An Online Comment About Relief Society Lessons

I was browsing X (formerly known as Twitter) and one of the accounts I follow posted the following:

I feel like Relief Society lessons almost always turn into “Just love others” and “Do the small, tiny, things daily” and it’s… *deflated balloon noise*

The first comment that someone made on this post read, “What would the ideal Relief Society lesson be like in your opinion?” to which this woman responded:

Not dumbed down to “even just a tiny smile can change the world”. More centered on Jesus and how he can help us as sisters in our path of life. More about our divine nature and strengths as women. I need some rallying oomph from the sisterhood!

What has your experience been? Hopefully you are receiving that “oomph” from your quorums and organizations as you meet with them, but if not, what do you do?

Some additional comments on that post are as follows:

• “My wife says the same thing.”
• “I wish we got more meat than milk at church but perhaps that’s the micro application of wheat and tares. The Lord wants to see how we will spend our time, what we will prioritize, and how diligent we will be with seeking to find His mysteries.”
• “Yeah I think it’s a bring your own meat to the meeting or else you only get milk. I’m lacking in beefing up lol but for real…”
• “I always walk away wishing things were more real, too. But I think for that to happen, there needs to be trust. And often people aren’t willing to put the work into having that type of relationship with the individuals in there.”
• “Yes, it involves a lot of trust to get real and say what’s on your mind spiritually. We are a newly realigned ward so we’re working on that aspect but it’s coming along.”
• “We often hear, “You’re perfect the way you are, Oh My Goodness, you’re so beautiful, la, la, la.” The last thing I want to hear. We need Jesus!!”
• “Yes! Not nearly enough calls to repentance in RS!”
• “I really miss the days when women learned practical things in Relief Society like homemaking, caring for the elderly, raising kids. I also miss the lessons about art, education, and travel. I have really seen how so many of our grown young women suffer from the lack of these type of lessons.”
• “I would love to go to more Relief Society activities that were more practical. Teach practical skills and relate it spiritually.”
• “I think stuff like this is part of the reason there has been such an emphasis on individual and family study. We should do what we can to uplift the lessons we are in and teach but we can’t rely on others for the knowledge and understanding we need.”
• “I am so glad to hear this from someone else besides me and my daughters. I get so much more out of Relief Society when I ignore the lesson and read the scriptures.”
• “These comments are making me thankful for the ward I moved in to last year. Granted, I don’t attend RS, but Sunday School and Priesthood have been spot-on and testimony growing. Just a suggestion, learn to be a discussion driver.”
• “If there’s something from that week’s lesson material you loved, found interesting, or had a question about, bring it up. You’re probably not the only one who thought about it, and it may spur a good discussion.”

One thought I had as I was reading these comments was focusing on teaching in the Savior’s way. Here are some principles that are listed in the General Handbook to help enhance the teaching in the ward.

When teaching the gospel, parents, teachers, and leaders follow the example of Jesus Christ, who is the Master Teacher. Teaching in the Savior’s way is a sacred trust and responsibility.

Leaders share the following principles of Christlike teaching with teachers in their organizations. These principles are explained in more detail in Teaching in the Savior’s Way.