This program was broadcast over KSL Radio on Tuesday, March 17, 1942 (8:00 – 8:30 p.m.). (If the familiar recital of the organizational meeting is too repetitive for you, skip to the address of Amy Brown Lyman near the end, especially where she talks about the effect of World War II on planned Relief Society celebrations.)

FANFARE: (Tabernacle organ – “Assembly”)

WOMAN’S VOICE: One hundred years! One hundred years!

MUSIC: Organ theme.

ANNOUNCER: One hundred years! Words which chronicle a period of glorious achievement and spiritual expansion that finds fruition in this hundredth anniversary of the birth of the Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!

One hundred years ago, in Nauvoo, Illinois, the Prophet Joseph Smith spoke to the women of the Church in words that glow with greater light as time goes on. The women answered the Prophet’s call, and from a group of eighteen, have grown to a mighty congress more than one hundred thousand strong. To the memory of the valiant women of yesterday, to the loyal women of today, and to the womanhood of tomorrow, we dedicate this program.

SINGING: “A Hundred Thousand Strong.”

ANNOUNCER: One hundred thousand strong. The call and the answer by Sister Rae Barlow Barker, chairman, membership committee of the General Board of Relief Society.

RAE BARLOW BARKER: One hundred years ago women stood at the threshold of a day which brought them new freedoms. They were filled with desire to extend their influence, to expand their sphere of service beyond their own firesides.

But how few there were a century ago who had even a faint vision of the refining spiritual force that was being withheld from the world, withheld because of women’s restricted activities. Eager and restive they worked while they waited for their time, a time when they could give to a hungry world their kindly ministrations.

Sheltered in a bend of the Mississippi River lay Nauvoo, the City Beautiful. In a hallowed setting, homes were built around the rising spires of a sacred temple. There a handful of Latter-day Saint women sought their prophet, Joseph Smith. They laid their plans before him. He praised their work, but with prophetic understanding unfolded plans of greater scope than they had dreamed. He knew their power to do good and, in return to gain great good. There would be strength in working together, working to an organized plan under the priesthood.

One hundred years ago today those earnest women gathered to heed their prophet’s call.

SINGING: “The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning.”

ANNOUNCER (Singing of hymn as background): The time is March 17, 1842; it is early spring, almost planting time in the prairie lands. In the Nauvoo Lodge Room over the brick store which stood on the Joseph Smith homestead, eighteen women have come to hear the words of the Prophet. Eighteen women, gifted and gracious, modest of their talents, eager with the enthusiasm of youth yet tempered with wisdom of maturity, wait expectantly. An open Bible lies on the pulpit and as the stirring words of the song “The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning” fades on the springtime air, the Prophet addresses the group:

MUSIC: “The Spirit of God (Chorus fading on last lines)

JOSEPH SMITH (Fade in): the objects of this Society shall be to provoke the brethren to good works, in looking to the wants of the poor, searching after objects of charity and administering to their needs; to assist by correcting the morals and strengthening the virtues of the community.

I appoint Elder John Taylor temporary chairman and Elder Willard Richards as temporary secretary. Will you please come to the front, brethren. (Footsteps)

I now move, Elder Taylor, that a vote be taken to determine whether or not all present are satisfied with one another and willing to acknowledge them in full fellowship and admit them to the privileges of the institution about to be formed.

SARAH M. KIMBALL: I second the motion.

BROTHER TAYLOR: All who favor granting to each sister here today membership in the Society with full fellowship and privileges, signify it by the uplifted hand. The vote is unanimous.

JOSEPH SMITH: And now, sisters, it is your privilege to name your president.

ELIZABETH WHITNEY: Mr. Chairman –

BROTHER TAYLOR: Yes, Sister Whitney?

ELIZABETH WHITNEY: I nominate for president, Sister Emma Smith.

SOPHIA PACKARD: I second the motion.

BROTHER TAYLOR: Sister Packard seconds the nomination. Any other–? (Pause) All in favor of sustaining Sister Emma Smith as president of the Society signify it by the uplifted hand. The vote is unanimous.

JOSEPH SMITH: I suggest, Sister Smith, that you now select your counselors.

EMMA SMITH: I should like to name Sister Sarah M. Cleveland as my first counselor and Sister Elizabeth Ann Whitney as second counselor.

JOSEPH SMITH: I commend your selections.

