Relief Society Activities and Elders Quorum Activities: A Planning Guide for Presidencies
Relief Society and elders quorum activities are optional gatherings for adult members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, planned by each presidency in counsel with the bishop. They strengthen members' desire to make and keep covenants and give them chances to gather and serve together.
This guide is about the how: who plans, what the handbook allows, how the two organizations work together, and what an activity costs. For the what, go straight to our lists of Relief Society activity ideas and elders quorum activity ideas.
What are Relief Society and the elders quorum?
Relief Society "is a divinely instituted organization for all adult women in the Church." The General Handbook explains that "the Prophet Joseph Smith taught that the purpose of Relief Society is to save souls and relieve suffering." Its motto is "Charity never faileth" (General Handbook 9.1.1).
The elders quorum is "an organized group of priesthood holders" in each ward. It includes all elders and prospective elders in the ward. "Members of the elders quorum work together to help accomplish God's work of salvation and exaltation. They serve others, fulfill priesthood duties, build unity, and learn and live doctrine" (General Handbook 8.1.1).
Both organizations meet on the second and fourth Sundays of the month for 50 minutes. Activities are separate from those Sunday meetings.
What does the handbook say about their activities?
The guidance for both organizations is nearly identical, which makes joint planning easier.
| Topic | Relief Society (GH 9.2.1.3) | Elders quorum (GH 8.2.1.3) |
|---|---|---|
| Who may plan | "Relief Society presidencies may plan activities." | "Elders quorum presidencies may plan activities." |
| Who oversees | The president, who may ask a counselor or another sister to lead | The president, who may ask a counselor or another quorum member to lead |
| Bishop's role | "Presidencies discuss activities with the bishop as part of their planning." | Same |
| Purpose | Strengthen sisters' desires to make and keep covenants; gather and serve together | Strengthen quorum members' desires to make and keep covenants; gather and serve together |
| Extra help | An activity coordinator, assistants, or committee members may be called | Quorum members may be assigned to help |
Sources: General Handbook 9 and General Handbook 8.
Notice what the handbook does not say: there is no required number of activities each month or year. Presidencies decide based on the needs of members.
What general activity rules apply to adults?
Chapter 20 of the General Handbook applies to every Church activity, including adult activities (General Handbook chapter 20):
- Simple and low-cost. "Most activities should be simple and have little or no cost. Any expenses must be approved in advance by the bishopric or stake presidency."
- Members do not usually pay. "Members should not usually pay to participate in activities."
- Not a burden. "Members should not be made to feel obligated to attend every activity. Activities should not put undue burdens on leaders and members."
- Inclusive. "Those who plan activities should reach out to all, especially new members, less-active members, youth, single adults, those with disabilities, and people of other faiths."
- Standards. Activities should be uplifting; substances contrary to the Word of Wisdom are not permitted.
- Prayer. Activities should be opened, and when appropriate closed, with prayer.
- Monday nights. "No Church activities, meetings, or baptismal services should be held after 6:00 p.m. on Mondays" (20.5.3), with limited exceptions such as young single adult and single adult activities.
- Balance. Plan a balance of service, cultural arts, and physical activities.
How do Relief Society and elders quorum work together?
Both chapters say members of the Relief Society and elders quorum "work in unity to help accomplish this work." Joint activities are a natural way to do that, especially for:
- Service projects like freezer meals, yard days, or move-in crews.
- Family activities like a ward picnic or chili cook-off. See our ward chili cook-off guide.
- Ministering coordination nights where companionships plan together.
- Self-reliance workshops on budgeting, emergency preparedness, or employment.
- Temple and family history nights.
Elders quorum and Relief Society may also occasionally combine for a Sunday lesson, coordinated by the bishopric and both presidencies.
How do you plan adult activities people actually attend?
- Start with ministering insight. Ask ministering brothers and sisters what members need right now.
- Choose one purpose. Friendship, service, a skill, or spiritual renewal.
