Relief Society & President Bush

I think it is so neat that whenever the President of the United States comes to Utah, he makes it a point to recognize/visit with the General Relief Society President of the LDS Church. That has been a long tradition ever since President Wilson visited Utah in 1919 and insisted on calling the Relief Society president, 91-year-old Emmeline B. Wells, "to thank the Relief Society for providing more than 200,000 bushels of wheat to the government during World War I" (http://www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/1,5143,700230552,00.html).

Each president since Wilson has continued the tradition of recognizing the Relief Society President. President Bush visited Utah last week, and upon landing, was greeted by dignitaries Gov. Jon and Mary Kaye Huntsman, HHS Secretary Mike and Jacalyn Leavitt, along with General Relief Society President Julie Beck. Sister Beck was also invited to a very rare tour of Air Force One along with Church President Thomas S. Monson and his second counselor, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf.

The women of the Relief Society throughout the world have offered numberless hours of service to people throughout the world and their service has been recognized once again by the most powerful position in the world. I feel lucky to know great women in the Church who are part of the Relief Society, and to see their examples of service. I have benefited greatly in my life from the service given by these wonderful women.