I now declare this society organized with president and counselors according to parliamentary usages, and all who shall hereafter be admitted into this society must be free from censure and received by vote.

Elder Taylor, will you kindly vacate the chair, and, Sister Smith, will you preside as chairman? Footsteps) And, sisters, I should like to donate five dollars in gold with which to begin the funds of this institution.

EMMA SMITH: Thank you, President Smith.

We now have need of a secretary and a treasurer. Nominations for these officers are in order.

PHOEBE ANN HAWKES: I nominate Sister Eliza R. Snow for secretary and Sister Phoebe M. Wheeler as her assistant.

ELIZABETH: I second these nominations.

EMMA: All in favor of sustaining these sisters signify it by the uplifted hand.

SARAH: I nominate Sister Elvira A. Coles for treasurer.

PHOEBE M. WHEELER: I second the nomination.

EMMA: Al those in favor, signify it by the uplifted hand.

All our voting has been unanimous.

Will you, sisters, come to the front. Sister Snow, will you relive Elder Richards of the minutes?

ELIZA: Yes, Sister Smith.

ELDER RICHARDS: I believe, Sister Snow, you will find this record complete. I have affixed my signature as secretary pro tem.

ELIZA: Thank you, Elder Richards.

EMMA: Sister Coles, will you make a record of the donations

ELVIRA: Are there others besides President Smith’s?

BROTHER RICHARDS: I should like to make my contribution, also.

ELVIRA: Thank you, Brother Richards.

BROTHER TAYLOR: May I add mine, also.

ELVIRA: Thank you. Two dollars from Brother Taylor.

SARAH KIMBALL: May I add one dollar to the fund?

SARAH CLEVELAND: I have only 12-1/2 cents in my pocket, but I should like to contribute that.

ELIZABETH WHITNEY: Put me down, please, for 50 cents – it’s all I have with me.

EMMA: And let me contribute my offering.

ELVIRA: Thank you, Sister Smith. (Reads) One dollar, Emma Smith; 50 cents, Elizabeth Ann Whitney; One dollar, Sarah M. Kimball; and 12-1/2 cents, Sarah Cleveland. These donations this day give us $10.62-1/2 with which to begin our work.

EMMA: With this fund as a basis, there need be no delay in beginning the practical work of this Society. We must be mindful of the widows. You all know Sister Merrick. She is industrious ad performs her work well. Therefore she should be recommended to the patronage of such as wish to hire needlework done. Those who hire widows must be prompt to pay. We must be upright and deal justly. Let us remember these things.

PHOEBE M. WHEELER: Sister Smith, what shall we answer when people inquire about the purposes of our Society?

EMMA: You will reply that the chief object of this Society is for charitable purposes – to seek out and relieve the distressed; that each member should be ambitious to do good; that the members should deal frankly with each other; to watch over the orals and be very careful of the character and reputation of the members of the institution.

ELDER TAYLOR: Sister Smith, may I say that my heart rejoices when I see the most distinguished characters stepping forth I such a cause, which is calculated to ring into exercise every virtue and give scope to the benevolent feelings of the female heart.

And I rejoice that this institution is organized according to the law of heaven. … I rejoice to see all things moving forward in such a glorious manner. I pray that the blessings of God and the peace of heaven may rest on this institution henceforth.

MUSIC: (Triumphant theme.)

ANNOUNCER: to establish and fix the high objectives of the new society, the Prophet for a number of weeks gave to it his personal direction, giving additional instructions from time to time, and at the end of this formative period he commended and blessed the sisters.

JOSEPH SMITH: I now turn the key in your behalf  ((Yeah, I know; this is the way it was read in 1942.)) in the name of the Lord, and this Society shall rejoice and knowledge and intelligence shall flow down from this time henceforth; this is the beginning of better days to the poor and the needy who shall be made to rejoice and pour forth blessings on your heads. (Music) If you live up to the principles and privileges that now are yours, the angels of heaven cannot be restrained from being your associates.

ANNOUNCER: The Female Relief Society of Nauvoo – under the guidance of the priesthood its work began.

FIRST READER: The call went out!
Through valleys, over mountains and plains,
To distant shores,
The message spread.

ANNOUNCER: The answer? (Pause)

SECOND READER: From hamlets, villages and scattered towns,
From isolated farms,
From crowded cities, too,
They came in glad response.

By tens, then hundreds,
Thousands, swelled the numbers
As the work moved on.

