Bonnie D. Parkin
October 2004
Looking back on his life, a man recently shared this tender story with me: "When I was growing up my father was less active in the Church. He struggled with alcohol and in his darkest moods could become harsh and accusing. He normally didn't object to Mom serving in the ward. She worked in Primary for 38 years and during much of that time she served in Young Women. She carried a heavy load. Her marriage was difficult, and I now know that she was discouraged at times, but I didn't know it then.
"I didn't realize until later that the sisters in our ward were her strength. She didn't work in the Relief Society leadership, but she always attended the meetings, and she loved her friends there. I never thought of them as the ladies of Relief Society; they were simply Mom's sisters. They cared about her and loved her. She had all brothers and all sons. She found the sisters she wanted and needed in our ward. I know she shared her feelings with them - feelings she couldn't express anywhere else. None of that seemed 'Relief Society' to me then, but I understand now that it was."
This son's memory of Relief Society touched my heart. Yes, Relief Society's members are women, but Relief Society does not bless only the women; it blesses each one of us.
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