This sign, that once labeled Joseph Smith’s office in Nauvoo’s Red Brick Store draws attention to his position as prophet, yet it hung in a place where he filled many additional roles. Like Joseph himself, the Red Brick Store fulfilled both Church and state purposes. In Joseph’s office, he received and dictated revelations. In the store’s upper assembly room, he organized the Relief Society and introduced temple ceremonies. The assembly room also housed Nauvoo’s municipal court and provided space for the political convention that nominated Joseph Smith as a presidential candidate. Joseph didn’t draw a stark line between his civic and religious roles, like we might today, and his political involvement was extremely important to the Church.