Early Career
Folsom worked on the Nauvoo Temple until its completion in May 1846 when Mormons were forced from Nauvoo. At this point Folsom moved to Keokuk, Iowa. Folsom committed to follow Brigham Young to Utah. In 1854 he set out for Salt Lake City but arrived at Council Bluffs, Iowa ten days too late to join the last company west. Instead he stayed at Council Bluffs for six years employed as a builder. Notably, he worked on columns for the Nebraska Territory capitol building, which were transported across the Missouri River from Council Bluffs to Omaha.
In 1860 he finally set out for Salt Lake with a relatively large outfit of four wagon teams. Soon after his October 3 arrival in Salt Lake City the skilled builder opened shop on Main Street downtown. Brigham Young, leader of the LDS Church at that time, put him to work on church projects almost immediately. He was sustained as LDS Church architect in the October 1861 General Conference.
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