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Henry Grow was Supt of construction and he has since claimed to be the designer and architect of the building (Tabernacle), but such is not the case. Brigham Young conceived the idea and I drew the plans."
Andrew Jenson’s Encyclopedic History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints states that "the Tabernacle was planned and erected under the direction of President Brigham Young, with William H. Folsom as architect and Henry Grow as master mechanic", (page 858).
In January 1864, the Rock Meeting House at Farmington, Utah, was dedicated. Although there were two feet of snow on the ground, the Church Authorities attended the service. President Brigham Young called the meeting to order and Elder Wilford Woodruff offered the dedicatory prayer. Heber C. Kimball addressed the congregation and William H. Folsom offered the benediction. At the afternoon session, Wilford Woodruff, Horace S. Eldredge, William H. Folsom, and President Young addressed the meeting. The presence of William H. Folsom at this meeting and his address to the congregation indicate that he drew the plans for the chapel. He personally stated that he did, although Farmington records do not recognize him.
"Two meetings were held in the Old Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on February 21, 1864. William H. Folsom preached in the forenoon and Elder John Taylor in the afternoon. The elders then spent the evening conversing upon things which pertain to the Kingdom of God. Other Elders in attendance were Wilford Woodruff and Franklin D. Richards." (Journal History, Feb 21, 1864)
On April 25, 1864, Hyrum P. Folsom, eldest son of William H. Folsom and Zerviah Eliza Clark, received a missionary call to England. Hyrum had served as an apprentice and helper to his father for several years and his absence would curtail the accomplishment of some of the projects. Nevertheless, Hyrum willingly accepted this call and his father was proud to have him go.
Since coming to Utah, the Folsoms had found much to admire in the Romney family. They were great artisans as well as noble men. About the time of Hyrum’s departure, William H. Folsom and George Romney formed a partnership for contracting and building. Working together in this business produced a lasting friendship and enabled Folsom to finance the needs of his family. It is interesting to note that since his arrival in Salt Lake City, Folsom had never signed any major contracts for his personal financial gain, as all of his work was done for the church. His wife was well-acquainted with the use of "script" issued by the Church.
At the 1865 Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, William H. Folsom was re-sustained as Church Architect and also sustained as a member of the High Council of the Salt Lake Stake. Salt Lake Stake territory extended to all city limits at the time. The duties of this new calling added to those to which he had been called previously, made more for him to worry about. There was trouble at the flume in Big Cottonwood, someone injured at the sawmill, supplies needed, an accident at his home, the new baby was ill or a new ward needed plans and assistance in building a meetinghouse. He had long since come to realize why Truman O. Angell lost his health.