Sunday, January 24, 1841, Hyrum Smith received the ordination to these holy callings under the hands of President Joseph Smith. On the same occasion George Miller was ordained a bishop in the place of Edward Partridge, deceased.
April 6, 1841, which was the eleventh anniversary of the organization of the Church, the corner stones of the Nauvoo Temple were laid. Early in the morning fourteen companies of the Nauvoo Legion, and two military companies from across the river in Iowa, assembled and were conducted to the grounds assigned for the general review. During the forenoon, various military maneuvers were conducted. It was an impressive scene. At twelve o'clock the procession arrived at the temple grounds and the ceremonies of laying the corner stones were commenced. President Sidney Rigdon addressed the assembly at some length after which the architects, under the direction of the First Presidency, lowered the south-east corner stone to its place, and the Prophet said:
"This principal corner stone in representation of the First Presidency, is now duly laid in honor of the Great God; and may it there remain until the whole fabric is completed; and may the same be accomplished speedily; that the Saints may have a place to worship God, and the Son of Man have where to lay his head."
Adjournment was taken for one hour and after the people reassembled the three other corner stones were laid in the following order: the south-west, the north-west and the north-east, after which the services were closed.
The Prophet later gave instructions pertaining to the order of the laying of corner stones of temples as follows:
"If the strict order of the Priesthood were carried out in the building of Temples, the first stone would be laid at the south-east corner, by the First Presidency of the Church. The south-west corner should be laid next; the third, or north-west corner, next; and the fourth, or northeast corner, last. The First Presidency should lay the southeast corner stone and dictate who are the proper persons to lay the other corner stones.
"If a temple is built at a distance, and the First Presidency are not present, then the quorum of the Twelve Apostles are the persons to dictate the order for that temple; and in the absence of the Twelve Apostles, then the presidency of the stake will lay the south-east corner stone; the Melchizedek Priesthood laying the corner stones on the east side of the temple, and the Lesser Priesthood those on the west side."