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The Builders

When the frost arrived, work on the temple itself ceased, but "scores of men are at work in the stone quarry, and from ten to twenty teams are at work, bringing the stones to the place; . . . [work] is to be accomplished by tything and consecrations, the Saints bring this in on one day in the week, viz. on Saturday; this is to prevent confusion-the sum thus brought in has often exceeded 1000 dollars per week." This item in the August 1842 Millennial Star described succinctly how the labor system operated in building the public buildings in Nauvoo.

Two major public construction projects, the temple and the Nauvoo House, employed hundreds of workers throughout most of the life of the city. Hired workers labored beside tithe workers, who donated their labor. At one time or another every male Church member who could perform physical labor worked on one of the public building projects. Those who were unable to work because of age, disability, or another Church assignment were expected to tithe their money, their valuables that could be traded or sold, or their provisions. An unusual example of tithing property to the temple was related by Sarah Kimball, wife of Hiram Kimball. She was a member of the Church and wished to donate to the temple, but her husband was not, and though he had considerable property, she did not wish to ask him for tithing for her church.

When her first child was born, however, she asked Hiram what he thought the child was worth. Was he worth one thousand dollars? Of course he agreed the child was worth at least that much. She then told her husband she was donating her half-interest in their son as tithing for the temple. When Hiram told the Prophet of the incident, Joseph seemed pleased with the joke and said, "I accept all such donations, and from this day the boy shall stand recorded, church property." He told Hiram he could either receive five hundred dollars and give up total possession or pay five hundred dollars and retain possession. Hiram asked if city property was an acceptable substitute. Being told it was, he promptly donated an entire city block to the Church.

Most contributions to the temple and to the Nauvoo House were more traditional. Surviving ledgers record such contributions as these:

Elijah Fordham - 3½ lbs. of beef, 1 lb of butter $.20
Joseph W. Johnson - 5 lbs. of flour .10
Mrs. Marm - 2 days work washing @37½ .75
Orson Spencer - 40 lbs. of pork 2.00
Moses Martin - 1¾ lbs. of butter .17½
Daniel Spencer - 49 lbs. of flour .98
Edward Hunter - 2 chickens @12½ .25
Mrs. Stead - 1 days work washing .37½
William C. Heaps - ½ bu. of potatoes .12½
Anson Call - 27 lbs. of beef .81