Notice, circa 1 March 1842–B

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Notice, circa 1 March 1842–B
Source Note

JS, Notice, [
Nauvoo
Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....
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, Hancock Co., IL], to the brethren in
Nauvoo
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, Hancock Co., IL, [ca. 1 Mar. 1842]. Featured version published in “To the Brethren in Nauvoo City, Greeting,” Times and Seasons, 1 Mar. 1842, vol. 3, no. 9, 715. For more complete source information, see the source note for Letter to Isaac Galland, 22 Mar. 1839.

Historical Introduction
In an undated notice printed in the 1 March 1842 issue of the Times and Seasons, JS issued regulations for laborers constructing the
Nauvoo
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, Illinois,
temple
Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...
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. Eighteen months earlier, in September 1840, the
church
The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...
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presidency announced its intention to build a temple in the fledgling city, and an October church
conference
A meeting where ecclesiastical officers and other church members could conduct church business. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed the elders to hold conferences to perform “Church business.” The first of these conferences was held on 9 June...
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appointed a “temple committee” to oversee its construction.
1
Robert Thompson, “To the Saints Scattered Abroad,” Times and Seasons, Oct. 1840, 1:178–179; Minutes and Discourse, 3–5 Oct. 1840. In the six months prior to this announcement, JS periodically referenced plans to construct a temple in Nauvoo. The temple committee was composed of Reynolds Cahoon, Elias Higbee, and Alpheus Cutler. (“A Glance at the Mormons,” Alexandria [VA] Gazette, 11 July 1840, [2]; Discourse, ca. 19 July 1840.)
Comprehensive Works Cited
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
Alexandria Gazette. Alexandria, VA. 1834–1877.
In January 1841 JS dictated a revelation that designated Nauvoo as the new
gathering
As directed by early revelations, church members “gathered” in communities. A revelation dated September 1830, for instance, instructed elders “to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect” who would “be gathered in unto one place, upon the face of this land...
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place for the Saints and expressly commanded the church to construct a temple there.
2
Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124].
Church members began digging the edifice’s cellar on 18 February, and four days later the city council divided Nauvoo into four political wards. Likely in conjunction with this action, the temple committee called on church members residing in those wards to dedicate every tenth day of their labor to temple construction.
3
Clayton, History of the Nauvoo Temple, 5–6; Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 22 Feb. 1841, 9–10.
Clayton, William. History of the Nauvoo Temple, ca. 1845. CHL. MS 3365.

The number of laborers working on the
temple
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reportedly expanded after the cornerstones were laid on 6 April 1841.
4
“Celebration of the Anniversary of the Church,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1841, 2:376–377.
Increased
tithing
A free-will offering of one-tenth of a person’s annual interest or income, given to the church for its use. The Book of Mormon and JS’s revision of the Bible explained that “even our father Abraham paid tithes of one tenth part of all he possessed.” Additionally...
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donations enabled the temple committee to supplement the volunteers by employing a number of full-time laborers, including stonecutters, who excavated limestone from local quarries for the temple’s foundation and exterior walls, and lumberjacks and mill workers, who cut and manufactured the wood used in the temple’s floors, roof, and interior finishings.
5
The church purchased several lumber mills along the Black River in Wisconsin around September 1841 to secure a steady supply of timber for the temple and other building projects in Nauvoo. (“The Church and Its Prospects,” Times and Seasons, 15 Sept. 1841, 2:543; Clayton, History of the Nauvoo Temple, 15; George Miller, St. James, MI, to “Dear Brother,” 26 June 1855, in Northern Islander, 16 Aug. 1855, [4].)
Northern Islander. St. James, MI. 1850–1856.
Despite the addition of full-time laborers, however, it appears that the majority of those working on the
Nauvoo
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temple were volunteers. On 15 December 1841 the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...
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informed church members that “the Temple is to be built by tything and consecration. . . . Many, in this place, are laboring every tenth day for the house, and this is the tything of their income.”
6
Brigham Young et al., “Baptism for the Dead,” Times and Seasons, 15 Dec. 1841, 3:626.
The Times and Seasons reported that during winter 1841–1842, nearly one hundred people were engaged in quarrying rock “while at the same time multitudes of others have been engaged in hauling, and in other kinds of labor.”
7
“The Temple,” Times and Seasons, 2 May 1842, 3:775.

