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Show Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters 38 and fifty north and south. La Harpe, Plymouth, Montrose, and other nearby settlements contained Jarge Mormon populations. By June 1840, three thousand people lived there. The total popu lation is estimated from 11,057 by the U. S. Census figures to 20,000 by the Church authorities. Fifteen thousand is the popu larly accepted number. The phenomenal growth is partially ex plained by the rapidity with which the English people joined the Church and came to Nauvoo to live. By 1843, thirty-six thou sand had left England in organized companies and sailed to New Orleans thence up the River to the city Beautiful. ... ... ... ... The Temple became the most impressive building in Illinois. Its cornerstone was laid on the eleventh anniversary of the found ing of the Church. It climaxed the hill and overlooked the River and the broad country side. The plans were ambitious, but the Saints were poor. Cash was the most desired and least contri buted article. Ten per cent of the time, goods and services of the members was donated. At one time sixty families volun teered to board Temple workmen free and at another one hun dred workers donated six month's services. At an estimated cost of $600,000 it represented a sixty dollar per capita invest ment. There were periods of jubilant success and of deepe-st de ... ... ... ... ... pressions. Colonies of workers obtained choice pine from Black River Falls area in Wisconsin. The greyish white limestone was quar ried along the bluff of the River where from one hundred to two hundred men labored. The architecture was fantastic and the ar chitect, William Weeks, was continually harrassed trying to correlate Smith's ideas with architectural principles. It contained a large assembly room eiqhty-three by one hundred and twenty five feet. The exterior T shaped building was characterized by thirty pilastrates which were carved in intricate symbolic ways and cost an estimated three thousand dollars. The two hundred foot steeple was the highest point for hundreds of miles and attracted much attention. ... ... Troubles with their enemies continuously upset the progress of construction. Brigham Young described their troubles thus: I By aid of sword in one hand and trowel and hammer in the other, with firearms at hand, and a strong band of police .and the blessings of Heaven, the Saints through hunger and thirst, and weariness, and watchings, and prayings so far completed the Temple, and despite the activities of the mobs that many received a small part of their endowments; but we know of no one who received it in its fullness.' lBrigham Young, [ournel of Discourses; VIII, p. 203 |
