The Latter-day Saint Woman manuals were written for the Relief Society, which is the women's organization in the LDS Church. It was founded in March of 1842 by the first president and latter-day prophet of the Church, Joseph Smith. It was created to help relieve some of the burdens of life, such as poverty, by constantly seeking charitable opportunities. ("The Visiting Teacher: The Founding of Relief Society") Its motto, "Charity never faileth" (Moroni 7:46), is a testament to this commitment and serves as a reminder of its charge to its membership.
All LDS women who have reached 18 years of age (or have graduated high school and moved away from home) are members of this organization, but its activities are open to those of other faiths. Every month, women are to go out in pairs and visit with other members of the ward (or congregation) to see how they are doing and establish sincere friendships. That is just one example of a program carried out by the Society. Other activities deal with literacy or education, homemaking, spirituality, etc. I love the Relief Society and its efforts. I love meeting women at its activities, finding someone to sit with on Sundays and learning things specially taught for me as a woman. I am not yet a mother, but I firmly believe that everything taught to me in this class is very pertinent to that future role of mine. Its desire to better the women of the Church was, I'm sure, behind the Church's decision to publish these two manuals.
