Finding Joy–Mormon Women’s Conference

An annual women’s conference to commemorate the anniversary of the Relief Society will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 5850 Lakeland Highlands Road in Lakeland on Saturday, March 13, 2010 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.   The theme for this year’s annual event is “Finding Joy”.  The conference will be highlighted by breakfast being served to the women, displays on the purposes of Relief Society, a program featuring the five wise virgins and the five foolish virgins, music, and messages from the Lakeland Stake Relief Society President, Sharon Friddle and the Lakeland Stake President, Karl R. Sweeney.  Women from ages sixteen and up are invited, and visitors are welcome.  On this year’s theme, Friddle said “”with all the turmoil in the world, sometimes joy eludes us.”   President Sweeney added, “There is no more important place for a spiritually-inclined woman in the Lakeland Stake to be than at this conference.   It will be uplifting for all those who attend.”

The Relief Society, organized March 17, 1842, will celebrate its 168th anniversary.  It is a worldwide women’s organization with approximately six million members in 170 countries according to The Church’s website [lds.org].  Silvia Allred, a counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency explains that Relief Society helps its members “strengthen their faith and grow spiritually by giving them leadership and teaching opportunities”.  In 1999 a Relief Society Declaration was presented to the general members of the Relief Society.   This declaration emphasizes that one of the purposes of this organization is to “delight in service and good works”.  The Relief Society motto is “charity never faileth”.  Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church confirms that “charity is at the heart of the Society”, and its members “have done and are able to do uncommon things for others and to find joy even when their own unmet needs are great.”