- Rotate times. Weeknights, Saturday mornings, and occasional daytime events reach different members.
- Make it family-friendly when helpful. Many young parents can only attend if children can come.
- Invite personally. A personal text or call beats an announcement.
- Keep it short and simple. Ninety minutes is plenty for most activities.
- Follow up. Thank helpers and ask what members would like next.
Activity planning calendar (sample)
| Month | Relief Society | Elders quorum | Joint |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Goal-setting brunch | Personal finance night | , |
| February | Valentine's service | Basketball night | , |
| March | Self-reliance workshop | Car care night | , |
| April | Easter devotional | Yard day for older members | , |
| May | Garden seed swap | Fishing trip | , |
| June | Park picnic | Father-and-kids breakfast | Ward picnic |
| July | Pioneer recipes | Dutch oven night | Pioneer Day breakfast |
| August | Canning class | Move-in crew sign-up | , |
| September | Super Saturday | Emergency prep check | , |
| October | Soup night | Firewood service | Chili cook-off + trunk or treat |
| November | Gratitude dinner | Home repair day | Thanksgiving service |
| December | Christmas devotional | Snow shoveling brigade | Ward Christmas party |
Adapt this to your ward's needs. Not every month needs an activity.
Where are the activity idea lists?
- Relief Society activity ideas. Sixty ideas by season, plus Super Saturday classes and a planning checklist.
- Elders quorum activity ideas. Forty service, skills, brotherhood, and family ideas, with a backup plan for bad weather.
- Ward Christmas party ideas. Themes and programs for the biggest ward activity of the year.
- Ward chili cook-off. The classic joint fall activity.
What about childcare during adult activities?
If you offer childcare, the Church's child safety policies apply. At least two responsible adults must be present with children, and adults who work with children must complete the children and youth protection training. Youth may help, but adults stay in charge. Coordinate with the bishopric before promising childcare.
Do adult activities need forms or waivers?
Adult-only activities do not need parental permission. However:
- Higher-risk activities (kayaking, climbing, power tools) need careful safety planning, and venues may require their own waivers. Church units may not sponsor activities with "a high risk of injury or illness".
- Youth or children joining an overnight activity, lengthy travel, or higher-risk activity need written parent permission using the Church's Permission and Medical Release form.
- Incidents during Church activities should be reported at incidents.ChurchofJesusChrist.org as the handbook directs.
When children or youth join an overnight or higher-risk adult activity, parents still sign. You can text parents one Ward Waivers link. They read the details and sign on their phone, and you see who still needs to sign. It does not replace any official form your bishop or stake president asks you to use. Set up your activity. See our Forms & Safety hub.
How do you include single adults and members with disabilities?
The handbook asks planners to reach out to single adults and those with disabilities. A few practical steps:
- Avoid "couples only" framing for general activities.
- Choose accessible locations and seat members with mobility needs near the action.
- Ask, don't assume. Talk privately with members or their families about what would help them participate.
- Offer roles. Inviting someone to teach a skill or help with setup builds belonging.
What makes an adult activity spiritually meaningful without feeling like a lesson?
Not every activity needs a formal lesson to strengthen covenants. Often the most meaningful part is the service, the friendships, or a short moment of reflection. A few simple ways to keep activities centered on the Savior:
- Open with a sincere prayer and, if it fits, a two-minute spiritual thought from a member.
- Connect the activity to a purpose. A freezer-meal night becomes ministering when the meals go to families who need them.
- Let members share. A short "where have you seen the Lord's hand this month?" moment can be optional and powerful.
- End on time. Respecting members' time is a form of ministering too.
How do you budget for Relief Society and elders quorum activities?
Each organization works from the ward budget, and expenses must be approved in advance by the bishopric. A few tips:
- Plan the year early and share a rough calendar with the bishop so the budget can be allocated fairly.
- Prefer simple over elaborate. The handbook says "Most activities should be simple and have little or no cost."
- Share supplies between organizations, such as tablecloths, slow cookers, and craft tools.
