Relief Society Intrigues Iraqi Women

I see from a Salt Lake Tribune article found here, written by Peggy Fletcher Stack, that the RS has caught the attention of some folks in Iraq. Joan Betros, director of women’s and children’s family television programming for Iraqi Media Network, introduced the RS idea to an Iraqi colleage who reacted enthusiastically. The upshot is a nonprofit, nonreligious organization called FUTURE, that is, Families United Toward Universal Respect.

Two things struck me when reading the article. The first is the casual reference to the problems of corruption and the idea that volunteer efforts work against that particular challenge in developing nations. As Betros said, “They could see that through volunteerism, there is no corruption.”

Second, the Iraqi women associated with the idea visited Southern Virginia University, SLC, and Denver. In the description of these visits, which included traditional RS topics, Visiting Teaching, FHE, Welfare Square, and some time spent learning about city government in Denver, the most interesting comment is the last:

Nuha N.S. Ahmad Al-Algha, president of the Nintu Society, particularly liked the Humanitarian Center but was also drawn to the church’s vast genealogical holdings. “If you know your roots, you know your life. We are starting to lose family ties in Iraq. Everyone is running for himself.”

I hope that the RS model takes hold, but I also see that this once again demonstrates the appeal of genealogy. How many doors have been opened by just that one aspect our way of life?