JS’s notice, signed as trustee-in-trust for the church, requested that all men arrive for their construction work on time and with the tools of their profession on the days they had been appointed in their respective wards. The original manuscript of the notice is apparently not extant, and the version featured below was published without a date. The notice was likely created sometime in late February and no later than 2 March, when JS proofread the 1 March issue.
8
JS, Journal, 2 Mar. 1842. While JS’s 1838–1856 history and the corresponding draft notes attribute a date of 21 February 1842 to the notice, it is possible that scribes Willard Richards and Thomas Bullock based that date on the date of a letter written by Brigham Young that appears directly below the notice in the history. (JS History, vol. C-1, 1275; Historian’s Office, JS History, Draft Notes, 21 Feb. 1842, 4.)
Work on the
Nauvoo
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temple
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continued steadily in the days and months following the publication of JS’s notice.
9
While passing by the construction site in April 1842, William Smith, editor of the Wasp, observed that “a scene of lively industry and animation was there. The sound of the polisher’s chisel—converting the rude stone of the quarry into an artful shape—sent forth its buisy hum; all were busily employed—the work was fast progressing.” (Editorial, Wasp, 23 Apr. 1842, [2].)
The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.
Footnotes
[1]
Robert Thompson, “To the Saints Scattered Abroad,” Times and Seasons, Oct. 1840, 1:178–179; Minutes and Discourse, 3–5 Oct. 1840. In the six months prior to this announcement, JS periodically referenced plans to construct a temple in Nauvoo. The temple committee was composed of Reynolds Cahoon, Elias Higbee, and Alpheus Cutler. (“A Glance at the Mormons,” Alexandria [VA] Gazette, 11 July 1840, [2]; Discourse, ca. 19 July 1840.)
Alexandria Gazette. Alexandria, VA. 1834–1877.
[2]
Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124].
[3]
Clayton, History of the Nauvoo Temple, 5–6; Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 22 Feb. 1841, 9–10.
[4]
“Celebration of the Anniversary of the Church,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1841, 2:376–377.
[5]
The church purchased several lumber mills along the Black River in Wisconsin around September 1841 to secure a steady supply of timber for the temple and other building projects in Nauvoo. (“The Church and Its Prospects,” Times and Seasons, 15 Sept. 1841, 2:543; Clayton, History of the Nauvoo Temple, 15; George Miller, St. James, MI, to “Dear Brother,” 26 June 1855, in Northern Islander, 16 Aug. 1855, [4].)
Northern Islander. St. James, MI. 1850–1856.
[6]
Brigham Young et al., “Baptism for the Dead,” Times and Seasons, 15 Dec. 1841, 3:626.
[7]
“The Temple,” Times and Seasons, 2 May 1842, 3:775.
[8]
JS, Journal, 2 Mar. 1842. While JS’s 1838–1856 history and the corresponding draft notes attribute a date of 21 February 1842 to the notice, it is possible that scribes Willard Richards and Thomas Bullock based that date on the date of a letter written by Brigham Young that appears directly below the notice in the history. (JS History, vol. C-1, 1275; Historian’s Office, JS History, Draft Notes, 21 Feb. 1842, 4.)
[9]
While passing by the construction site in April 1842, William Smith, editor of the Wasp, observed that “a scene of lively industry and animation was there. The sound of the polisher’s chisel—converting the rude stone of the quarry into an artful shape—sent forth its buisy hum; all were busily employed—the work was fast progressing.” (Editorial, Wasp, 23 Apr. 1842, [2].)
The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Notice, circa 1 March 1842–B Times and Seasons, 1 March 1842 History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith”
Page 715
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TO THE BRETHREN IN
NAUVOO CITY
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, GREETING:—

It is highly important, for the forwarding of the
Temple
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, that an equal distribution of labor should be made, in relation to time; as a superabundance of hands one week, and none the next, tends to retard the progress of the work; therefore, every brother is requested to be particular to labor on the day set apart for the same, in his ward; and to remember that he that sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly,—so that if the brethren want a plentiful harvest, they will do well to be at the place of labor in good season in the morning, bringing all necessary tools, according to their occupation; and those who have teams bring them also, unless otherwise advised by the temple committee.

