At the meeting of the shareholders of the Nauvoo House Association on 7 April 1845—the same day as the conference of the church—Woodworth “exhibited the plan of the South elevation of the building—also the West elevation and ground floor.” Woodworth likely contracted with Nauvoo architect William Weeks to create the drawings. Existing architectural drawings that match the description given in the April minutes bear Weeks’s signature. Additionally, although Woodworth apparently displayed the desired drawings at the April 1845 meeting, in August 1845 Willard Richards noted that Woodworth had yet “to furnish a draft” to the Nauvoo House Association. Following Woodworth’s presentation of the drawings at the April meeting, Orson Pratt read the JS revelation commanding the construction of the Nauvoo House to the conference of the church, and the members voted to “fulfil the Revelation, by completing the Nauvoo House, as soon as possible.” (Minutes, 7 Apr. 1845, Nauvoo House Association, Records, CHL; Weeks, Nauvoo House Architectural Drawings, 1845; Richards, Journal, 9 Aug. 1845; Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841, in Doctrine and Covenants [103], 1844 ed. [D&C 124]; Historian’s Office, General Church Minutes, 7 Apr. 1845.)

Nauvoo House Association. Minutes, 5 and 7 Apr. 1845. Nauvoo House Association, Records, 1841–1846. CHL. MS 2375, box 5, fd. 16.

Weeks, William. Nauvoo House Architectural Drawings, 1845. Architect’s Office, Nauvoo House, 1845. CHL.

Richards, Willard. Journals, 1836–1853. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, boxes 1–2.

Historian’s Office. General Church Minutes, 1839–1877. CHL