William Weeks — Joseph Smith's Vision of the Nauvoo Temple Overrules Every Architect's Rule

William Weeks (1813–1900) served as the principal architect of the Nauvoo Temple under the direct direction of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Their relationship produced one of the most vivid documented accounts of Joseph Smith teaching from revealed vision rather than convention.

In the spring of 1843, Weeks came to Joseph with objections about the temple's design. Joseph had specified circular windows — a round oculus in the side wall of each story — to light the interior offices. Weeks insisted this was 'a violation of all the known rules of architecture' and argued the windows should be semi-circular, because the building was too low for a full-circle design.

Joseph's response was unequivocal, and Joseph recorded it in his own journal:

'I told him I would have the circles, if he had to make the Temple ten feet higher than it was originally calculated; that one light at the center of each circular window would be sufficient to light the whole room; that when the whole building was thus illuminated, the effect would be remarkably grand. I wish you to carry out my designs. I have seen in vision the splendid appearance of that building illuminated, and will have it built according to the pattern shown me.'

Weeks complied. The circular windows were built. When the Nauvoo Temple was reconstructed beginning in 1999 and the original architectural drawings were providentially discovered in a non-member's home (having been preserved unknown for over 150 years), the windows were replicated exactly as Joseph had specified — circular, not semi-circular, precisely matching the Prophet's visionary design.

Weeks also designed the distinctive sunstone capitals, moonstone bases, and star-stone frieze that encircle the entire building — celestial symbols specified by Joseph Smith as representing the three degrees of glory.

Fuller account of this event (in the witness’s own words):

I told him I would have the circles, if he had to make the Temple ten feet higher than it was originally calculated; that one light at the center of each circular window would be sufficient to light the whole room; that when the whole building was thus illuminated, the effect would be remarkably grand. I wish you to carry out my designs. I have seen in vision the splendid appearance of that building illuminated, and will have it built according to the pattern shown me.