170 years ago today - Feb 4, 1842

[General] Joseph Smith records: "closed a contract with Ebenezer Robinson for the printing office-also the paper fixtures, bookbindery, and stereotype foundry, by proxy, namely, Willard Richards, cost between 7,000 and 8,000 dollars." Robinson, who was ordered to sell his printing business to the Church by a revelation, records that he got $6,600 of which he consecrated $4,561.91 to the building of the Nauvoo Temple. Brigham Young called the price paid Robinson "exorbitant." "The reason I paid such a price, was [because] the Prophet directed the Twelve to pay him whatever he asked." The difference between "7,000 and 8,000 dollars" that was paid and $6,600 that Robinson received was, evidently, commission given to the sales agent.

[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]