Although service has always been the underlying purpose of the Relief Society, particular emphasis is being placed on it this year.

"During 1990," said the Relief Society general presidency in a prepared statement, "service as one way to assist in perfecting the saints is the focus we should like to stress."

The kind of service to which the presidency refers includes "the loving care given in and to our families, service in the Church wherever we are called, service in our communities, and response to the needs of those about us. It encompasses care for the aged, comfort extended to the bereaved, the divorced, the sick."The motto `Charity never faileth' exemplifies the care and concern the sisters have for each other and for those in need," said Relief Society Gen. Pres. Barbara W. Winder, who serves with her counselors, Joy F. Evans and Joanne B. Doxey.

"We should like to encourage every sister and every Relief Society unit to be aware of and respond to the needs they see about them - to follow the Savior. As we are told, He went about `doing good.' (Acts 10:30.)"

Throughout the Church worldwide, Relief Societies are answering this call to serve, and lovingly responding to the personal needs of both individual sisters and groups.

In Greece, for example, where Church members are scattered across great distances, Relief Society sisters make sure these needs are met through monthly visiting teaching.

"If the sisters cannot go sometimes because they live so far away, they always at least make a telephone call, and send the message by mail," said Anna Maria Garces, a Spanish member living in Greece.

Recently, Sister Garces challenged a sister she visit teaches to attend the temple.

"Two months ago, this sister called me and told me my message had been accepted," she said. "Now she is working toward going to the temple."

By being aware of sisters' individual struggles and challenges, Christlike service is rendered on a personal, one-on-one level.

"Service doesn't have to be given just through a special project," said Janet Sincavage, stake Relief Society president in the New Orleans Louisiana Stake. "We have to learn to go beyond our immediate circle of the self and the family."

Sister Sincavage related an experience in which a ward Relief Society made it possible for an ill, elderly widow to go to the Washington Temple.

"She had a great desire to attend the temple, but she had to have kidney dialysis three times a week, and her finances were restricted," related Sister Sincavage. "Faithful sisters rallied around her, and one member found a friend in Washington D.C., who said, `We'd be happy to take care of her; send her up here.' Through everyone's combined efforts, she received medical care while there, transportation to the temple was arranged, and someone was at the temple to take care of her."

"I see everyday service around me, just through people's kindness to others in the grocery store, or holding a door open," she added. "Just thoughtful things that make people feel better."

Thinking of others is what compelled Addie Fuhriman to organize a gargantuan quilting project for the new Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City.

"We do a women's conference each spring," said Sister Fuhriman, stake Relief Society president of the Draper Utah Stake. "We felt that it would be really great if we could keep orienting it toward others."

When she found out that the new children's hospital had 176 beds that needed blankets, Sister Fuhriman immediately made the commitment to produce that many quilts.

"There's been a great enthusiasm," she said. "Everyone's hearts just go out to these children. The Relief Society exists to provide relief, whether it's emotional, spiritual or physical. This kind of service is just an extension of ourselves."

In the Philippines, service has taken a new direction, as sisters are being taught how to serve themselves.

"The Church welfare program has come out with this basic self-reliance lesson manual," explained Isabel Cannon, wife of Elder George I. Cannon, president of the Philippines/Micronesia Area. "We pair the sister missionaries up with members, and they go out and teach health and welfare principles to those who need them. We always adapt the lessons to their own needs."

Such needs might be seen as mundane to some, but fulfilling them is essential to the sisters in the Philippines.

"It's hard to be strong spiritually when you're not strong temporally," said Sister Cannon. "This kind of service is a great resource to the sisters here."