The lesson was based on the information given about the quilts on the back wall of the RS room. I contacted Susan Echols who was the maker of the quilts a few years back, she since then has moved out of our ward.
-Dana Erikson
"Sister Emma", Quilted by Susan Echols, pattern by Jodie Warner.
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| "Brother Joseph", Quilted by Susan Echols, pattern by Jodie Warner. |
HERE IS A COPY OF SUSAN'S EMAIL that gives the information the lesson was based on:
I was approached by President Louis Seletos in 200?? asking for ideas for the back wall in the Relief Society room of the Glendale North Stake Center. At that time, the wall was covered with a floor to ceiling sheer curtain behind which extra chairs were stored. This was all going to be done away with and he wanted something relating to Relief Society on that blank wall. Several months previous to this, I had been in SLC at Mormon Handicraft and found the the Brother Joseph and Sister Emma patterns. I liked them so I bought them thinking I would use them at a later date. At the moment I was talking with President Seletos, those patterns came to mind and I knew exactly what needed to go up on that wall. In following the pattern, I tried to use only civil war reproduction fabrics as they would most closely resemble the fabrics available at that time. It took several months and I felt like my machine applique abilities were truly enhanced. I then sandwiched them together with backings and machine quilted them on my personal sewing machine. I then showed them to President Seletos who wanted them put in a frame behind glass. He went with me to the frame shop and allowed me to choose the frame. With quilts in hand, my first thought was that the frames should be very ornate. However, once the quilts were placed next to the frames, it was clear that more simple lines would look best. Several weeks later, the frames were placed on the wall by church physical facilities personnel.
I can only recall one true change. In the original patterns Joseph and Emma are looking opposite each other. I turned Emma’s silhouette to face her beloved Joseph. The following is a description of the symbolism by the original pattern designer, Jodie Warner.
Susan Knudsen Echols
"BROTHER JOSEPH" QUILT - BLOCKS DESCRIPTIONS & MEANINGS
(listed roughly clockwise on quilt photo from upper left)
PORTRAIT BLOCK - adapted from painting by D. A. Weggland
CHILDREN OF ISRAEL BLOCK traditional block; the translated Book of Mormon becomes a sitness and tool for preachng truth to Abraham's seed as promised.
VERMONT PATCHWORK BLOCK traditional block; birthplace of Joseph Smith
GROVE TREE PANEL "In accordance with . . . my determination to ask God, I retired to the woods . . . "
LOG CABIN BLOCKS While in Palmyra, the family worked together to clear sixty acres of heavy timber, to bild a 1 1/2 story log cabin as family home.
PRESIDING KEY when Priesthood keys were restored in 1829, Joseph Smith became the presiding authority for this dispensation
WORLD-WITHOUT-END BLOCKS traditional block; Joseph Smith received divine revelation leading to the building of temples with eternal blessings
MARTYR'S CROWN BLOCK W. W. Phelps poetized that Joseph Smith would be 'crowned in the midst of the prophets of old'.
SUGAR MAPLE LEAVES PANEL The Smith family livelihood while Joseph was young involved harvesting sap to produce syrup
"SISTER EMMA" QUILT - BLOCK DESCRIPTIONS AND MEANINGS
(roughly clockwise from upper left)
MOURNING BLOCK A quilt of this crazy-patch style is displayed in the Nauvoo Mansion House, reportedly made by Emma from clothing belonging to the martyred Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum.
HARMONY BLOCK Traditional block commemorating Emma's place of birth
PORTRAIT BLOCK
HEARTS OF HER CHILDREN PANEL Emma mothered 11, including adopted twins. Only 5 survived beyond infancy. Just days preceding her own death, Emma reported a dream of the afterlife wherein the Prophet Joseph said to her, "Be patient and you shall have all of your children."
HAND OF FRIENDSHIP BLOCK "I took by the hand on that night, my beloved Emma . . . the wife of my youth, and the choice of my heart."
BASKETS OF CHARITY BLOCKS Emma's life in Nauvoo was filled with caring, administering for instance to malaria sufferers before the swamp was drained.
RELIEF SOCIETY KEY BLOCK "I now turn the key in your behalf."
MANY HOMESTEADS PANEL From the early years of their married life until settlement in Nauvoo, Emma and the Prophet had to move many times, often being "put up" by Church members.
MANSION HOUSE PANEL remembering the spacious home where Emma and the Prophet could host and welcome many.
DRUNKARD'S PATH PANEL Prior to the adoption of the Word of Wisdom, Emma objected to the use of chewing tobacco an alcohol being consumed in her General Store
HIDDEN POCKETS PANEL On Feb. 15, 1839, Emma and her children crossed the frozen Mississippi to escape Missouri. Under her skirts in two cotton bags, Emma carried the manuscript for the "inspired" Bible translation.
