Marion Isabelle Sims Spafford (née Smith; October 8, 1895 – February 2, 1982), known as Belle S. Spafford, was the ninth Relief Society General President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from April 6, 1945, until October 3, 1974.

Shortly after Belle S. Spafford was called to be the ninth general president of the Relief Society, she received an invitation to a National Council of Women (NCW) meeting in New York City.

Belle Spafford passed away in 1982. She is remembered for her strong faith, influential leadership, and profound skill in public speaking, but also for her sense of humor and personal kindness. Church Resources

During the nearly three decades that Belle S. Spafford served as Relief Society general president, she saw sweeping changes in the world and in the status of women.

“Belle Smith Spafford, Ninth General President of the Relief Society, 1945–1974.” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/callings/relief-society/relief-society-presidents/belle-smith-spafford?lang=eng.

Belle Smith Spafford was the ninth General President of the Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving from 1945-1974. Belle worked during the administrations of six presidents of the church and was the most traveled Relief Society general president to date.

As director of the Relief Society Social Work Programs in Utah, Arizona, Idaho, and Nevada, she instituted services for unwed mothers, adoptions, care of deprived and neglected children, youth guidance services, and foster-care educational programs for Native American children.

Four of her nine BYU devotional addresses are aimed toward empowering women. Belle Spafford passed away on February 2, 1982. At her funeral, many described Belle as their best friend. For almost nine decades, she had ministered to others, leaving behind a legacy of love and service to everyone around her.

Called early to leadership, Belle Spafford served as president of her ward YWMIA at age seventeen, and she also taught religion classes. She later served as a counselor in her ward Relief Society presidency and on the Relief Society stake board of Salt Lake Belvedere Stake.

2011年12月8日 · Serving as general president from 1945 to 1974 (for twenty-nine and a half years to be exact), the longest term of any Relief Society president, Belle Smith Spafford was a tremendous influence not only on the sisters of the Church, but also on the women of the world.