Her notes are now known as the nauvoo relief society minute book and are available online as part of the joseph smith papers collection. Cleveland, letter to the nauvoo female relief society, may 1, 1843. The first fifty years of relief society in lds church. The relief society was, and is, a truly inspired organization and has always done so much to empower and enrich the lives of women all over the world. The minutes snow and other women kept of relief society meetings from 1842 through 1844, formally titled a book of records. The minute book of the female relief society organized in nauvoo, illinois, includes an account of the organization of the relief society, and meeting minutes, membership lists, and instructions given by joseph smith and other church leaders from 1842 to 1844.
Relief society minute book, june 9, 1842, church history library, 63. Snow again took possession of the relief society minute book. After a second winter hiatus, the female relief society of nauvoo reconvened 9 march 1844. Thenauvoo relief society minute book also contains six sermons joseph smith delivered to the society, the only recorded words he directedexclusively to the women of the church. May 15, 2010 the relief society was, and is, a truly inspired organization and has always done so much to empower and enrich the lives of women all over the world. A book of records, containing the proceedings of the female relief society of nauvoo, nauvoo relief society minute book, 17 march 184216. Courtesy of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Table of contents 17 march 1842 thursday page 6 24 march 1842 thursday page 15 donations 31 and 29 march 1842 page 29 31 march 1842 thursday page 22 epistle 31 march 1842 page 86 certificate 2 april 1842 page 89 14 april 1842 thursday page 26 19 april 1842 tuesday. Lds church signals remarkable transparency with new book. What i learned about feminism from my remarkable relief. However, joseph smith included women and men in nauvoo temple ordinances. Q our relief society leaders have quoted original ideas about the potential of women for years. For your relief society birthday dinner relief society women.
The minutes to the very first relief society meeting. Here is what joseph smith, my dear sisters, the purpose of this meeting today is the making complete the organization of the church by organizing the women after the manner of the priesthood. When the relief society was reestablished in territorial utah, snow often used the minute book in local meetings and as a guide for the organization. Minutes of the nauvoo relief society, 7 july 1843, p. At its first meeting, joseph smith told the ladies, the minutes of your meetings will be precedents for you to act uponyour constitution and law minutes, 17 march 1842. Snow, secretary of the nauvoo society, later carried the book to utah and used it frequently in instructing local relief society leaders. The relationship between relief society, priesthood, and. Record of the organization and proceedings of the female.
The first fifty years of relief society deseret book. The minute book of the female relief society of nauvoo was so important to eliza r. But it hasnt always been believed by some members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The relief society was dissolved in 1844 as trouble in nauvoo grew, but it was reorganized in salt lake city in 1867. Thoughts on reclaiming the history of relief society. Within the last few hours, the joseph smith papers project website was updated to include the documents volume covering 18341835, and the entirety of minute book 1 and the record of the female relief society of nauvoo o, lord. Nauvoo relief society minute book, page 35 a church organization for women. Instruction delivered at the first meeting of the female relief society of nauvoo, ill. Female relief society of nauvoo minutes, 27 may 1842 1. At some point before the latterday saints trek to the west from nauvoo, which began in february 1846, eliza r. Textual culture of the nauvoo female relief society.
Nauvoo relief society minute book this substantial volume contains the minutes of the female relief society of nauvoo from its founding on march 17, 1842, through its final meeting on march 16, 1844. Snow served as secretary of the newly formed relief society and took copious notes detailing relief society activities and joseph smiths lectures to the relief society, now available online as the nauvoo relief society minute book. Sep 05, 2018 the relief society was dissolved in 1844 as trouble in nauvoo grew, but it was reorganized in salt lake city in 1867. Joseph smith, in relief society minute book, nauvoo, illinois, mar. The organization was suspended from 1845 until the mid1850s, when attempts were made to organize the relief society on a congregational level insome areas of utah. A book of records, containing the proceedings of the female relief society of nauvoo, nauvoo relief society minute book, 17 mar. And apostle and recorder willard richards gave eliza r. The substantial minutes of the organizations proceedings from 1842 to 1844, published unabridged herein for the first time in print, document the womens priorities, contributions, and. Minute book offers look into early days of relief society. The records document the organization of the group in march of 1842, the six doctrinal sermons joseph smith. As secretary of the female relief society of nauvoo, eliza r. In this book, we can read elizas interpretation of everything discussed, learned and accomplished as this group of women, known as the female relief society of nauvoo, set off on a new adventure. Snow, that she carried it on the trek west herself and then used it for the decades to follow as the foundation for the growth and expansion of organization in the west. Snow wrote in april of 1868 that was published in the deseret news, entitled female relief society.
