2 Dollars - Mormon Relief Society (Salt Lake City, Utah) ND

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Script: Latin

Lettering:
GOOD FOR
$2.00
IN
MERCHANDISE
AT RETAIL

Comment

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Information regarding the Relief Society store $2 token found while metal detecting in Gunnison Utah and the associated Relief Society store that operated from the early 1870s until approximately 1903.

This token was used at the Latter Day Saint (Mormon) Relief Society store that was operational in Gunnison Utah. During the timeframe this store operated it was under the umbrella of the Z.C.M.I. but each Relief Society store in Utah was managed by the sisters of the society. The bishop at the time was Christian Madsen and one of his wives, Helena Madsen was the Relief Society President responsible for the store. Bishop Madsen was also a Captain in the Utah militia during the Indian wars.
Mention of the stores existence from the Women’s Exponent paper dated 15 August 1880. Volume 9 No. 6 When it is mentioned that " the Relief Society there (Gunnison) have a store which brings some means into the society's treasury, but it is not as well patronized as it should be." Stated by Eliza R. Snow Smith General President of the Relief Society for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 1868-1887
Taken from the 13 August 1880 Gunnison Relief society minutes and spoken by LDS General Relief Society President Eliza R. Snow “ E. R. Snow then said: I feel to say a few words [p. 81] about your R. S. [Relief Society] Store. Support it, give it your patronage, and do not oppose co-operation; each one should feel to support it.

The Relief Society minutes confirm that there was a small store on the first floor of the Relief Society Hall. It was considered a co-op. It appears that they sold wheat, wool, butter, clothing, and other items that the women created.
The store however did not make a profit. In 1891, the minutes state "At a meeting called by the Stake R.S. Presidency where President Lewis Anderson & Counselors were present also, the advice to the Relief Society was to pay their debts, resulting from the failure of the R.S. Store, with the famine wheat money... The debt of the store was $372.63."
In 1896 it was reported, "Resolved that we have more shelves made in R.S. Store. Resolved we pay clerk in R.S. Store $3.00 a week. Resolved that we pay manager of R. S. Store $10.00 a month. Resolved we get a lamp for R.S. Store."
In 1902, the Gunnison Relief Society was trying to figure out how to get out of debt. They reported, "It has also been decided to sell the R. S. Granary with store, but Z. C. M. I. had advised us to not make too much sacrifice in selling by being in too big a hurry to sell."
In February 1903, it is recorded, "Statement - of the condition of the R. S. Store as it stands now read & accepted."
In May 1903, it was reported of President Cox stated, "She did not feel well when all the societies were not in good running order. Gunnison Ward had been looked upon as a live energetic society, and it seems as though it could not go on as it was. Unity could have helped you out if it had been here. It seems to be necessary to take of your wheat money to settle your debts. We have looked upon Famine wheat as sacred to not be used for any other purpose than famine. She consulted higher authority and the (sic) had advised to take famine wheat money to pay our creditors as the real estate could not be sold to any advantage at present. They had come to find out if you were all willing to sustain your president."
There are a few other testimonies about using the famine wheat money to pay off debts. I couldn't find any mention of the store after this.

Here is an excerpt from an article “Childhood in Gunnison” written by William Hartley Utah Historical Quarterly.

THE VILLAGE
Gunnison, with its twenty large residential blocks, resembled the typical Mormon village. The Christenson children grew up aware of all the neighbors' residences, which slowly changed from pioneer log structures to respectable adobe and rock houses, and of a handful of community buildings. By the early 1870s the town's public square was ringed by a rock schoolhouse, rock tithing granary, two-story rock Relief Society Hall where church meetings took place, post office, and cooperative store. In 1881 the Presbyterians joined the landscape by erecting a chapel that also hosted a school.