Relief Society Seal

[mordorbund]

So last Sunday we had the Sunday School lesson on the Nauvoo period, and spent the entire lesson talking about Relief Society. So I'm looking at the Relief Society seal, and got curious about what the particular items on it mean. I looked at the Church Handbook of Instruction, but it only calls out the motto. I looked online and only learned from Sister Beck that it has been simplified.

So does anyone know what the significance is of the various elements?

[Connie]

Emily W. Jensen: Relief Society symbols | Deseret News

[pam]

Emily W. Jensen: Relief Society symbols | Deseret News

[beefche]

Mordor, I think you should check out some article in the Deseret news from some woman named Emily something. I think she might have some info on it. But, I could be just making that up.

[mordorbund]

So we have elements with the following meanings:

• Relief Society - the current name of the organization
• RS - the organization's monogram
• Charity never faileth - the organization's motto
• 1842 - year the organization was founded
• Two sheaves of wheat - ???
• Torch - ???
• Rays of light - ???

One of our more seasoned sisters mentioned that the Relief Society used to have granaries and the wheat was probably a nod to that.

The explanation from the article are

• Two sheaves of wheat - “(Wheat is) an appropriate symbol for the Relief Society ... because of its association with assisting the poor and growth in intellect and spirit," calling out the organization's pioneer history. "Brigham Young asked Emmeline B. Wells in 1876 to encourage the sisters to “save grain.” This tradition of gleaning wheat and earning money for wheat would continue for decades afterwards. The wheat collected was used to feed the poor, given to farmers to grow, and ground into flour for those affected by natural disasters."
• Torch - “the knowledge from heaven referred to by Joseph Smith that would pour down on the organization.”
• Rays of light - a visual reinforcing that poured knowledge mentioned above I guess.

I tried to find a transcript of Connie Lamb's presentation so I could have some original sources (the ones I presume she used to come to these conclusions), but I couldn't find it. Is there anything more official than the repeated traditions (I'll at least settle for traditions repeated by Relief Society General presidents)?

[Connie]

I found this: Board Question #51108 | The 100 Hour Board

Not sure how helpful that is, but perhaps you can contact this Connie Lamb and see if she's done any more research.

[pam]

Mordor, I think you should check out some article in the Deseret news from some woman named Emily something. I think she might have some info on it. But, I could be just making that up.

That's a great idea. I wish I was as smart as you.