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A Song for Relief Society Birthday Commemoration
By Shiloah
Baker
President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "People wonder what we do for our women. I'll
tell you what we do. We get out of their way and look with wonder at what
they're accomplishing."
When the Relief Society was in the process of being formed, Sarah M. Kimball
and her seamstress, Margret Cook, were the sister's who offered to supply the
materials and sew the shirts. When they asked other sister's to help, their
decided their efforts would be more fruitful if they formed a ladies society.
The Prophet commented that the constitution and bylaws they submitted to him
were the best he had ever seen. However he said, "This is not what the Sisters
want, there is something better for them." That “something better” was soon to
become the beginning a divinely inspired organization for women to not only give
charity, but to save souls.
In year 1842 the Relief Society was officially organized. Over a hundred years
later, we live in the fullness of times. We are blessed with so much rich
history from faithful sisters who have gone before us; who have taught us so
much and who have given us much while paving the way for us today. The Relief
Society sisters give charity to not only people all over the world, but most
importantly to the sisters within our own wards and stakes.
While celebrating the Relief Society Birthday, hand in hand, it would be a
wonderful idea to sing a song written in honor of this organization. The
following song was written by Mrs. Emily Hill Woodmansee in 1892 for the
fiftieth anniversary of the Relief Society. A large jubilee was held in Salt
Lake City, Utah where the song was sung.
Oh, Blest Was the Day
(Tune: Star Spangled Banner)
Verse 1
Oh, blest was the day when the Prophet and Seer,
Who stands at the head of this last dispensation,
Inspir’d from above by “The Father” of Love,
Form’d the Daughters of Zion’s great Organization.
Its purpose, indeed, is to comfort and feed
The honest and poor in distress and in need.
Chorus:
Oh, the Daughters of Zion, the friends of the poor,
Should be patterns of faith, hope, and charity, pure.
Verse 2
Oh! Daughters of Truth, ye have causes to rejoice,
Lo! The key of advancement is placed in your keeping,
To help with your might whatsoever is right,
To gladden their hearts who are weary of weeping;
By commandment divine, Zion’s daughters must shine,
And all of the sex, e’en as one should combine;
For a oneness of action success will ensure,
In resisting the wrongs that ‘tis wrong to endure.
Chorus
Verse 3:
O woman! God gave thee the longing to bless;
Thy touch like Compassion’s, is warm and caressing;
There is power in thy weakness to soften distress,
To brighten the gloom and the darkness depressing:
And not in the rear, hence, need woman appear;
Her star is ascending, her zenith is near.
Like an angel of mercy, she’ll stand in the van,
The joy of the world, and the glory of man.
Chorus
Verse 4:
Oh, be of good cheer, far-extending we see,
The rosy-hued dawn like a vision of beauty;
Its glory and light can interpreted be:
Go on in the pathway of love and of duty!
The brave, earnest soul will arrive at its goal;
True heroes are crowned as the ages unroll;
There is blessing in blessing, admit it we must,
And there’s honor in helping a cause that is just.
Chorus
Notes:
National Press Club appearance, March 8, 2000
Relief Society Magazine, March 1923
Shiloah Baker is a mother of seven children and
homemaker who resides in North Carolina. She is the owner of Homemaking Cottage
& Co., a website which offers homemaking related articles, books, eBooks, ideas,
other homemaking related materials, and a subscription service. For more
information go to:
http://www.homemakingcottage.com/
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