Item Detail
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22384
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5
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0
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English
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"Something Better" for the Sisters : Joseph Smith and the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo
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Joseph Smith and the Doctrinal Restoration : The 34th Annual Sidney B. Sperry Symposium
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Provo, Utah: Religious Studies Center, BYU and Deseret Book,
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123-143
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"Sarah M. Kimball's idea for a sewing society to provide clothing for construction workers on the Nauvoo Temple was probably informed by the benevolent societies that thrived throughout the United States during the early part of the nineteenth century. The writing of a constitution for the group by Sarah's friend Eliza R. Snow reflected practice well established in various associations in the new American republic. Upon seeing the women's constitution, however, Joseph Smith declared, 'Tell the sisters their offering is accepted of the Lord, and He has something better for them.' They thus abandoned their original plans in favor of the Prophet's inspired design of organization. On Thursday afternoon, March 17, 1842, twenty women met with him in the 'Lodge Room' above his red brick store to be organized after the pattern of the Church, with a president and counselors set apart by the laying on of hands. Thirty-eight-year-old Emma Hale Smith, Joseph's wife, was elected president. Within six months, the members of the newly organized Relief Society learned what Joseph meant by 'something better.' The new Society served effectively as a charitable institution for the welfare of Church members. But for society members themselves, it became a female 'school of the prophets' wherein Joseph revealed important doctrine and instructions relating to their eternal welfare." [From authors' introduction]