Dr. Willard Richards

Wikipedia Biographical Summary:

"...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 church president Brigham Young in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1847 until his death.

"...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..."

"...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..."

"...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..."

"...Richards and his family left Nauvoo in February 1846 and spent the year at Winter Quarters, Nebraska. 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 served as the first editor of the news.

He died in Salt Lake City on March 11, 1854..."

SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willard_Richards

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AFN: 18QR-WN (shows Hopkinton, Middlesex, MA as birthplace)

Additional Posting

www.geni.com/share?t=5547668809200042308
Mormon Church Religious Leader. Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Cousin and 2nd Counselor to Brigham Young. As a member of the Twelve, he and John Taylor accompanied Joseph and Hyrum Smith while imprisoned in Carthage Jail, and were there at the time when they were killed. Hyrum was killed first, John Taylor was then shot from the front and back, then Joseph was sent out the window. Willard Richards remained unharmed, and Taylor was near to death. He dragged Taylor to the jail room across the hall and laid him under a mattress figuring the mob would return to finish them off. However, they dispursed and fled leaving them to take care for themselves. He's the only Apostle ordained outside the United States, while serving a mission in England with other Apostles. He passed away at the age of only 49.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jun 18 2017, 0:48:50 UTC