When Women Lift One Another, Communities Rise

As communities across Canada mark International Women’s Day, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are celebrating the 2026 theme “Give To Gain” by honouring the quiet, transformative ways women strengthen one another. From ministering visits to community outreach to a Mom and Me Camp, women across the country are demonstrating that when they lift one another, entire communities rise.

Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson has called the day “both a celebration and a call to action,” inviting women to “unleash the full power of women” by giving their time, talents and support. This principle is being lived out daily in homes, congregations and neighbourhoods, as women offer presence, encouragement and belonging. It is an approach centred around generosity, collaboration and mutual support.

Mom and Me Camp

In 2010, two young mothers with small children longed to take their families camping. Their husbands’ work schedules made it impossible for them to go as families, and going alone felt intimidating. Rather than abandon the idea, they chose something simple and powerful — they invited other mothers to join them.

That first summer, a small group of women gathered with their children at the Thomas S. Monson Camp near Peterborough, Ontario. They set up tents together, shared meals, watched one another’s toddlers and talked late into the night around the fire. What began as a practical solution and a way to overcome fear became something much deeper — a place of encouragement, shared strength and belonging.

Sixteen years later, the annual Mom and Me Camp welcomes more than 200 mothers and children, making it the largest and longest-running gathering of its kind at the camp. Families have formed lasting friendships, mothers have grown more confident and children have grown up watching women collaborate with and lift one another.

Lori LaFrance, area organization adviser from Oshawa, Ontario, said, “When women choose to lift one another, God multiplies the impact.” What began with two women saying, “I can’t do this alone” has become a living example of the International Women’s Day theme: When women give support, courage and companionship, everyone gains.

Service That Strengthens Communities

Across Canada, Young Women and Relief Society organizations reflect the “Give To Gain” theme through acts of service: preparing meals for people experiencing homelessness, supporting local charities, mentoring youth, strengthening families through community outreach and reaching out to those who feel alone.

These small, consistent acts create a ripple effect that can change lives. Anne‑Marie Valois, area organization adviser from Vaudreuil‑Dorion, Quebec, said, “Women all have gifts, and the way they choose to share those gifts may change their world. Sharing our gifts strengthens the relationships we have with others.”

Following the Pattern Set by the Saviour

The example for lifting women comes from the ministry of Jesus Christ. His interactions with women were marked by dignity, compassion and respect. At the well in Samaria, He spoke directly and openly to a woman others avoided, restoring her hope and sense of worth (see John 4). Throughout the New Testament, He ministered to women one by one — protecting, teaching and inviting women to rise in discipleship.

Latter-day Saint women across the country strive to follow that same pattern today. Through ministering companionships, temple and family history work, intergenerational mentoring and walking alongside one another through illness, grief or transition.

Relief Society functions as a network of belonging. It is a living expression of discipleship. Since its organization in March 1842, the Relief Society theme has been “Charity Never Faileth.”

The Heart of International Women’s Day — Small Acts, Large Influence

The strength women offer often appears in ordinary moments: a seasoned mother guiding a younger one, a Young Women leader helping a shy girl find her voice or a teenager choosing to sit beside someone who feels alone.

These acts create spiritual momentum. They demonstrate the promise in Luke 6:38: “Give, and it shall be given unto you.” What is offered in faith is multiplied by God.

Every daughter of God carries a divine identity and distinctive gifts. Women influence the world not only through public leadership, but also through the daily, often unseen ways they create peace, connection and hope. Sometimes that influence begins in small, simple places — around a kitchen table, in a chapel classroom, beside a hospital bed … or under the canvas roof of a tent.

As Canada celebrates International Women’s Day, the message echoes across congregations:
When women lift one another, communities rise. When women give, everyone gains.