In the nauvoo relief society minute book, i found my 5th great grandmother phoebe odell merrill being received as a new member on may 12, 1842. According to the minutes of the nauvoo relief society, joseph taught that the society should move acc or ding to the ancient priesthood, hence there should be a select society separate from all the evils of the w or ld, choice, virtuous and holysaid he was going to make of this society a kingdom of priests as in enochs dayas in paul. Joseph smith told the sisters that these minutes would become the constitution and law of the society. The nauvoo relief society minute book also contains six sermons joseph smith delivered to the society, the only recorded words he directed exclusively to the women of the church. This substantial volume contains the minutes of the female relief society of nauvoo from its founding on march 17, 1842, through its final meeting on march 16, 1844. The organization was suspended from 1845 until the mid1850s, when attempts were made to organize the relief society on a congregational level in some areas of utah.
This book recorded all proceedings of the society between march 1842 and march 1844 including elections, ordinations, teachings by emma and joseph smith, and womens. It was founded in 1842 in nauvoo, illinois, united states, and has more than 7 million members in over 188 countries and territories. Nauvoo relief society minute book as a part of the comprehensive works entitled the joseph smith papers project see link, the detailed minutes of the 34 relief society meetings held in nauvoo, illinois, are now available online. Why we are organized into quorums and relief societies. The organization was suspended from 1845 until the mid,1850s, when attempts were made to organize the relief society on a congregational level in some areas of utah. Jill mulvay derr august 4, 2016 download powerpoint presentation pdf thank you, thank you scott. Jul 10, 2009 we now have the nauvoo relief society minute book available to read online at joseph smith papers. Nov 27, 2019 38, the joseph smith papers nauvoo relief society minute book, p. A fifth purpose for being organized into quorums and relief societies is to strengthen and support us in our family roles and responsibilities as sons and daughters of god. Lds church resources mormon womens studies resource hbll. Kimball, her seamstress miss cook, and some neighbors devised a plan to form a ladies society in 1842, the first person they thought of to help with the organization was eliza r. Click on the papers and search under administrative records, then records of organizations. Mar 25, 2011 within the last few hours, the joseph smith papers project website was updated to include the documents volume covering 18341835, and the entirety of minute book 1 and the record of the female relief society of nauvoo. We now have the nauvoo relief society minute book available to read online at joseph smith papers.
Lds church signals remarkable transparency with new book on. At the same meeting, emma smith was elected president, and she selected two counselors. Available in print for the first time in over 80 years youll love this cookbook. Snow minute book, book of the law of the lord 1 willard richards and manuscript history of the church. Snow, secretary to the female relief society of nauvoo, kept a record she. The relief society is often referred to by the church and others as one of the oldest and largest womens organizations. The relief society is a philanthropic and educational womens organization of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church. This wonderful treasure of over 300 american home cooking recipes was published in 1930 by the rexburg, idaho stake relief society sisters. Snow wrote in april of 1868 that was published in the deseret news, entitled female relief society this is the name of a society which was organized in nauvoo, on the 17 th of march. Im going to begin with a short statement from an article eliza r. He served as a counselor in the bishopric in kirtland, ohio from 1835 to 1838, then as bishop in adamondiahman in daviess county, missouri, from 1838 to 1839, and finally as bishop of the lower ward in nauvoo, illinois, having been called by joseph smith through revelation to that office in. Be sure to look around at many of the original documents they are putting onto this site. The second is the original nauvoo relief society minute book, which is a book of detailed notes, called minutes, kept by eliza r.
