Talk about an ice breaker!

I have held many positions in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the largest organizations there is in the world for women.  I held the position of President of the Relief Society in our ward for approximately four years from 1969 to 1972.

            I was just 33 years old and so new to conducting meetings and also so very timid and scared of making any mistakes. The organization is to improve and help develop home making skills, communication skills, Family and Parenting skills, to learn out of the best books, and learn more about the theology of the Church.  When I was first called to this position it was my duty in this calling to conduct some of the meetings and the councilors would take turns with me in conducting.  Shortly after this calling came to me the women of the church was told that they would no longer be an independent organization of the church but would be joined to the church as an auxiliary of the church.  So being my duty to make this announcement I would be explaining that we would no longer raise our own funds and so we would no longer have bazaars. The bazaars were the way the Relief Society funded their organizations all over in the church. To help the sisters understand this huge change I had to explain that we were now an auxiliary of the Church and would be supported by the church and we would have to work from a budget.  That would mean no more Bazaars. So as I was explaining my words came out totally different that I would have ever expected. I announced that we would no longer have brassieres. Everyone in the whole room started laughing as the women seen all the women of the church going bra less.  During this time in history the whole nation seemed to be in a movement that it was sexy for women to go without a bra. After we all had a session of laughter I explained that it was no more bazaars and no the LDS women was not joining the movement. Talk about an ice breaker from then on I never had a fear of conducting any meeting as we all laughed together. And I think I laughed harder than any of the other women there that day.