BYU Single Adult Wards and Relief Society: A breed of their own.

     I was called to the Relief Society presidency in July of 2010, and it is still a calling that I love and hold.  Relief Society in a BYU singles’ ward is definitely a group of its own, and I wanted to blog about it to remember in the future!  The YSA (used to be BYU) 198^th ward meets in the Crabtree Building on Brigham Young University campus. The Crabtree building is also known as the Engineering building, so the mechanical, chemical, whatever engineers have class in the same room they meet in for sacrament on Sunday, weird! When I was taking my nursing prerequisites freshman year, there was a semester where the same went for me.  The semester I had Statistics 221 and church in the same room, I couldn’t get rid of the feelings of dread every time I entered for sacrament! There was nothing like studying vectors on Wednesday and giving a talk on Sunday in the same exact place. 
      And don’t even get me started about the dating classes that are offered in Sunday School.  Needless to say, when I was teaching Gospel Doctrine, I’m glad we weren’t doing the periodic Dating Class at the same time, because they are more popular than BYU football games have been in the last couple years… and coming from a HUGE football fan, that is a confession I will make over and over again.  They are fun, informative, and a great way to ease the dark and scary coud that dating at BYU can sometimes bring.

     This experience is much like having Stake Conference in the Smith Field House, where hundreds flock to see volleyball games… it’s great.  The same goes for having Devotionals and Firesides in the Marriott Center, where thousands go to cheer our basketball team.  While I never actually painted a blue “Y” on my face for Stake Conference, the temptation was definitely there. It is a strong testament to the truth of Gospel principles, however, that you can scream your brains out at a volleyball, basketball, or football game, and then feel the spirit in the same exact location the next Sunday. It is a pretty special thing to have the freedom of being a crazy college student and grow spiritually at the same time.

    

    

Relief Society

     Anyway, I was called as the Relief Society second counselor, and at 20 years old, I was nervous.  How am I, when I am younger than the majority of the women in the ward, supposed to help lead them?  That question was soon answered when I almost immediately gained a love for each woman in our group.  This experience has led me to believe that I had much to learn, because the blessings have been astronomical.  Here is nothing like learning to love your neighbor by serving them. 

      I have also gained a love for Relief Society that I did not have before. Yes, for anyone who is in Relief Society with me, I am admitting that the third hour of church on Sunday was not always my favorite. I quickly learned for myself how important Relief Society is, and how important women are to the Church.
     Some shed negative light on the Church, partly because it seems to the outside world that women are not as highly regarded as men. Let me answer that false belief with a quote by Elder Quentin L. Cook, a member of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles, where he quoted the Hymn As Sisters in Zion, saying, "the errand of angels is given to women."  That talk he gave in the April 2011 General Conference was justly entitled, "LDS Women are Incredible!" and reminded the world of the importance of women.  You can find the rest of the talk here: "LDS Women Are Incredible!". If you are a woman and need a little pick-me-up, I strongly recommend this talk.  It is a great reminder of the divine potential of every single woman, and the eternal blessings we can achieve.

     In 2011, the new Relief Society manual, "Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of Relief Society" was released, giving even more material for women to use to learn of their great potential. I am a nerd who LOVES getting new books (textbooks, magazines, novels, it doesn't matter), but this book was special. It was given to every woman in our Relief Society, as a gift from the Church, and I love referring to it whenever I can. I exhort every woman in the Church to read it, it is awesome! Here is a digital copy for those who did not receive one: Daughters in My Kingdom. I love the stories that he History of Relief Society holds, and that women who were pioneers are very similar to women today, in their faith and charity. We have much to learn from the women who have come before us, because the truths and examples in this book are timeless.


     I look forward to the experiences that being in a singles ward and Relief Society bring, because I am sure there are more to come! I love this Gospel and the blessings it brings.  The love of our leaders, fellow sisters, and our Heavenly Father is what keeps me going during hectic times that life brings.  <3