Church updates purpose of RS

[Rain]

LDS Living

'On March 9, Sister Linda K. Burton, general Relief Society president, posted to Facebook, announcing that she and her presidency recently updated the Relief Society purpose, adding new wording to reflect several messages that are important for sisters to understand.

The purpose of Relief Society, which previously said, "to increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help those in need" now reads, "to increase faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and His Atonement; strengthen individuals, families, and homes through ordinances and covenants; and work in unity to help those in need."'

There is a little more to the article. 

I don't know that this is anything new.  Just worded a little more clearly.  It is interesting that increasing personal righteousness was taken out.

[The Nehor]

I did not see cookies or funeral potatos on that list. Is this just a summary?

[Tacenda]

I've served in RS for several years in the past and I must have read it but see now how that message really needed to be changed only as far as putting Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ front and center.

Edited March 10, 2017 by Tacenda

[Darren10]

Interesting. By observations:

1) While "increasing faith" would indicate to increase it in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, by not previously mentioning them sort of makes the concept of 'increasing faith" a broad topic. A woman may, for example, "increase faith" in her ability to interact with her children. She may also "increase faith" in completing chores or work assignments. While these are good things, is that what the Relief Society is fundamentally about? Or is it about guiding women to focus on Christ as clarified in this updated statement. By increasing faith in Christ a woman may, and probably will, enhance her faith to increase other virtuous endeavors such as interacting with her children and completing chores and work assignments.

2) I find a very similar nature in altering the Relief Society's from "increase...personal righteousness" to focus on "ordinances and covenants". "Personal righteousness" is very broad and could range from smiling more to being honest. These are god and virtuous things but is that the fundamental purpose of the Relief Society or to encourage women to make covenants with God ("Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ"), it seems women will get to the very heart of living righteously. no matter how "small" and simple like smiling more, or grand like being honest and inspiring to others, making covenants with God, I think, will naturally make one more "person[ally] righteous[]".

3) By focusing on "Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ", and "ordinances and covenants", the Relief Society is more explicitly declaring its role for women: to be on par with men ordained in the Priesthood. Imagine the genuine righteous impact on themselves and others around them, especially their own families, if women were to focus on these two simple changes. I think these "small and simple" changes "great things" will come about.

 

[JLHPROF]

5 hours ago, Rain said:

LDS Living

'On March 9, Sister Linda K. Burton, general Relief Society president, posted to Facebook, announcing that she and her presidency recently updated the Relief Society purpose, adding new wording to reflect several messages that are important for sisters to understand.

The purpose of Relief Society, which previously said, "to increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help those in need" now reads, "to increase faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and His Atonement; strengthen individuals, families, and homes through ordinances and covenants; and work in unity to help those in need."'

There is a little more to the article.

I don't know that this is anything new.  Just worded a little more clearly.  It is interesting that increasing personal righteousness was taken out.

This is the most interesting change to me " strengthen individuals, families, and homes through ordinances and covenants".

Which ordinances and covenants are the Relief Society now utilizing in their mission to strengthen members?

[ksfisher]

1 hour ago, JLHPROF said:

This is the most interesting change to me " strengthen individuals, families, and homes through ordinances and covenants".

Which ordinances and covenants are the Relief Society now utilizing in their mission to strengthen members?

Other than ordinances that are administered by the priesthood?  I'm not sure what your asking about.

Edited March 10, 2017 by ksfisher

[JLHPROF]

1 minute ago, ksfisher said:

Other than ordinances that are administered by the priesthood?  I'm not sure what your asking about.

I don't know either.  That's what I'm asking.
The mission of the RS is now to strengthen members through ordinances and covenants.
How does the RS use ordinances and covenants?

[bluebell]

43 minutes ago, JLHPROF said:

I don't know either.  That's what I'm asking.
The mission of the RS is now to strengthen members through ordinances and covenants.
How does the RS use ordinances and covenants?

By helping sisters "to make and keep sacred covenants" (which is a line from the YW's theme that all young women repeat every sunday) like baptism and temple covenants.  

[Johnnie Cake]

8 hours ago, Rain said:

LDS Living

'On March 9, Sister Linda K. Burton, general Relief Society president, posted to Facebook, announcing that she and her presidency recently updated the Relief Society purpose, adding new wording to reflect several messages that are important for sisters to understand.

The purpose of Relief Society, which previously said, "to increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help those in need" now reads, "to increase faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and His Atonement; strengthen individuals, families, and homes through ordinances and covenants; and work in unity to help those in need."'

There is a little more to the article. 

I don't know that this is anything new.  Just worded a little more clearly.  It is interesting that increasing personal righteousness was taken out.

Think I got something stuck in my throat...

[Jeanne]

2 hours ago, JLHPROF said:

I don't know either.  That's what I'm asking.
The mission of the RS is now to strengthen members through ordinances and covenants.
How does the RS use ordinances and covenants?

Hey..maybe they are getting Priesthood!

[ksfisher]

3 hours ago, JLHPROF said:

How does the RS use ordinances and covenants?

Like we all do, under the direction of the priesthood.

[Rain]

I had thought of the ordinances and covenants part,  but then got to thinking over the last few years how much it has been talked about by the sisters which is probably why it didn't seem to change anything here.  I'm sure it was probably included to go along with what they were thinking when giving the talks.  

I think often times changes like this surprise me because it seems odd that these things are considered a change. Like the part about having faith in Heavenly Father and Christ. To me that was so obvious before.  What else would we have faith in?  All the other things are something I would have confidence or trust in, not faith despite things said like having a "faithful husband" means he doesn't cheat with another woman. Faith, to me, has always had components of trust and confidence, but is something more.