Willard Richards

Birth Date

on 1804 June 24 (Born)

Death Date

on 1854 March 11 (Died)

Gender

Male

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Appointed to the Council of Twelve at Far West in 1838. Served as Second Counselor in the First Presidency to Brigham Young from 1847 until his death.

Willard Richards traveled with 1847 Brigham Young Company and was part of the 2nd Company of Ten led by Ezra Taft Benson.

Born in Hopkinton, Middlesex, Massachusetts

1804 June 24

Mother

Rhoda Howe

Father

Joseph Richards

Baptized by Brigham Young

1836 December 31 (Age 32)

Served in Eastern States Mission

1837 March 14 – June 11 (Age 32) See Missionaries

Mission Type

Proselytizing

Marital Status

Single

Missionary Activity Notes

Willard Richards traveled as a missionary companion to Brigham Young in New York and the Eastern States. (Journal History of Mar. 14, 1837

Priesthood Office

Elder

Residence When Called

Kirtland, Ohio

Date Details

On 1837 March 14

Departed from Home

On 1837 June 11

Arrived at Home

Served in British Mission

1837 June 13 – 1841 April 21 (Age 32) See Missionaries

Mission Type

Proselytizing

Marital Status

Single

Missionary Activity Notes

Willard Richards filled an important mission to England and raised up a branch of the Church in Bedford. He acted as counselor to President Joseph Fielding . (Journal History of June 13, 1837) Married Jennetta in 1838 in Preston, England

Priesthood Office

Elder

Residence When Called

Kirtland, Ohio

Date Details

On 1837 June 13

Departed from Home

On 1841 April 21

Departed from Field

departed from field

1837 July 20 (Age 33)

Appointed to Council of Twelve

1838 July 8 (Age 34)

D&C 118:6 given at Far West, Missouri.

Served in Northern States Mission

1841 August 31 (Age 37) See Missionaries

Mission Type

Proselytizing

Marital Status

Married

Missionary Activity Notes

Willard Richards was appointed on a special mission to locate a settlement of the Saints at Warsaw, Illinois. (Journal History of August 31, Sept. 7, and Oct. 14, 1841)

Priesthood Quorum When Called

Quorum of the twelve

Priesthood Office

Apostle

Residence When Called

Nauvoo, Illinois

Served in Eastern States Mission

1842 July 1 (Age 38) See Missionaries

Mission Type

Proselytizing

Marital Status

Married

Missionary Activity Notes

Willard Richards left Nauvoo, Illinois, July 1, 1842, for New England. (Journal History of July 1 1842.)

Priesthood Quorum When Called

Quorum of the twelve

Priesthood Office

Apostle

Residence When Called

Nauvoo, Illinois

Wounded at the Martyrdom of Joseph & Hyrum Smith

1844 June 27 (Age 40)

D&C 135:2 at Carthage, Illinois.

Traveled in Brigham Young Vanguard Company

1847 April 16 – July 21 (Age 42) Pioneers in Company

Date Details

On 1847 April 16

Joined Company

On 1847 July 21

Company Arrived

Served in United States and Europe

1848 May 31 (Age 43)

Mission Type

Other

Missionary Activity Notes

Willard Richards was appointed to travel and preach in the United States and Europe. (Journal History of May 31, 1848.)

Priesthood Quorum When Called

Quorum of the twelve

Priesthood Office

Apostle

Images

Mission Photo

Called as Captain to Willard Richards Company

1848 July 3 – October 10 (Age 44) Pioneers in Company

Roles

Captain

Traveling Group

Heber John Richards (Age 9)

Ann Reed (Age 54)

Rhoda Ann Jenetta Richards (Age 4)

Susannah Lee (Age 39)

Amelia Elizabeth Peirson (Age 23)

Jane Hall (Age 22)

Sarah Longstroth (Age 22)

Nanny Longstroth (Age 20)

Augusta Braddock (Age 14)

Willard Brigham Richards (Age 1)

Joseph Smith Richards (Age 0)

Date Details

On 1848 July 3

Joined Company

On 1848 October 10

Company Arrived

Died in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah Territory, United States

1854 March 11 (Age 49)

Media

Willard Richards (1804 - 1854) Profile

Willard Richards (1804 - 1854) Profile

Mission Photo

Mission Photo

Sources

"Death of Our Beloved Brother Willard Richards," Deseret News

"Death of Our Beloved Brother Willard Richards," Deseret News, 16 March 1854.

Early Church Information File, FamilySearch, images 3451-3595

Early Church Information File, FamilySearch, images 3451-3595.

Nauvoo Community Project

Nauvoo Community Project.