Should any one be detained from his labor by unavoidable circumstances, on the day appointed, let him labor the next day, or the first day possible.
1
In an epistle to members of the church published in mid-December 1841, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles indicated that volunteer workers who were sick were excused from laboring on the temple but reminded them that “when they get well let them begin.” (Brigham Young et al., “Baptism for the Dead,” Times and Seasons, 15 Dec. 1841, 3:626.)

N. B.—The captains of the respective wards are particularly requested to be at the place of labor on their respective days, and keep an accurate account of each man’s work, and be ready to exhibit a list of the same when called for.
2
William Cahoon, a carpenter and son of temple committee member Reynolds Cahoon, apparently tracked the time of the temple’s various carpenters from 1842 to 1846. (Nauvoo Temple Time Book, 1842–1846, Nauvoo Temple Building Committee Records, CHL; Cahoon, Autobiography, 21, 28.)
Nauvoo Temple Building Committee Records, 1841–1852. CHL.
Cahoon, William F. Autobiography, 1878. Microfilm. CHL. MS 8433.

The heart of the trustee is daily made to rejoice in the good feelings of the brethren, made manifest in their exertion to carry forward the work of the Lord, and rear his
temple
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; and it is hoped that neither planting, sowing or reaping will hereafter be made to interfere with the regulations hinted at above.
3
The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles previously counseled church members “who appear to think their own business of more importance than the Lord’s,” saying, “to such we would ask, who gave you your time, health, strength, and put you into business?” (Brigham Young et al., “Baptism for the Dead,” Times and Seasons, 15 Dec. 1841, 3:626.)

JOSEPH SMITH.

Trustee in Trust.
4
JS was elected as the church’s trustee-in-trust on 30 January 1841. In December 1841 JS informed the church that all donations earmarked for temple construction should be sent directly to him, as trustee-in-trust, rather than funneled through the temple committee. (Appointment as Trustee, 2 Feb. 1841; Brigham Young et al., “Baptism for the Dead,” Times and Seasons, 15 Dec. 1841, 3:626–627; JS, “To Whom It May Concern,” Times and Seasons, 15 Dec. 1841, 3:638.)
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Footnotes
[1]
In an epistle to members of the church published in mid-December 1841, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles indicated that volunteer workers who were sick were excused from laboring on the temple but reminded them that “when they get well let them begin.” (Brigham Young et al., “Baptism for the Dead,” Times and Seasons, 15 Dec. 1841, 3:626.)
[2]
William Cahoon, a carpenter and son of temple committee member Reynolds Cahoon, apparently tracked the time of the temple’s various carpenters from 1842 to 1846. (Nauvoo Temple Time Book, 1842–1846, Nauvoo Temple Building Committee Records, CHL; Cahoon, Autobiography, 21, 28.)
Nauvoo Temple Building Committee Records, 1841–1852. CHL.
Cahoon, William F. Autobiography, 1878. Microfilm. CHL. MS 8433.
[3]
The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles previously counseled church members “who appear to think their own business of more importance than the Lord’s,” saying, “to such we would ask, who gave you your time, health, strength, and put you into business?” (Brigham Young et al., “Baptism for the Dead,” Times and Seasons, 15 Dec. 1841, 3:626.)
[4]
JS was elected as the church’s trustee-in-trust on 30 January 1841. In December 1841 JS informed the church that all donations earmarked for temple construction should be sent directly to him, as trustee-in-trust, rather than funneled through the temple committee. (Appointment as Trustee, 2 Feb. 1841; Brigham Young et al., “Baptism for the Dead,” Times and Seasons, 15 Dec. 1841, 3:626–627; JS, “To Whom It May Concern,” Times and Seasons, 15 Dec. 1841, 3:638.)