How to Handle a New Relief Society Presidency Call Smoothly
Getting called to serve as a counselor or sister missionary teacher in a Relief Society presidency is not complicated, but there are enough moving parts that things can go sideways quickly if you do not know the protocol. I have been through two calls and helped organize the transfer of at least a dozen ward presidencies, so here is what actually matters. The bishopric will meet with you first. This is where the call is officially extended and you learn the timeline. Expect the meeting to take about twenty minutes. The bishop will ask if you accept the calling, confirm your availability, and outline the general responsibilities. Do not try to negotiate terms at this meeting. If you have scheduling conflicts, mention them factually, then move on. The bishopric needs to know what they are working with, but this is not the place for detailed planning discussions. After the bishopric meeting, you will meet with the stake relief society president. This is usually a phone call or a casual coffee meeting, depending on your stake. The stake president will share his vision for the quarter and may give you general guidance on programs and priorities. This meeting typically lasts fifteen to thirty minutes. Take notes. You will need them.
Once the calling is sealed, you have roughly two weeks to prepare before the new quarter begins. Most women underestimate how much time this actually takes. Here is a practical checklist of what needs to happen: Notify your ward Relief Society sisters that there is a leadership change coming. Send a brief, warm email through the ward management system or use the Relief Society class email. Keep it simple. State that a new presidency is being called and you look forward to serving together. Coordinate with the outgoing presidency to get access to ward files, lesson materials, and any ongoing projects. Request the ward Relief Society curriculum plan for the current quarter so you can plan ahead. This is where most new presidencies stumble. They do not ask early enough and then spend the first two weeks scrambling to catch up.
Set up a shared calendar for the presidency. Google Calendar or the Church's shared calendar tools work fine. Put in all the standard dates: missionary training night, primary activities, sacrament meeting schedules, and any stake or ward meetings. Block out time for your presidency meetings. These should be weekly, lasting about an hour. Review the Relief Society manual for the quarter. Spend time understanding the topic themes and the lesson structure. You do not need to prepare every lesson yourself, but you need to know what is coming so you can delegate appropriately.
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Running a Functional Relief Society Presidency
The biggest mistake I see new Relief Society presidencies make is trying to do everything themselves. A Relief Society presidency has three roles, and each one needs a distinct focus. The president manages the overall direction and spiritual tone of the class. The first counselor typically handles logistics, scheduling, and communications. The second counselor often focuses on outreach, member home teaching coordination, and welfare-related activities. This is not a rigid rule, but it is a useful framework that prevents overlap and burnout. Your presidency meetings are the backbone of everything. During these meetings, you review the upcoming quarter, assign lessons, coordinate missionary teaching assignments, and discuss any welfare concerns for sisters in the ward. I used to run my presidency meetings for two hours because we never stuck to an agenda. Now I keep them to forty-five minutes by requiring everyone to read ahead and come prepared with updates. The difference is night and day. Lesson planning is where most of the workload sits. Each counselor is responsible for preparing lessons for approximately eight weeks per quarter. The lesson is a forty-five-minute class period that includes singing, prayer, scripture study, and discussion. Do not try to make every lesson spectacular. A solid, well-prepared lesson is better than an occasional masterpiece. Use the Church's curriculum resources, which include suggested activities, scriptures, and discussion questions. Adapt them to your class composition.
One thing nobody tells you about the New Relief Society Presidency is the amount of time you spend on what I call quiet welfare outreach. You will learn quickly which sisters in your ward are struggling, and you will need to respond. This might mean coordinating with the bishopric for assistance, arranging home teaching, or simply checking in. It is emotionally draining work, and it happens alongside regular lesson planning and meeting coordination. Budget time for it, or it will consume you unexpectedly.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
Here are the problems I have seen repeatedly, and what actually works around them: Problem: The presidency loses track of missionary teaching assignments. Missionaries need consistent assignments, and when leadership changes mid-quarter, this falls apart easily. Workaround: Create a spreadsheet the week you receive your call. List every missionary pair, their contact information, and their teaching assignment schedule. Update it monthly. Share it with the stake mission president's secretary so she can flag changes early. Problem: Class attendance drops off after the first month. This is normal. The initial enthusiasm fades. Workaround: Assign each counselor to personally reach out to five sisters each month who have missed class. A simple text or phone call makes a difference. Do not group this into a big email blast. Personal contact matters more than volume.
Problem: The presidency burns out from overcommitment. This happens when you agree to every stake activity and ward project without filtering through your actual capacity. Workaround: Before committing to anything, run it through a simple test: does this directly serve our Relief Society class members or our missionaries? If the answer is no, decline politely. You are not obligated to serve on every ward committee. Problem: Curriculum feels stale and uninspiring. This is a real concern, especially if you are teaching the same topics year after year. Workaround: Incorporate current Church general conference talks into your lessons. Use the Church's Gospel Doctrine curriculum as a supplement, not a replacement. Rotate discussion leaders among your more experienced sisters occasionally. Fresh voices refresh the class energy.
What to Expect in Your First 90 Days
Month one is pure orientation. You will spend most of your time learning systems, meeting people, and figuring out the rhythm of your ward. Do not expect to be highly productive yet. Month two is when things start to settle. You will know your routines, your class dynamics, and your workload. Month three is where most new presidencies either find their groove or start to feel the strain. Pay attention to how you are feeling around week ten. If you are exhausted, you need to reassess your commitments immediately. The New Relief Society Presidency is a calling that requires balance more than brilliance. It is not about producing flawless lessons or organizing elaborate events. It is about showing up consistently, caring for the sisters in your ward, and helping them feel seen and supported. The administrative work is real, but it is manageable if you stay organized from day one. If you are considering accepting a call, do not wait for the perfect moment. The calling itself is usually the motivation you need. Prepare well, lean on your counselor and the bishopric when you need help, and remember that you are not expected to do everything alone.
