(Photo courtesy Mormon Newsroom)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced last November that the annual Relief Society and Young Women’s meetings will be combined and occur semianually.
What started as only 20 women gathered above a dried foods store has transformed into a general women’s conference hosting millions of women and girls. The announcement encouraged the attendance of women, young women and girls ages 8 and older.
Speakers for the upcoming session will include a member of the First Presidency as well as the general presidents of the Relief Society, Young Women and Primary organizations.
“I think the experience of watching the meeting with my girls will be invaluable, and everyone who can should go,” said Linda Kanter, a Provo resident and mother of two teenage girls. “With the world the way it is today we need to start teaching our children better at a younger age, and that’s what this meeting is all about.”
Kanter is not the only one encouraging attendance of the upcoming broadcast. The Public Affairs Department of the LDS Church recently issued a statement directed toward the Ordain Women group regarding the meeting.
“The women’s meeting is a remarkable gathering of worldwide sisterhood,” according to the Church Public Affairs department. “It is a time to focus on ennobling and eternal doctrines relating to women.”
Mary Jane Woodger, an associate religion professor at BYU, said she thinks the chance young girls and adults alike have to participate in the meeting is a sign that the Lord is hastening the work.
“I think that the fact that the prophet has decided to have girls come at the age of accountability says a great deal,” Woodger said. “The Lord is trying to prepare and fortify them for what is to come and help them understand the wonderful role they play in the Church.”
The general women’s meeting will be held Saturday, March 29, at 6 p.m. at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City and will be broadcast worldwide on BYUtv.
