Museum Treasures
This series of articles highlights ordinary objects treasured for the stories they tell about the people and events of the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Many of these items are on display at the Church History Museum.
Treasures from the Early History of the Church 1830–1846
Both of Joseph’s grandfathers had experiences and beliefs that influenced the Smith family and prepared Joseph to be the Prophet of the Restoration.
Joseph Smith likely heard from many preachers in the years preceding the First Vision. Two he may have encountered in his search for the true Church were Reverend Jesse Townsend and Reverend George Lane.
This tiny gold bead is easy to overlook among all the larger pieces in the museum, but it carries a story that gives us important insight into the faith and character of the Prophet Joseph Smith’s parents.
This window is a beautiful reminder of the First Vision, a pivotal moment in history and a cornerstone of Latter-day Saint faith.
Church leaders commissioned this painting from artist Lewis A. Ramsey in 1923 for the centennial of Moroni’s first visit to Joseph Smith. It was perhaps the first depiction of this sacred event in Church history by a trained artist.
This simple wooden box may not be an impressive sight on its own, but what it held—even briefly—is one of the greatest treasures of our time.
This simple leather wallet belonged to Martin Harris, who is arguably one of the more complicated figures in early Church history.
One of the great treasures in the museum is the original Book of Mormon manuscript. Pages are displayed one at a time and are changed out periodically to protect them from exposure to light.
This printing press is from the shop of Egbert B. Grandin in Palmyra, New York. It is this very printing press that issued the first copies of the Book of Mormon in 1830.
This hide-covered traveling case belonged to David Whitmer, one of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon.
Mary Whitmer and Maria Louise Cowdery belonged to families who played vital roles in the Restoration of the gospel from its earliest days.
This document is one of several known handwritten copies of the Articles and Covenants of the Church, which would later become section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants.
This wood lathe from Brigham Young’s carpentry shop in Mendon, New York, sheds light on a lesser-known chapter in the life of this great man.
Samuel Smith gave this first edition copy of the Book of Mormon to Phineas Young, who shared it with his brother Brigham.
This lap desk was owned and used by Newel K. Whitney, an early member of the Church and a friend and support to the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Built by brothers Brigham and Joseph Young, this gothic-arched window originally hung in the main-floor assembly room of the Kirtland Temple.
This copy of the first Latter-day Saint hymnal was a gift from William W. Phelps to his wife, Sally.
This particular sewing aid is known as a tailor’s thimble, and it belonged to a skilled carpenter, community builder, and latter-day prophet—a man some now call an American Moses.
Before sunrise on October 25, 1838, David W. Patten donned this watch and carried his rifle and powder horn, intending to rescue three Latter-day Saint hostages from renegade Missouri militiamen.
This piece of cast-iron machinery is one of the few remaining pieces of the gristmill owned by Jacob Hawn. This mill was the site of what is now known as the Hawn’s Mill massacre.
This beautiful clock was finely crafted by Henry Connor in 1841, and it was purchased by Wilford Woodruff as a gift for his wife Phebe during his first mission to England.
This map of Nauvoo was first printed in 1842 by Gustavus Hills, a recently converted member of the Church, and it illustrates the Saints’ optimistic expectations for their city.
This red silk handkerchief is a vivid reminder of both Joseph Smith’s compassion and the power of God to heal the sick.
Today, millions of women around the world participate in Relief Society, following the principles and examples of the Society’s founders, as outlined in this minute book.
The sign that once labeled Joseph Smith’s office in Nauvoo’s Red Brick Store draws attention to his position as prophet, yet it hung in a place where he filled many additional roles.
The original Nauvoo Temple was an inspired masterpiece of architecture and craftsmanship. The Prophet Joseph Smith directed the work, but architect William Weeks translated those directions into workable plans.
Sunstones were featured prominently on the Nauvoo Temple. To early Church members, the sun breaking through clouds symbolized the dawning of the Restoration and the coming of gospel light to illuminate a dark earth.
Joseph Smith’s ceremonial role as lieutenant general in the Nauvoo Legion was evident from his blue woolen cloak, brass epaulets, sword and scabbard, and pistol.
When the Prophet Joseph Smith proposed that the temple in Nauvoo be built by tithing Church members, the Saints responded with energy.
This watch was in John Taylor’s vest pocket during the martyrdom at Carthage Jail, and he believed that it saved his life.
While we do not know the name of the man who owned this powder horn, we do know the names of several men who helped organize and carry out the plan to kill the Prophet Joseph.
Hyrum Smith was wearing this vest and trousers when he was fatally shot at the Carthage Jail.
Although the tradition of making death masks is not well known today, it remained popular through the 19th century and into the 20th.
Thirteen-year-old Mary Ann Broomhead stitched this sampler as a tribute to Joseph and Hyrum Smith shortly after their martyrdom.
Treasures from the Exodus and Westward Migration
By the time London-trained artist Frederick Piercy traveled through Nauvoo in 1853, a crumbling facade was all that remained of the Nauvoo Temple.
A young English girl named Ann Eckford created this cross-stitch sampler of the Nauvoo Temple sometime between 1846 and 1849.
Brigham Young used this collapsible brass and leather spyglass on the first trip to the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. Members of the company used spyglasses like this to scout the trail, search for game, and watch for danger.
This case carried Brigham Young’s personal belongings on his first journey to the Salt Lake Valley in 1847.
Heber C. Kimball brought this large tool chest with him to the Salt Lake Valley in 1847 and used the tools in it to build the Lord’s kingdom in the West.
This grooming kit, owned by Dr. Willard Richards, shows the refined side of a faithful and courageous man of God.
When you’re traveling an unfamiliar road in the wilderness, how do you accurately measure the distance between landmarks? How do you record the route to help the people who follow?
Thomas David Evans wore this leg as he crossed the plains from June 23 to October 2, 1856.
This wedding dress stands as an enduring symbol of faithfulness, sacrifice, and bonds of love that last through eternity.
George Wardle used this cello to lift the Saints’ spirits on the plains of Iowa, after they were forced from Nauvoo, Illinois.
In their journals and reminiscences, many Mormon pioneers write of singing while crossing the plains, often ending the day with music.
Much of what we know about the Mormon Battalion’s experience comes from Levi Hancock and other battalion members’ journals.
Captain Daniel C. Davis of the Mormon Battalion carried this bullet pouch from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to California, but he never fired a shot in combat.
This sandstone marker was placed on the center point of Salt Lake City in 1855.