~by Natalie
Editor’s note: Natalie kindly consented to share the Relief Society History video she put together for the women in her congregation. But first, we’d like you to get to know her a little better, and hear more about what went into making this video.
I am the “Additional Weekday Meeting Coordinator” (previously Enrichment Leader) in the Relief Society [organization for women] in my ward congregation. Ironically, all but two of my three sisters and two sisters-in-law have the same calling. In my opinion, this is the best calling in the Church. I am the party planner and the person that helps coordinate the activities that allow the women to do both the work of Relief Society and strengthen our bonds as sisters.
I am married with four children. We have lived in Nashville, TN, Northern Utah, and a year ago moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, which we have loved! I enjoy cooking, baking, sewing, reading, traveling, and learning new things, which always ends up adding to my list of things I enjoy doing. My oldest daughter has Celiac Disease and so I also cook gluten free, which has made me a better cook in every possible way. When she was diagnosed our bishop [congregation leader] told us this would stregthen her and us as a family and it has.
When we were planning the Relief Society birthday party in March we decided to focus on Relief Society history. Since history is one of my loves (I have a degree in it), I was in charge of putting the program together. Lucky for me, one of my sisters also had the same theme for their ward’s Relief Society birthday celebration so she was a lot of help and we bounced a lot of ideas off each other. As I started looking for ideas and at information I found this power point presentation on the History of Relief Society that I found interesting. Then I found this Tribute to Relief Society Skit, where there was a narrator and different sisters would read parts of the past Relief Society General Presidents. I loved a lot about both of these resources, and they formed a foundation the video I made.
I did more research and found other quotes from past presidents and information about them. I, of course, couldn’t fit it all into this video so I talked a little about the added info before starting the video. For example Zina Young was asked by President Brigham Young [second president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] to be in charge of the silk production and she HATED it and had nightmares about feeding the worms, yet she still did it. Or that Amy Lyman worked in Hull House with Jane Adams (one the the principal people associated with the US Progressive Movement in the early 20th century) which made her perfect for both General Relief Society President and her later role with the church’s Social Services department.
To round out the video, I remembered President Henry B. Eyring’s talk a couple years ago about the history of Relief Society. I found this so uplifting and strengthened my testimony of the power the Relief Society has had and can have for good. The other talk is Sister Julie B. Beck’s from Oct. 2010 General Relief Society Meeting which I also loved. For both I read the talks and found the quotes I liked and then cut the talks accordingly.
I hope you like it. The process of making this has been such a testimony builder of the love of our Heavenly Father towards his daughters and the power of Relief Society to do good in the world. I think sometimes women in the Church can get too caught up with what we can’t do that we miss all the good we can do. There is a quote by Belle Spafford in the video where she talks about power vs. influence, about which is greater. To her it was influence, and I felt the same. While some of these women lived over a hundred years ago, so much of their influence is felt today in the welfare program of the church, in the Primary, in the Young Women program and in the emphasis’s we choose to place on the family. So many of them could have spoken the same words today and they would have been just as relevant. There are not a lot of people, men or women, that we can say that about.
I was also impressed with how they managed families and in many circumstances started what became grand programs just from seeing a simple need. They were women of great faith who did what their Heavenly Father asked of them and knew when to speak out when something was wrong. They were radical women in getting the vote, and radical women in fighting the Equal Rights Amendment. They were quiet women who grew wheat and quiet women that helped others to read. I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed making it and your heart is as touched as mine was by the women of Relief Society and feel pride to be a part of such a wonderful organization.
Note: The video format has changed. We can’t embed it here but you can watch it here. If you want to use it in a Relief Society meeting, the creator of the video gives permission to stream it for such use.
Please note: Natalie asks that you obtain permission if you want to share this video. A link to this post is fine, but please ask for permission for any other usage. Thank you!
This is absolutely beautiful! May I please have a copy? I would be happy to send money for a dvd and postage!
