Each year the sisters of the Illinois Nauvoo Mission have met on the second floor of the Red Brick Store in commemoration of the organization of the Relief Society. Each year a different program is written as a re-enactment of the events that transpired on March 17, 1842. This has been a highlight of my mission as I have attended the re-enactment twice while here in Nauvoo.
The sisters dressed in modern clothing were part of the program representing a RS presidency of our day and age. We were gathered outside of the carriage shed to load the wagons and go down to the Red Brick Store. Many hours of preparation went into this program. It was very well done. I am sure that many hours of preparation took place to prepare for the organizational meeting of the first Relief Society.
The evening of the commemoration was a very comfortable evening. It was a warm day. As we rode to the Red Brick Store, one of the sister missionaries gave a commentary on what was taking place in Nauvoo at the time of this meeting. It helped us modern day sisters to reflect on what it must have been like back then. I am sure many of the sisters that attended the organization of the RS walked to the Red Brick store. They had many responsibilities in their homes that we now have appliances and many, many conveniences to help us do our work.
This is the view of the temple as we went down Partridge St. What an amazing accomplishment it was for the early Saints to complete the Nauvoo Temple. The RS sisters played a great supporting role by sewing shirts for the men working on the temple. They also collected pennies, $10,000 worth, to help the funding of the temple.
Elder Lamar Taylor from North Ogden, Utah played the part of Joseph Smith. Joseph took a five dollar gold piece from his pocket and gave it to Emm, the newly elected RS President, and stated, "All that I have to give to the poor, I shall give to this society."It is a privilege to be part of this organization that is still in existence 169 years later!
The wagons are unloaded in front of the Red Brick Store. The organization of the RS took place in the upper room of the store. It is a humbling experience to sit in that room knowing all that took place there. Not only was the RS organized there but some of the first endowments took place there also. Joseph Smith's office is on the upper floor. He received some of his revelations there.
There is a fun gift store on the main floor. Lots of fun memorbilia of the early days of Nauvoo. The Red Brick Store is owned and run by the Community of Christ church. Whenever I have been in the store, they have made me feel very welcome.
After the commemoration was over a group picture was taken of all those who participated in the program and those who attended. It is hard to get everyone's attention as all are wanting to visit. What a happy group!
Just before we loaded the carriage to return to the Vistor's Center, the two of them met at the road to pick us up. The wagon on the left cut across the grass. Just as these two wagons are meeting to take the sisters on to their next assignment, we can look at this point in our lives as a crossroads of the many opportunities to serve others. We can be empty or we can fill our lives with great job as we do the work of angels--"the errand of angels is given to women and this is a gift that as sisters we claim to do whatsoever is gentle and human to cheer and to bless in humanities name."