- Avoid asking members to pay, and be careful that potluck assignments do not become a burden.
How do stake Relief Society and elders quorum activities fit in?
Stakes may also plan activities for adults. According to the General Handbook, stake Relief Society presidencies "begin the process of planning stake activities for their organizations," and "all stake activities require the approval of the stake presidency." Stake leaders notify ward leaders well in advance and "ensure that stake activities supplement ward activities rather than compete with them." Stake women's events, multi-ward service days, and stake-wide self-reliance workshops are common examples. When a stake activity is on the calendar, wards can skip or simplify their own activity that month.
How do you evaluate adult activities?
After each activity, take two minutes in a presidency meeting to ask: Did it help members draw closer to the Savior? Who came for the first time? Who did we miss? What would we change? Keep brief notes so future presidencies can learn from what worked.
What does a six-week activity planning timeline look like?
| When | Steps |
|---|---|
| 6 weeks out | Presidency picks the purpose (service, friendship, skill, spiritual); discuss with the bishop; reserve the building |
| 4 weeks out | Submit the budget for bishopric approval; assign a lead (counselor, activity coordinator, or quorum member) |
| 3 weeks out | Post the sign-up sheet; plan childcare if offered (two adults, protection-trained) |
| 2 weeks out | Ministering brothers and sisters invite personally |
| 1 week out | Reminder text; confirm supplies and setup crew |
| Day of | Open with prayer; keep to 90 minutes |
| 1 week after | Thank helpers; note what to change next time |
What do adult activities cost?
All figures are estimates for about 40 adults in the United States. They vary widely by area.
| Activity | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Service night (freezer meals, kits) | $60 to $200 for supplies |
| Skills workshop taught by members | $0 to $50 |
| Dinner with main dish provided | $120 to $300 |
| Joint ward picnic | $150 to $400 |
| Speaker or class with outside fee | Ask first; members should not usually pay to participate |
Joint service sign-up sheet layout
| Role | Relief Society | Elders quorum | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project lead | One from each organization | ||
| Supplies | List items and who buys them | ||
| Setup (2 or 3 people) | 30 minutes early | ||
| Childcare (2 adults) | Protection training completed | ||
| Food | Keep potluck assignments light | ||
| Cleanup (2 or 3 people) | Last out locks up | ||
| Follow-up thank-you notes | Within a week |
What should a ward announcement for a joint activity say?
Keep it short and give people one way to respond:
Relief Society and elders quorum are hosting [activity] on [day, date] at [time] at [place]. Everyone is welcome, including friends and neighbors. [Childcare / bring a side dish / wear work clothes]. Sign up at the link below or reply to this text so we can plan food and supplies.
Put it in the ward bulletin, read it in both meetings, and send it as a text about a week before.
Frequently asked questions
Who plans Relief Society and elders quorum activities?
Each presidency may plan activities. The president oversees them and may ask a counselor or another member to lead the planning. Presidencies discuss activities with the bishop.
How often should Relief Society or elders quorum hold activities?
The General Handbook does not set a frequency. Presidencies plan based on members' needs and avoid putting undue burdens on leaders and members.
Can Relief Society and elders quorum hold joint activities?
Yes. Both chapters describe the Relief Society and elders quorum working in unity, and joint service projects and family activities are common.
What is the purpose of Relief Society activities?
Activities should strengthen sisters' desires to make and keep covenants and give them opportunities to gather and serve together, helping accomplish the purposes of Relief Society.
Do members pay for adult activities?
Generally no. Members should not usually pay to participate in activities, and expenses must be approved in advance by the bishopric.
Can we hold an adult activity on Monday night?
Generally no. No Church activities should be held after 6:00 p.m. on Mondays, though young single adults and single adults may hold activities on Monday nights.
Who plans stake Relief Society activities?
Stake Relief Society presidencies begin the process of planning stake activities for their organization. All stake activities require the approval of the stake presidency and are coordinated in stake council meetings.
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