Clarissa Smith Williams
When Clarissa
Smith Williams became the sixth general president of the Relief Society, women
in the United States
Much of
Clarissa’s efforts regarding social, humanitarian, and welfare work helped pave
the way for today’s Church welfare system. The Relief Society established a
training program for nurses’ aides. Five loan funds in honor of the past
general presidents of the Relief Society were created at Clarissa’s request.
The funds were awarded to female upper-division students, nursing students, and
poets and were also used to assist in temple work. The first uniform monthly
visiting teaching messages were published in the Relief Society Magazine.
“We have been given such blessings as have
never been given to women in any other age,” Clarissa said, “and we should in
every way endeavor to live up to them.”
