From Sewing Society to Relief Society

By Patricia Lemmon Spilsbury

Church History Department

What could Margaret Cook, a single sister of limited means, do to help contribute to the building of the Nauvoo Temple?

In Nauvoo during the early 1840s, the Saints were poor and goods were scarce. Of necessity, they were all involved in building homes and businesses. Yet their primary interest was in building the Nauvoo Temple.

Church leaders frequently called upon Saints in the area and abroad to assist with labor and materials. In the Church newspaper Times and Seasons, the Saints were taught that “the Temple is to be built by tithing and consecration, and everyone is at liberty to consecrate all they find in their hearts so to do … , whether it be money or whatever he may be blessed with.” Church leaders also urged the Saints to donate “bedding, socks, mittens, shoes, clothing of every description, and store goods … for the comfort of the laborers this winter.”¹

On March 1, 1842, Margaret Cook visited Sarah Kimball to do some sewing for her. They discussed the recent appeals for support of the temple laborers. Margaret’s means were meager, but her sewing skill could be useful to those needing clothing. If fabric could be made available, Margaret said she “would be pleased to contribute needlework.”² Sarah said she would provide the material, and as they continued conversing, they wondered if others might want to help as well. They spoke with friends about organizing a sewing society.

This conversation, prompted by Margaret and Sarah acting on inspiration, led to further interactions with others, including the Prophet Joseph Smith. In response, the Lord told His prophet that He had “something better” for the women and inspired Joseph to organize them under “the pattern of the priesthood.”³ This laid the revelatory foundation of what we know today as Relief Society, one of the world’s oldest and largest women’s service organizations.