The new "Mormon Experience in Missouri" exhibit in the State Capitol here is part of a continuing series of temporary displays in the Capitol Museum that highlight events in the state's history.

Created by Church members and placed in cooperation with the Division of State Parks, the display comprises eight panels and a map showing the Mormon migration. It will last until July 24, celebrated as Pioneer Day in many parts of the Church. The panels carry the following titles with text:- "Mormons Settle in Missouri," with a recounting of the Church's beginning in the state.

- "Unresolved Conflicts Reveal Friend and Foe," describing relationships of Church members with early Missouri settlers, some of them hostile and some sympathetic.

- "A County of Their Own," describing events surrounding the creation of Caldwell County following Church members' expulsion from Jackson County.

- "A Time of Great Trial," covering the Extermination Order and imprisonment of the Prophet Joseph Smith and other Church leaders.

- "Exodus from Missouri," highlighting the founding of Nauvoo, Ill., and the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith.

- "Emigrating Mormons Gather," with a description of the westward migration.

- "Mormon Families and Enduring Values," mentioning 158 LDS congregations with 44,000 members and the St. Louis Missouri Temple.

- "Sustained by Their Faith in Christ," highlighting LDS belief in the divinity of the Savior.

The project began two years ago when Martin Cooper, then president of the Clinton (Mo.) Branch, noticed during business trips to the State Capitol that guides were innocently dispensing inaccurate information about the Church.

He and fellow Church member Henry Kester of Kansas City set out on the project, which eventually included participation from dozens of Latter-day Saints across the state. Meanwhile, Gov. Mel Carnahan attended the open house in May 1997 of the new St. Louis temple. He showed keen interest in the history of the Church and supported the placement of the exhibit in the Capitol.

Mark Lineback of Kansas City designed and oversaw construction of the exhibit, with Steve Anderson building it and Fawna Jones researching and writing the panel captions.

Two prominent artists in the Church - Liz Lemon Swindle of Salt Lake City and Glen S. Hopkinson of Lazona, Ariz. - were enlisted to paint three scenes each for the display. Sister Swindle is known for a series of paintings on the life of Joseph Smith, and Brother Hopkinson for the production design of the Church movie "Legacy" and for a series on the LDS Pioneer exodus from Nauvoo to the West.

Both artists were on hand to greet the governor at the ribbon cutting and for a reception the night before for members of the state General Assembly. Also present were Kenneth Cope, a popular LDS composer whose songs about Joseph Smith inspired Sister Swindle; Jim Sherman, who took photographs for Sister Swindle's paintings; Cliff Cole and Jennifer Hohl, who have portrayed Joseph and Emma Smith and who served as models for Sister Swindle's works; and Susan Easton Black, a Church history professor and associate dean of General Education and Honors at BYU, who collaborated on a book with Sister Swindle.

In connection with the event, the entourage presented two firesides, one at the Columbia Missouri Stake Center north of Jefferson City, and the other at the Olathe Kansas Stake Center near Kansas City.