Willard Richards

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Willard Richards

Willard Richards (June 24, 1804–March 11, 1854) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and served as Second Counselor in the First Presidency to President Brigham Young in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1854.

Willard Richards was born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts to Joseph and Rhoda Howe Richards on June 24, 1804. At the age of four he injured his head in a fall and was left with some residual muscle tremor and paralysis. As the injury limited his physical activity, he focused his attention on education and obtained a teacher's certificate at age sixteen. He taught school in Chatham, New York, and in Lanesborn, Massachusetts. He pursued additional studies in physical mechanics, science, and studied the clarinet. At the age of thirty, after the death of his sister Susan, Richards decided to become a physician. He studied at the Thomson Infirmary in Boston focusing on medication and herbal preparations. He then settled in Holliston, Massachusetts, where he practiced medicine. From a 21st century perspective, he would probably be considered a pharmacist.

In 1836, Richards was introduced to the newly published Book of Mormon by his cousins, Joseph and Brigham Young. He read the book twice within ten days and, after making the necessary preparations, left for Kirtland, Ohio to join the Church and be with the Saints. Richards was baptized there on December 31, 1836, by Brigham Young and ordained an Elder roughly two months later, in February 1837.

1 Church service
2 See also
3 References
4 External resources

[edit] Church service

Shortly following his ordination, Richards was called on a brief three-month mission to the Eastern United States. Immediately upon his return, he was called on a more extended mission to Great Britain. Richards met his wife, Jennetta Richards, while on this mission. They had one surviving son.

Richards was ordained an Apostle on April 14, 1840 by Brigham Young. In 1841, he moved to Nauvoo, Illinois to be with the body of the Church and became the private secretary to Joseph Smith, Jr. In December 1842, he was called to be the LDS Church Historian and Recorder, a position he held until his death. In these two capacities, he maintained the Mormon prophet's schedule and recorded most of his activities. As church historian, he subsequently wrote a total of 1,884 pages on the history of Joseph Smith. This work was later incorporated into The History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, edited by B.H. Roberts.

Richards was incarcerated in Carthage Jail with Joseph Smith, Jr., Hyrum Smith and John Taylor on the 27th of June 1844 when the jail was attacked by a mob and the LDS prophet and his brother were murdered. Taylor was shot four times and severely injured, but survived the attack. Richards was unhurt and so supervised the removal of Taylor and the bodies. His first-hand account of the event was published in the "Times and Seasons," Vol.5, No.14, (1. Aug. 1844), titled, "Two Minutes in Jail."

Richards and his family left Nauvoo in February 1846 and spent the year at Winter Quarters. He traveled with Brigham Young and the first group into the Salt Lake Valley, returning to Winter Quarters that fall to gather his family for the trip west. He was called as Second Counselor in the First Presidency under Brigham Young on December 27, 1847 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. After moving to Utah, Richards was involved in establishing the Deseret News. He died in Salt Lake City on March 11, 1854.