I often worry about my children and grandchildren who live far away from me. I feel guilty that I am not there to help them in their times of need. In particularly, my son and his wife have four children. The last little girl was born with spina bifida. We are grateful to have her in our family and she has taught us so much. Little Lily Ruth cannot feel her legs nor will she ever be able to walk unless a miracle happens. She looks physically like other children because she has received excellent care at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Lily Ruth had two surgeries right after her birth. The first was to close the opening in her back where her spine projected. Then they had to insert a shunt into her head that empties into her stomach to keep the fluid from building up and causing problems with her brain. She wore casts and braces on her legs for the first several months of her life day and night, and now only has to wear braces at night. Her feet have straightened out so they look very normal. Her mother has to catheterize her every four hours all day because she is unable to void on her own.

I traveled a couple of times to Utah to help with Lily and my other children when she was small to give them a little relief. Because my son Joel, Lily’s father, travels quite a bit with his work, he is not always able to be there to give his wife the support she needs. However, I am consoled by the fact that I know she has the Relief Society sisters in our church there to help her.

One lady in Meilani's ward (a unit of the LDS church) offered to take the baby one morning a week to give her a rest. When the baby was first born, the ladies in the ward took meals over to the family every day for a week so they didn’t have to worry about buying or fixing food. The meals were well planned and nutritional. The food lasted well over a week. The other children in the family are seven, five and two years of age. The Relief Society also scheduled the young women in the ward to take the older children to play at the local playground once a week.

I am grateful to belong to the oldest Women’s Organization in the world. I feel that this organization is much more than just a club or clique.

Relief Society includes all women 18 years of age and older, as well as women younger than 18 who are married or are single mothers. There are about 6 million sisters in Relief Society. Relief Society has spread throughout the world into nearly 170 countries since its organization on March 17, 1842, by the Prophet Joseph Smith.

The sisters were asked by the Prophet Joseph Smith to assist the brethren “in looking to the wants of the poor—searching after objects of charity, and in administering to their wants.” The sisters took this call to heart and became a society devoted to seeking out the poor and needy. (See Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 452.) “Charity Never Faileth” stems from the first Relief Society meeting.

"On 17 March 1842 the Prophet Joseph Smith organized the Relief Society, the Lord's organization for women. Relief Society is important to the Lord. I know that. Relief Society offers a save haven from the difficulties in this world. With direction from Priesthood leaders, the main goal is to help us come to Christ. There is no greater cause today.

Much humanitarian service is given to people of all walks of life through the Relief Society. I have learned so much from this society and I am so glad to know they are there to help my son and his little family as well as my other children and their families.