6:46pm MDT
In 1842, in Nauboo, Illinois, a woman from the Relief Society prepared for the blessings of the Lord’s House. They supported and spiritually prepared the construction of the Nauvoo Temple.
They created a covenant community, and today women from Latter-day Saints of Jesus Christ Church around the world do the same.
“As sisters, we have received a prophetic orientation that we should be able to change the world,” Relief Society President Kamille N. Johnson said in a Relief Society global prayer on Sunday, March 16th.
“We need to prepare the world for the Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. And how do we do that? We do that by creating a covenant community,” she said.
President Johnson and her counselors – First counselor sister J. Annette Dennis and second counselor Sister Christine M. Yi spoke from upstairs in Red Brick Store in Nauvoo.
After hearing the Relief Society presidential remarks, Elder Dale G. Renlund, a group of women at a chamber of Honolulu, Hawaii, confirmed that she would meet at her local rallies around the world to celebrate the Relief Society’s anniversary.
“Sister, you’re doing something extraordinary, and you can experience something extraordinary,” Elder Renland said. “Thank you for your faith, your strength, your wisdom, your wisdom, your will and ability to make and maintain a covenant with God. …He relies on you. His church relies on you.”
Relief Society’s Global Contract Sisters
The Relief Society was organized on March 17, 1842, at the top of the red brick shop.
Sisters Dennis said it was a beautiful experience to think of the first group of women and all the women in the world who share their legacy. The Yee sisters mentioned the women care for each other in Nauboo and trust them mostly.
President Johnson testified about the Relief Society’s purpose and the strength and power that arises from contract production and maintaining contracts.
“With promises that he would make, he made those dear saints here at Naubou. When we take part in the Gospel Ordinance of Jesus Christ, which is available to us through the keys of the priesthood, he makes those same promises to us,” she said.
The strength and strength they received from making contracts and maintaining contracts blessed women with strength and strength as they had to move away from Nauvoo to the unknown.
Sister Dennis said:
President Johnson and his sister Yee had ancestors in Naubou at the time, but all women share the legacy of what happened in Naubou, the Yee sisters said.
“We need you today, the Lord needs you today. You have the gifts and talents that are so necessary in the world right now,” she said.
Sister Dennis said that no matter where all women are working for the season, they are members of the Relief Society. They feel it to themselves as they help others feel God’s love.
“I think we need to remember that all of our sisters have a hard time feeling his love for some reason,” Sister Dennis said. “But we get out and show our love, we get out and put our arms around others, show them our love, let them feel our love, and start to feel the love of our Savior.”
Sister Yi testified that every time women sit at Relief Society meetings and feel alone, they can realize that they are challenged, desire, loved and worthy of others sitting around them as well.
“I know and I can testify that we are never alone, that our Heavenly Father and Savior know you. They are aware of your needs, that you are worried about what you are worried about, and that they are desire to bless you,” Sister Yee said.
It was thought that every group of women from around the world meets for prayer, and then gave sister Dennis a special feeling.
President Johnson said it was a blessing to be a covenant woman at the Latter-day Saints Church of Jesus Christ.
“Sister, that’s a glorious time,” she said. “And we are all carrying a collection of testimony that we are engaged in the work of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We know that he is alive. We know that he loves us. We know that he wants us to have a covenant relationship with him.”
She testified that the church is guided by the prophets who live today. When she began to testify about Joseph Smith, she paused for a moment to acknowledge what she felt. She then testified that Joseph Smith had restored the ancient sacred order of women.
“Our aim has been since 1842 to bring all of the children of Heavenly Father home,” President Johnson said. “We know that because of His tone sin, it is possible through our Savior, Jesus Christ. We are clean and completely sanctified and can return home.”
The power of God
When Elder Renland began to conclude, he testified to the women that God loved them, knew them, and that they were precious to him.
Elder Renland explained how the Relief Society presidency taught the purpose of the organization of the Relief Society. Its purpose was to help God’s children return to his existence, and was still sacred.
“I know that Jesus Christ knows your situation and that he knows his desire to bless you,” Elder Renland said. “He also needs your influence in his church. Your efforts to serve God’s children through aid society are essential.”
President Russell M. Nelson taught that “the Kingdom of God is not perfect, not perfect, without women who make God’s covenant and protect them from it, women who can speak to God’s power and authority” (“Pleasing to My Sisters”, October 2015 General Assembly).
The covenant that maintains women recognizes the need for God’s power in their lives and has special access to that power through their covenant, Elder Renland said. This respectful power is useful when dealing with burdens, obstacles, and temptations.
However, divine power is not an independent “amorphous cosmic power,” but a wishful magic lamp and a sacred relic that claims to be the source of power. God’s power is connected to him and his purpose.
Jesus Christ provides the ultimate example. He allowed his will to be “extracted by the will of his father,” and therefore the Father gave him all his strength in heaven and earth.
In the Book of Mormon, Nephi, son of Heraman, was given sealing power because Nephi called the Prophet and did it for the will of God, not for himself.
“In order to cultivate God’s power in our lives, we have an obligation to try and become righteous to try and act according to his will,” Elder Renland said.
Making and maintaining a covenant with God is transformative and gives us greater access to His power. It will approach him and will gain greater happiness, peace and rest. This power brings you greater knowledge, the ability to resist temptation and repent, and to withstand exams and heartaches.
“The covenant to maintain women is scattered across every face on the earth, and righteousness and God’s power is armed with great glory. Wherever you are, this power is for you,” Elder Renland said.
“I testify that Jesus Christ can provide the strength you need in your life, and that your Savior and you will rejoice when you draw His power into your life.”