Nauvoo relief society minute book church historians press. I would also draw upon mormon enigma and a gift given, a gift taken, if i had time one of the very best things about this lesson is also one. Key documents in latterday saint womens historysalt lake city. Jennifer reeders the textual culture of the nauvoo relief society leadership and minute book provides a foundation for a deep understanding of the social production of the nauvoo female relief societys minute book, which exemplifies the broad activity and discourse among mormon women in nauvoo, illinois, in the 1840s. In 1842, when joseph was evading arrest for unjust charges, emma may have remembered when the constable came for him twelve years earlier. Today, millions of women around the world participate in relief society, following the principles and examples of the societys founders, as outlined in this minute book. Snow brought the nauvoo relief society minute book to utah and, when asked by president brigham young to help reestablish the relief society, used. With the sword, and with the word of truth, defend thou them. Mar 17, 2017 nauvoo relief society minute book, mar.
Jennifer reeders the textual culture of the nauvoo relief society leadership and minute book provides a foundation for a deep understanding of the social production of the nauvoo female relief society s minute book, which exemplifies the broad activity and discourse among mormon women in nauvoo, illinois, in the 1840s. A major source for lds womens theology and history within the joseph smith papers is the original minute book of the female relief society of nauvoo fully available online. Founded in 1842 in nauvoo, illinois, the relief society was initially led by emma smith, wife of president joseph smith. Snowwho had experience as a recorder, transcriber, and published poetkept a meticulous record of the societys early meetings, which she titled a book of records. The first fifty years of relief society in lds church history. There are some beautiful gems within this chapter, but as our history is rich, i would teach this particular lesson with daughters in my kingdom in my left hand, and the nauvoo relief society minute book in my right. The minutes to the very first relief society meeting relief. Wellordered, the female relief society of nauvoo consisted of a constitution and bylaws.
Madsen and derr wanted to publish the entire nauvoo relief society minute book and place it in larger context than just the twoplus years and 33 meetings the society existed to show how the records were used, interpreted, implemented and regarded over time. The book outlines how young suspended the relief society in march 1845. Nov 10, 2015 according to the minutes of the nauvoo relief society, joseph taught that the society should move acc or ding to the ancient priesthood, hence there should be a select society separate from all the evils of the w or ld, choice, virtuous and holysaid he was going to make of this society a kingdom of priests as in enochs dayas in paul. Apr 25, 2014 the group named the organization the female relief society of nauvoo. This book recorded all proceedings of the society between march 1842 and march 1844 including elections, ordinations, teachings by emma and joseph smith, and womens blessings. Relief society history and resources on lds women and lds. Snow a book to inscribe an account of the female relief society of nauvoo for earth. Read more about the nauvoo relief society here and here. Where do these wonderful quotes, thoughts, and ideas come from. Aug 04, 2016 download powerpoint presentation pdf thank you, thank you scott. This substantial volume contains the minutes of the female relief society of nauvoo from its founding on march 17, 1842. Record of the organization and proceedings of the female relief. The minutes to the very first relief society meeting relief society.
Willard richards gave eliza a book, to record in, and she titled it the female relief society of nauvoo minute book. Joseph smith called this first meeting,bringing with him. Bruno the nauvoo relief society had a secret to keep, though it came about quite innocently. With the sword, and with the word of truth, defend. Typical of contemporary womens organizations, the relief. Vinson knight march 14, 1804 july 31, 1842 was an early leader in the latter day saint movement. May 10, 2014 the second is the original nauvoo relief society minute book, which is a book of detailed notes, called minutes, kept by eliza r. The group named the organization the female relief society of nauvoo. Our reenactment of the first relief society meeting. Snow brought the nauvoo relief society minute book to utah and, when asked by president brigham young to help reestablish the relief society, used it as a pattern in assisting bishops and women throughout the territory in the late 1860s. Joseph smith and the female relief society of nauvoo, joseph smith and the doctrinal restoration. Containing the proceedings of the female relief society of nauvoo, served as the societys constitution and laid the foundation for what would eventually become a worldwide organization for women. Minutes of the proceedings of the seventh meeting of the society, lodge room, may th.
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