Red Brick Store facts for kids
The Red Brick Store in Nauvoo, Illinois, was an important building. It was built and owned by Joseph Smith, who started the Latter Day Saint movement.
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The Original Building's Story
Joseph Smith built the Red Brick Store in 1841. This building quickly became a busy place for the Latter Day Saints. It was a center for business, community meetings, and religious activities.
Besides being a regular store, the second floor of the building also served as the main office for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for a time. Church members would come to the store to give their offerings to the church. Before a special meeting hall was ready in 1843, the upper room of the Red Brick Store was sometimes called the "Masonic Hall."
Important Events at the Store
Many key moments in Latter Day Saint history happened at the Red Brick Store. These include:
- On March 15, 1842, Joseph Smith became a member of the Masons. The very next day, he reached a higher level in the group.
- The Relief Society, which is the church's organization for women, was started on March 17, 1842.
- The first performance of a special religious ceremony, called the Nauvoo Endowment ordinance, took place on May 4, 1842.
What Happened to the Store
After Joseph Smith was killed and most of the Latter Day Saints left Nauvoo, the Red Brick Store started to fall apart. Eventually, the building was taken down. Its bricks were then used to build other new structures in Nauvoo.
In 1980, the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now known as Community of Christ) rebuilt the Red Brick Store. They built it right on the original foundation. This was part of their 1980 sesquicentennial celebrations, marking 150 years since the church was founded.
As of 2024, the rebuilt Red Brick Store is owned and managed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They bought the building on March 5, 2024. This purchase was part of a larger deal where they acquired many important historical items and properties from the Community of Christ.
Another Red Brick Store in Utah
In Manti, Utah, there is another building named the Red Brick Store. This building is the headquarters for the True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days. It was named the Red Brick Store to honor Joseph Smith's original building in Nauvoo.
See also
- Council House (Salt Lake City)
- Endowment House
- Anointed Quorum
- Plano Stone Church
