Hints of Her Vision: President Beck's First Speech

At women’s conference at BYU this week, the newly sustained general Relief Society President addressed her organization for the first time. I only have a summary from the Deseret News. Only a few phrases, I know, but they got me excited enough to put down my gardening tools and write a quick blog post.

— The newly called Relief Society General Presidency addressed women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the first time Friday, asking them to look for ways to continue to serve as part of a worldwide relief agency.
“President (Gordon B.) Hinckley has a vision and a charge for the women of the church,” said Relief Society General President Julie Beck. “He expects that we’ll each do our part to accomplish that charge. I commit with you to work my hardest to provide that relief in all the world . . . Pray to know what each of you can personally do as part of this relief effort and the personalized ideas will come to you,” she said . . . (click on link above for the full article).

Many recent posts by LDS women have expressed a yearning to do more to provide “relief” from suffering on a large scale. As Justine so fabulously expressed, “I want to be spending my time changing the world. Yeah, yeah, I know I’m changing the world by raising righteous children yadda, yadda, yadda. But my parents raised righteous children, too. My parents sacrificed changing the world to raise me. Don’t I have an obligation to honor their sacrifice? . . . People haven’t stopped suffering. I feel so compelled to action . . . .”

Here’s hoping our new presidency keeps emphasizing the “Relief” mission of our great society. If any of you were at Women’s Conference, please tell us more about her speech . . .