In manner suited to their time and place,
They’ve traveled many roads and many ways.
Behind handcarts some walked,
Or ox teams plodded ’cross
A thousand miles of barren plains
To valleys in the West.

“Whitetops” or saddle horses carried women
Over rutted country roads.
Then automotive travel brought us
Greater speed,
And trains and planes were servants
Of our day.

THIRD READER: From cold Alaska
To far outspread Australia
Women of today have heard again
The rally call.

Where first but eighteen women
Worked for better things,
One hundred thousand members, now,
And more will carry on.
One hundred thousand valiant women
With faith to follow our inspired leaders
Will renew allegiance to a glorious cause.
Will welcome a new century for service.

MUSIC: “A Song of Triumph” (Chorus)

READER: Mists of many years have fallen on Nauvoo,
But the women brave who labored there
This day in glowing memory live anew,
And from altered arch of time and space
They reach their eager hands to us,
For we as daughters of that steadfast race,
Have sought to follow where they passed
And find the widow and the orphaned one;
In paths where want and sorrow walk
Still work of love and charity is done;
And yet we could not serve so well,
Nor seek with faith for wisdom’s road to go
Had you not set an ensign on our way,
O valiant sisters of the long ago.

MUSIC: (Organ)

ANNOUNCER: As we rededicate ourselves to service in the future, let us express thanks for the loyal and devoted women chosen to stand at the head of this organization. Sister Amy Brown Lyman’s thirty-three years of continuous service to the Church, coupled with her specialized training along the very lines so needed at this moment, eminently qualify her for the position which she holds. As eighth president of Relief Society, Sister Lyman greets you on this centennial anniversary. – Sister Lyman:

PRESIDENT AMY BROWN LYMAN: On this great and glorious day, the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Relief Society, I feel greatly honored as president of the organization to have the privilege of addressing by radio the members of the society. One hundred years it is, ten decades, a century since we were privileged to begin a work which had for its object the welfare of humanity, including the educational and spiritual development of its members.

At this major milepost I our history we might ask ourselves if we have accomplished the objectives for which we were organized, if we have fulfilled our assignment satisfactorily. I feel safe in saying that in a very large measure we have; that the past is secure in honor and service; an dour future will also be secure if we continue to live up to our heritage of the past. I feel sure that the great founder of this organization, were he here today, would look with real satisfaction and pride upon our labors and achievements.

We are conscious of the fact that this eventful day is being observed in some manner in every one of the more than 2,000 local units of the Society, wherever located, whether in one of the five great geographic divisions of the two hemispheres or in the islands of the sea. Even though the shadows of war hang heavy over many lands, this hundredth birthday is not forgotten. Ceremonials will vary according to choice and circumstance. There will be recitals of achievements, including our new membership record, songs of praise, prayers of gratitude, and rejoicing in the lofty mission of the Society.

An important feature in the observance of this centennial is the planting of Relief Society centennial trees throughout the Church, which will be suitably marked, carefully nurtured and preserved, to be loved and cherished by future generations of Relief Society women – symbolic of the strength an steady growth of the organization.

The postponement of the great central centennial celebration, which was to have been a climax to all other activities in connection with our centennial year, was naturally a great disappointment to the women of the Church, many of whom had saved and planned for months to be in attendance. The postponement of stake programs and pageants, which had been arranged to be held in some stakes on this day in lieu of ward observances, has also caused disappointment.

While these postponements were a real sacrifice to us, still we recognize the emergent situation with which we are faced in connection with this tragic war, and make the sacrifice willingly.

We are pleased, however, that plans are going forward for the erection of the beautiful campanile, or bell tower, on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, to house the famous Nauvoo Temple bell. Relief Society women everywhere are making contributions to assist in the erection of this graceful memorial – Relief Society’s centennial gift to the Church.

It is with great pleasure that I express my sincere and unbounded gratitude and appreciation for the achievement of our goal of 100,000 members on our one hundredth birthday. Not only have we achieved this goal, but we have exceeded it by 15,000. The General Board is grateful for the efforts which have been put forth by officers and workers throughout the society to bring about this wonderful result. We welcome our 40,000 new members with all our heart and with open arms. We know they are a great asset to us, that they bring new interests and new enthusiasm, and that they will receive the same enjoyment and benefits experienced by unnumbered thousands of women who have been affiliated with the organization during its hundred years.