I have loved studying church history throughout my life and am impressed with the sources you used for this video. The depth of research along with the recent counsel made for a powerful and richer understanding of the work of Relief Society. As a fully participating RS member for many years, it was wonderful to learn more! As a seminary teacher I would loved to have used your video as we have studied Church History. Emphasis is placed on the prophets and rightly so. However, your video reminds me to prayerfully consider when to share the work that the sisters did in supporting the prophets thru every era. Thank you for your labor of love.
This video is truely inspiring. Although throughout the years we have seen many videos of the Relief Society, this one is very special and a reminder of our grassroots of long ago. I would like to share this video with the Relief Society as our Relief Society Birthday celebration to remind the sisters of our focus as Relief Society Sisters. How can I obtain a copy of this? Thanks so much for your diligent work!!
Natalie,
Beautifully done! I would love to use this video at our Relief Society Birthday Program. I truly felt the spirit as I watched and imagined the strength in those women to start such a program of love and service. Thank you.
That would be fine. I hope your RS enjoys it.
Beautifully done! I can see that others have asked for a copy but don’t see any reply. Our RS Birthday party is next month…can I get a copy somehow? Thank you so much
If you would like a copy please e-mail me directly and I can see what I can do.
nweames at (Gee)mail dot com
Hi Natalie, I have just been assigned to organise our Relief Society Birthday Party and I have seen so many idea’s here on the internet its so overwhelming at times. As a convert to the Church I realised I did not know alot about Relief Society but researching for the Birthday has opened my eyes so wide I can’t keep up with a wealth of knowledge on the internet. I would love to base our theme on the History Of RS and reading your comments has just excited me even more. I’m so glad I came accross your blog and would love to ask how I could get a copy. Thankyou so much for your diligent work.
Like many of the other sisters, I just finished watching the beautiful video you created.I can’t think of a better way to celebrate our 170th Relief Society Birthday. I am very excited to share this with the sisters in my ward. Is there a way to purchase a copy of this or to copy it somehow? We will be holding the celebration on March 15th. Thankyou so much for sharing this. Kathy
Katherine, in a comment above, Natalie left her email address. You can contact her directly to see what options there are for getting a copy of the video. Good luck!
hi there my wife has been called as the Relief Society President in the Pacific Pines ward of the Gold Coast Stake. She is in the process of determining a program for the Relief Society birthday. This year is very special for our ward as the ward was created 3 weeks ago.
My wife would like to know how she download this video so that she can replay it at the special dinner that they are putting on.
Could you please send an email either to myself or my wife with the outcome to this request. My wife’s email address is [email protected]
Thank you in advance
Hi Natalie, I’m in Sydney-Australia. The video is absolutely beautiful, you are so talented in putting it all together. Please am I able to use it for our R/S 170th celebration. Regards, Tina Fungavaka
Hi Tina,
I don’t know that Natalie is checking this thread regularly. You can email her directly to ask her your question: nweames at (Gee)mail dot com
Good luck!
Hi
This video is so beautiful. What a talent you have Natalie! I hope to get a copy of this vedeo to share at RS birthday celebration how can I downloaded? Please let me know if this is possible. The people that was suppose to help with the program have cancel on me and I’ve been searching for a video that can uplift my sisters.
Thanks,
Elizabeth
Elizabeth,
You can email Natalie (see her comment above) to ask more details about the video. I’m not sure it’s downloadable, but I think she has been willing to send DVDs if there is time for that.
Many buildings have internet access, so you might be able to check out that option as well.
Good luck!
I would like to obtain a copy of this video if possible to share at our Relief Society Celebration in March.
Thank you
Mary Ann, thanks for your interest in the video. See above comment by Natalie about contacting her directly about receiving a copy.
I think this is a beautiful video is it possible that I can download it and share with my sisters here in Fl?
Hi Ebonnie,
See earlier comments about how to contact the woman who created this video about having a copy you can share with your sisters.