Relief Society Organization Re-enactment

Joseph Smith reads from D&C 25 about Emma, an elect lady. 

On March 17, 1842 the Relief Society was first organized in the upstairs of  Joseph Smith's Red Brick Store.  I don't know when the mission started the re-enactments but they've been done for several years. This year the Barrows and the Davies were assigned to be in charge of organizing it.  There was a particular challenge this year.  The re-enactment reader's theater calls for a cast of 13 people.  The mission is down in numbers and it's been hard to cover the sites as it is, let alone take 13 people away, plus  others who were providing music and Sister Davies and myself.   The good news was that 16 new senior couples were arriving. The bad news was, they were arriving the day before the re-enactment.  They wouldn't have time to unpack and get groceries, let alone read their information site booklet,  before they could be put on sites. Usually couples have a few days of orientation before they are put on the sites.

Miracle of the storm

 Many plans were made to accommodate the challenge as best we could.  Then the Lord stepped in, producing a huge storm out west, so that the MTC told the missionaries to get on the road early.  Getting them here Thursday still made it challenging, but at least gave them a chance to go to the store, make their beds, receive a site dress, and some orientation before Saturday.  Amazing the difference one day can make.

The day before

We planned a dinner for the sisters, and invited the sisters from Nauvoo 1st and 3rd Ward (there is no 2nd ward), and the Community of Christ friends. Others also came who were friends or family of the missionaries.  We had 102 at the dinner. Gratefully the mission presidency had Hy-Vee groceries catered the dinner.  The men set up, served, and cleaned up. So the sisters  only had to show up, and really felt honored.  After dinner we had a short program.  I conducted.  Sister Whiting shared a poem she'd written for the occasion,  and Sister Munns shared some history of the Relief Society.

I don't have photos of the actual dinner.  I hope someone can share some pictures with me at some point. But here is what set up and take down looked like. Oh, and I met one of the new missionaries who told me she's been reading my blog!  That makes 4 people that I know of.  For some reason, my blog doesn't show how many are looking  but people tell me they've looked.  This is the first new friend, so I'm excited about that. 

Tables are finally arranged to our liking. 

Elder Christensen folds napkins so well. 

Sister Dare, our florist

So beautiful

And the all important clean up crew.

The Re-enactment

The day began at Sarah Kimball Granger's home. Her husband lived here in Commerce, before it was renamed Nauvoo. Hiram Kimball wasn't a member of the church until 1843, but his wife was and it was in her parlor, which is pictured below, that she and Margaret Cook conceived the idea of a women's service society for the temple workers. They asked Eliza R. Snow to write up a constitution for them. When presented to Joseph Smith he said it was the best he'd ever seen, but it isn't what they wanted.  The Lord had something else for them, and so on March 17, 1842 in the Red Brick Store the women were organized under the priesthood of God.  It started with 20 women and now numbers over 6 million. In the 19th century they gave relief to the needed, became educated in medicine and maternity care, started hospitals, fought for women's suffrage, and much more.  We continue to serve and give relief today. 

Sarah Kimball Granger, as portrayed by Sister Archibald

Sisters Flanders and Mendel provide music
for the guests as they arrive. 

Sister Davies, my co-chairman.  Flowers by Sister Dare. 

I couldn't get everyone in, but this is most of the cast .

Emma and Joseph Smith portrayed by Elder and Sister Corder.
They stood outside the store and greeted people.  A youth group came through and took their pictures with them.  They did a great job.  They are such a friendly couple, just as we are told the Smiths were.

When I came on my mission, I joked to my friends that I was looking forward to not organizing anything, but just doing what I was told to do.  Jokes on me.  This took a lot of organizing, but we got it done.  Everyone was very cooperative and helpful.  It was rewarding to see the ones who stepped out of their comfort zone and were magnified.  I appreciated the opportunity to share in the remembrance of this historic event.