"Charity Never Faileth"

by Linda McMillian

ALPHARETTA, GA —Over a hundred years ago, one of the largest and oldest women's organizations in the world played an important role in helping American women gain the right to vote.

Today, that group has grown to over 7 million women in 188 countries and territories. Established in 1842 the “Relief Society” continues its support of women locally and worldwide promoting philanthropy, education and spiritual growth fulfilling the group's motto: Charity Never Faileth (1 Corinthians 13:8).

Local leadership recently changed hands in the Relief Society of the Webb Bridge Ward (congregation) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Alpharetta area.

(Because of local membership growth, members of the Webb Bridge and Milton Wards began meeting in a new Church building known as a “Meetinghouse” at 1750 Windward Concourse, Alpharetta GA 30005. Meeting times and attendance are tailored to accommodate safety rules during the current health crisis.)

The new Webb Bridge Ward Relief Society presidency consists of:

LaRae Rahm, Relief Society President

Kathy Roos, Relief Society First Counselor

Chalyse Cappel, Relief Society Second Counselor

Sherry Stevens, Relief Society Secretary

The women will work many unpaid hours a week at their respective positions, as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has no paid ministry. All members fill their roles on a volunteer basis.

Rahm shared her thoughts about the organization,“I have been a member of the Relief Society since I turned 18 and love being part of such a wonderful and needed women’s organization. As a member of Relief Society today, we continue to share our ability as women through our individual talents and gifts to make our homes, communities and our world better and safer places to live. The world has never been in need of love, service or charity more.”

The Church's free Justserve.Org website makes finding those charity efforts easier by providing coordination and ideas for local nonprofit projects. The volunteer needs of organizations can be posted there and volunteers can search for places to serve in the community, providing opportunities to help those in need and enhancing the quality of life locally.

Rahm explained, “In addition to helping other members in need, women in Relief Society use the JustServe app to find local projects to do. This past year during covid it has been difficult for the entire local organization to plan large service projects together but individuals and small groups have been able to use the Just Serve app to find local community needs for service. For example, this Christmas… families volunteered together at Action Ministries. There have also been several families who have volunteered to help at local food banks.”

The new president concluded, “Another truly powerful service I have witnessed as President of our local Relief Society here in Alpharetta, Georgia, are the individual unknown service acts that local members do on their own to help their neighbors, friends, and community...service provided out of love that many times only they and the recipient know about.”

Internationally, the Relief Society currently participates in ongoing Covid-19 volunteer efforts to help make face masks and additional protective equipment for health care workers in need throughout the world.

According to Sharon Eubank, president of Latter-day Saint Charities and a member of the Relief Society general presidency, “We’re trying to work with governments [and] community leaders and find out what they need and then respond… We have mobilized the Relief Society and their families to help with some of these projects.” Additional information regarding Relief Society.

Church leaders further elaborated on the coordinated effort, “To date, we have approved over 110 COVID-19 relief projects in 57 countries. Most of these are done with trusted partners from humanitarian agencies, health ministries and hospitals, which allows us to use our resources—including food, hygiene products, personal protective equipment, medical equipment, cash and other commodities—in places where they can do the most good.”

History reveals the long-standing efforts of the Relief Society to improve the lives of all women, “As one of the largest religious women’s organizations in the world, the Relief Society was called upon by national suffrage leaders to participate in national and international councils of women. Relief Society leaders spoke out as delegates at conventions and councils all over the United States and spoke to international audiences. Relief Society leaders and other prominent sisters promoted ideas of suffrage and equal rights in the Woman’s Exponent and as they traveled around the state and region to fulfill their callings. They were supported by each other and the community in their efforts”, as recorded in Church history documentation. Click for more information.

As a consequence, in 1896 Utah granted women the right to vote prior to the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1919.