When Joseph Smith formally organized the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo in the upstairs room of his red brick store, he told the assembled women, "The minutes of your meetings will be precedents for you to act upon - your constitution and law."

Those words were recorded in a minute book, carefully preserved by Eliza R. Snow, the organization's first secretary. Her minutes provide the framework today for the Museum of Church History and Art's new exhibit, "Come, Let Us Rejoice: a Sesquicentennial Celebration of Relief Society, 1842-1992," according to curator Marjorie Conder.That early minute book, carried across the plains by Sister Snow, is among artifacts displayed in the exhibit, which opened with a ribbon cutting and reception March 13. Elaine L. Jack, Relief Society general president, cut the ribbon, assisted by Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Council of the Twelve and Elder Loren C. Dunn of the Seventy. The exhibit closes next year on Presidents' Day, Feb. 23.

In preparing the exhibit, Sister Conder said in an interview, six themes were extracted from the minute book kept by Sister Snow: faith in Christ, nurturing, compassion, sisterhood, community service and cultivating gifts and talents.

"Those themes transcend time and space," she said in explaining why they inspired the exhibit. "They form a constant thread through 150 years."

Those early Nauvoo minutes, Sister Conder added, tell Relief Society sisters, "what our goals and objectives are - why we exist - in very clear terms. Our exhibit is a celebration of those ideals, in various time periods."

For example, the theme of community service is illustrated by a dress that belonged to Susan B. Anthony, national leader of the women's suffrage movement. The dress was made from silk produced in Utah. The display highlights a long and continuing relationship between her and LDS women, who were active in promoting women's suffrage.

Among them was Martha Hughes Cannon, featured in a photograph in the display. She was the first female state senator in the United States. A medical doctor, she promoted public health.

From another period, community service is shown through a recreated maternity room. Concerned about high infant mortality, the Relief Society established two maternity hospitals, one in Murray, Utah, and one in Snowflake, Ariz. In other areas they created maternity rooms. As a result of their efforts, deaths of newborn babies were dramatically reduced.

A striking display in the section on sisterhood highlights the jubilee and centennial celebrations of Relief Society. A 1940s-period phonograph holds a 1942 recording with centennial messages from Church President Heber J. Grant and from Amy Brown Lyman, Relief Society general president at the time. Visitors may push one button to hear excerpts from the recording and another button to hear a sesquicentennial message from Pres. Jack. The official centennial song, "A Hundred Thousand Strong" is heard after the centennial message, and the song "As Sisters in Zion" is played after Sister Jack's message.

Compassion is illustrated by a recreated model home designed by sister health missionaries in Patzicia, Guatemala, in 1973. The home became a center to show Church members and other villagers how their lives could be improved through simple and inexpensive ideas and techniques. The missionaries used available building materials and simple hand tools and building techniques.

"From an LDS context, we have put everything in the exhibit under a `covenant' umbrella," Sister Conder said.

"The Relief Society helps prepare Latter-day Saint women to receive temple covenants. The Relief Society then helps translate the understanding received in the temple into everyday choices and activities. Covenants sincerely made and kept will lead LDS women into greater realms and possibilities."

Thus, the final display in the exhibit relates to temple service by LDS women. It includes art work, crafts and photos. A quilt made by Charlotte Warr Andersen represents the various eternal destinies of all who have lived on earth. The inclusion of the quilt, Sister Conder said, is to point out that Relief Society's highest goal is to help women achieve the highest, or celestial kingdom.

The exhibit title, "Come, Let Us Rejoice," is from a hymn sung at the first Relief Society meeting in 1842. It is in the present LDS hymnbook as "Now Let Us Rejoice."