RELIEF SOCIETY TIMELINE

March 1842-1844 Female Relief Society of Nauvoo begins with 20 members-ends with 1341 members.
1844-1866 No church wide organization of Relief Society, but some wards organized their own Relief Society
1866 Female Relief Society is organized in Utah in every ward
1870's-1900 Silk industry begins under Relief Society supervision- flourishes for 25 years
1876 Wheat storage program of Relief Society begins- 102 year project
1876 Relief Society sister's handwork displayed in Centennial Exhibit in Philadelphia
Relief Society Centennial display of handwork held in Salt Lake City
Women's Commission Store begins
1877 Women's Exponent begins publication
1880 Church Jubilee: There are 300 Branches of Relief Society in the church
1882 Deseret Maternity Hospital is established
April 6, 1889 First Relief Society General Conference is held
1889 Child welfare emphasis in Relief Society
1890 Relief Society becomes a charter member of National Council of Women
1892 Relief Society is incorporated-name is changed to National Women's Relief Society
1898 Dues are instituted- 10 cents a year payable in October
1901 Plans and fund raising begin for a General Relief Society Building
1902 Mother's classes first organized lesson material for all Relief Societies
1906 Relief Society sends train load of wheat and flour to San Francisco earthquake victims
1910 Relief Society Motto Charity Never Faileth is formally adopted
1914 Relief Society dues are increased to 25 cents payable January 1
1914 Relief Society Magazine begins publication-Women's Exponent ceases publication
1915 First General Relief Society Handbook- Circular of Instructions
1918 Relief Society wheat is sold to the United States G9overnment for $412,000
1919 Relief Society Social Services begins-Amy Lyman first director
1920 Dues are raised to 50 cents a year-half stays in Ward-half to General Board
1923 Visiting Teachers begin taking messages to their sisters
1934 Singing Mother Choruses begin
1937 Mormon Handicraft begins as a commission store
1940-1970 Relief Society welfare work diminished as Church Welfare Department develops
1940 Relief Society once again invests in and begins storing wheat
1942 Blue and Gold become the official Relief Society colors
1942 Name of Relief Society changed to Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
1956 Relief Society building dedicated-built entirely by Relief Society donations-$500,000
1966 Work Meeting becomes Homemaking Meeting-Mini classes develop
1970 Relief Society Magazine ceases publication-replaced by Ensign for adults
1971 All women of The Church 18 and older enrolled as member of Relief Society-no more dues
1970 Nauvoo Monument to Women is dedicated
1975 Relief Society General Conferences are discontinued
1978 Relief Society turns wheat and storage facilities over to the Priesthood
1980 Consolidated meeting schedule of Church begins-Relief Society to be held on Sunday
1986 First BYU Relief Society Women's Conference
1992 First Relief Society Satellite Broadcast
1992 150 years of Relief Society
1995 The Family Proclamation is introduced at Relief Society Broadcast
1999 Homemaking Meeting changed to Home Family & Personal Enrichment Meeting
1999 Relief Society Declaration introduced
2006 4.5 million members of Relief Society in 165 countries