Two weeks ago, I ran up the steep hill behind the Conference Centre in the pouring rain (without an umbrella, of course) on my way to the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum. I have been interested in the material religion of Mormon women, particularly how they have created and used religious objects that are associated with LDS rituals –things like sacrament bread, sacrament vessels, consecrated oil, sacred clothing and other textiles.
I was hoping to see some handmade sacrament cloths that were housed in the museum and cursed myself for my poor planning. As I entered the building soaked and winded, I hoped that the trip was going to be worthwhile. I did see the sacrament cloths, but it also ended up being a great opportunity to see something that I would have never imagined still existed – sacrament bread from the 19th century.