Story Behind the Pulpit:
On Sunday mornings members of the Plano, Illinois, congregation listen while announcements are made, scriptures are read, prayers are offered and a sermon is presented from a pulpit built in 1868 by members of the Stone Church Congregation. Every President/Prophet of the church, with the exception of Joseph Smith, Jr., has spoken from this pulpit. No other pulpit has ever been used in our Stone Church.
The pulpit was originally made of two kinds of wood at a cost of $10. Later a wood base was added to raise the height. At first the pulpit was painted black, so the two kinds of wood were not visible. But in 1957-58 the pulpit was refinished to match the pews and the organ. Now, if you look carefully, you can see the two kinds of wood and the new base. So far, we haven't been able to name the two woods.
In 2010, the RLDS Church celebrated the 150th anniversary of Joseph Smith III's ordination to prophet/president. As part of that celebration, The Stone Church's pulpit was shipped to Independence, Missouri, to make an appearance at the 2010 World Conference. The conference was called to order by President Stephen Veazey and the opening business of the conference was conducted from our pulpit. On Sunday evening after the close of the business session, our pulpit was taken to the Heritage Room where World Conference delegates and visitors from many parts of the world could see it, touch it, and even have their pictures taken standing behind or beside it.
Every Sunday we, as members of the Plano Community of Christ congregation, can see our pulpit, touch it and on occasion may even stand behind it. And a few have had their pictures taken with this historic pulpit.
On Sunday mornings members of the Plano, Illinois, congregation listen while announcements are made, scriptures are read, prayers are offered and a sermon is presented from a pulpit built in 1868 by members of the Stone Church Congregation. Every President/Prophet of the church, with the exception of Joseph Smith, Jr., has spoken from this pulpit. No other pulpit has ever been used in our Stone Church.
The pulpit was originally made of two kinds of wood at a cost of $10. Later a wood base was added to raise the height. At first the pulpit was painted black, so the two kinds of wood were not visible. But in 1957-58 the pulpit was refinished to match the pews and the organ. Now, if you look carefully, you can see the two kinds of wood and the new base. So far, we haven't been able to name the two woods.
In 2010, the RLDS Church celebrated the 150th anniversary of Joseph Smith III's ordination to prophet/president. As part of that celebration, The Stone Church's pulpit was shipped to Independence, Missouri, to make an appearance at the 2010 World Conference. The conference was called to order by President Stephen Veazey and the opening business of the conference was conducted from our pulpit. On Sunday evening after the close of the business session, our pulpit was taken to the Heritage Room where World Conference delegates and visitors from many parts of the world could see it, touch it, and even have their pictures taken standing behind or beside it.
Every Sunday we, as members of the Plano Community of Christ congregation, can see our pulpit, touch it and on occasion may even stand behind it. And a few have had their pictures taken with this historic pulpit.
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Location of the Object
Historic Plano Stone Church, Plano, Illinois |
Date of the Object
1868 |
Photos & Information Shared By
Dorothy Troyer (information) and John Weese (photos) |