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During the Nauvoo era, Joseph Smith and other church leaders sought ways to gather allies in hopes of preventing hostilities like they faced in Missouri. Some church members already belonged to the Freemasons, “so reaching out to the group seemed like a natural way for the Saints to recruit important and influential allies,” the authors wrote.

Joseph’s Masonic apron, used in the initiation rites in Nauvoo, remained with family after his death and the Saints’ departure for Utah. The unique family heirloom has been passed down through the family and is now in the possession of the Community of Christ.