During the past year our members have been looking back over the history of the Relief Society. The files of the General Board and of the Historian’s Office, and the records of stakes and wards have been searched for information. There has probably never been a time before in the history of the organization when so much research work has been done by so many people – and we have not sought in vain. Our minds have been enlightened, our knowledge enriched, our hearts have rejoiced, and our faith has been strengthened by what we have learned. The record of the Society and its members is one of self-sacrifice to high ideals, of devotion to lofty principles, and of faith, and a testimony of the Gospel of the Master.

We have become better acquainted with the activities in Nauvoo, where almost every type of welfare work was carried on – the caring for the sick and needy, the comforting of the sorrowing, and the sustaining of one another in times of persecution and tragedy.

We have learned of the work of the women of Nauvoo as they became the women of the plains, many of them walking much of the way to the West; of their courage, faith, and valor in the face of illness, lack of sufficient food and warm clothing, and danger from hostile Indians and wild animals.

We have learned of their work as pioneers in the West where side by side with men they helped to blaze trails and lay the foundation for an empire; where they helped to build their own homes, plant and gather crops, fight crickets and kill snakes; where they wove and spun the cloth they used and, withal, reared large families. In the morning and evening these pioneer families, who relied on their God for aid, knelt together and uttered prayers of faith, thanksgiving, and devotion, asking for protection and that their simple and most needed wants be satisfied.

We have been interested in the various phases of work they took up as circumstances became easier, such as the training of nurses and midwives, the manufacture of silk, the establishment of women’s cooperative stores, the building of Relief Society halls for their meetings and of granaries for storing wheat, of their activities in movements for suffrage, for temperance and peace; and in later years the fostering of public health work, the development and advancement of their educational and social welfare programs.

Missionary work has also had a warm place in their hearts. They have not only supported the work and contributed to it as mothers and sisters of missionaries, but have performed missions themselves. As wives of mission presidents they have presided over the women’s work in all the missions of the Church. Before the war began, there were thirty-six Relief Society women presiding over the women’s work in the thirty-six missions of the Church, located all around the world.

In our research, we have traced the cooperative work of Relief Society with national and international organizations in the interest of women and humanity. In the 1880s, at the invitation of the great suffrage leaders of the nation, relief society women participated in conventions in large eastern cities. They reached their destination traveling in comfortable railway cars across the very plains which they had earlier trod by foot. In 1888, the Society was represented at the convention in Washington, D.C., which organized both the National and International Councils of Women; and it became a charter member of the National Council. During the fifty-four years’ existence of these Councils, the organization has been represented at the more than twenty biennial meetings held in various cities of the United States, and at all of the twelve meetings of the International Council which have been held in various countries. Not only has the Society sent delegates to these great gatherings of women, but its members have held important offices in the National Council.

In 1942, as we begin a new Relief Society century, in a year considered by many as the most critical ever known, we find the world full of tumult and trouble.

It is evident that people everywhere will have to make sacrifices – sacrifices the like and extent of which many have never dreamed, and that life will be different from what it has ever been before. In these trying times Relief Society women will not be found wanting, and they will never doubt but that finally knowledge and peace will triumph over ignorance and war.

Placing our trust in the Lord, let us this day rededicate ourselves to our own special work and mission, and to the advancement of the Gospel of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.

As we now listen by transcription to the inspired words of our beloved president, Heber J. Grant, followed by the strains of our National Anthem, let our hearts be filled with the spirit of prayer and an appeal to our heavenly Father that peace may again be established on the earth.

And now, President Grant:

HEBER J. GRANT: My heart is full of gratitude to my Heavenly Father for the faithfulness and devotion of the sisters of Relief Society who are doing and always have done so much for the comfort and encouragement of those less fortunate than themselves. I commend you, my dear sisters, for your faithfulness.

We are living in anxious and troubled days. Forces are abroad in the earth which threaten to destroy the peace of the world. Many of your sons have been called into the service of their country. This is a matter of deep concern, of course, to mothers and to all of us. It is necessary that the people turn to the Lord, that they seek Him in deep humility, that they keep His commandments, and that they serve Him in spirit and in truth, with the assurance that He will not forsake the righteous nor turn away those who seek Him.

May our Heavenly Father bless the mothers in Israel and all who are engaged in building up the kingdom of God on the earth. May the peace and blessings of heaven abide in your homes and be upon you and your loved ones now and forever.