"Obituary," Deseret News

"Obituary," Deseret News, 27 April 1854.

Saints By Sea - BYU

"Willard Richards. ID: 67111", Saints By Sea - BYU.

Andrew Jenson, "Richards, Willard," Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia

Andrew Jenson, "Richards, Willard," Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, Vol. 1.

British Mission history, 1841-1971, Church History Library

British Mission history, 1841-1971, Church History Library. Transcript for British Mission history, 1841-1971, Church History Library

Historical Department journal history of the Church

Historical Department journal history of the Church, 14 March 1837.

Index to the British Mission history, 1841-1971, Church History Library

Index to the British Mission history, 1841-1971, Church History Library.

Willard Richards journals and papers, 1821-1854, Church History Library

Willard Richards journals and papers, 1821-1854, Church History Library.

Andrew Jenson, "Powell, David," "Pratt, Orson," "Rappleye, Tunis," "Redden, Return Jackson," and "RIchards, Willard," Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia

Andrew Jenson, "Powell, David," "Pratt, Orson," "Rappleye, Tunis," "Redden, Return Jackson," and "RIchards, Willard," Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, Vol. 4.

Brigham Young letter, Camp of Israel to Mary A. Young, Winter Quarters

Brigham Young letter, Camp of Israel to Mary A. Young, Winter Quarters, 20 April 1847. Transcript for Brigham Young letter, Camp of Israel to Mary A. Young, Winter Quarters, 20 April 1847

Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849

Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849.

Caroline B. Crosby, Journal

Caroline B. Crosby, Journal, May. Transcript for Caroline B. Crosby, Journal, 1848 May 10-1853 February 7, 7-24, in Caroline Barnes Crosby papers, 1848-1882, in Jonathan Crosby and Caroline B. Crosby papers, 1848-1882

Eliza P. Lyman, Journal

Eliza P. Lyman, Journal, February. Transcript for Eliza P. Lyman, Journal, 1846 February-1885 December, 43-45

Jane S. Richards autobiographical sketch, 1881

Jane S. Richards autobiographical sketch, 1881. Transcript for Jane S. Richards autobiographical sketch, 1881

Joel Hills Johnson, "A Journal or sketch of the life of Joel H. Johnson (ca. 1857)-1859" in Cache Valley historical material, circa 1955, 20

Joel Hills Johnson, "A Journal or sketch of the life of Joel H. Johnson (ca. 1857)-1859" in Cache Valley historical material, circa 1955, 20. Transcript for Joel Hills Johnson, "A Journal or sketch of the life of Joel H. Johnson (ca. 1857)-1859" in Cache Valley historical material, circa 1955, 20

John Brown reminiscences and journals, 1843-1896

John Brown reminiscences and journals, 1843-1896, May, Vol. 1. Transcript for John Brown reminiscences and journals, 1843-1896, Volume 1, 1843 May-1860 April, 109-13

Narrative of Franklin Dewey Richards. San Francisco, 1880 in Utah and the Mormons collection, undated, 33-38

Narrative of Franklin Dewey Richards. San Francisco, 1880 in Utah and the Mormons collection, undated, 33-38. Transcript for Narrative of Franklin Dewey Richards. San Francisco, 1880 in Utah and the Mormons collection, undated, 33-38

Phinehas Richards, Diary

Phinehas Richards, Diary, April. Transcript for Phinehas Richards, Diary, 1837 April-1871 March, Phinehas Richards papers, 1837-1874 in Richards family collection, 1837-1961

Pioneering the West, 1846 to 1878: Major Howard Egan's Diary, edited and compiled by William M. Egan (1917), 21-105

Pioneering the West, 1846 to 1878: Major Howard Egan's Diary, edited and compiled by William M. Egan (1917), 21-105. Transcript for Pioneering the West, 1846 to 1878: Major Howard Egan's Diary, edited and compiled by William M. Egan (1917), 21-105

Richards, Rhoda, to Nancy Richards Peirson, 1848, in Helen Richards Gardner, ed., Journal and Letters of Rhoda Richards, 1784-1879 [1981], 50-51

Richards, Rhoda, to Nancy Richards Peirson, 1848, in Helen Richards Gardner, ed., Journal and Letters of Rhoda Richards, 1784-1879 [1981], 50-51. Transcript for Richards, Rhoda, to Nancy Richards Peirson, 1848, in Helen Richards Gardner, ed., Journal and Letters of Rhoda Richards, 1784-1879 [1981], 50-51

Richards, Willard, to Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball

Richards, Willard, to Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball, 10 September 1848. Transcript for Richards, Willard, to Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball, 10 Sept. 1848, in Brigham Young, Office Files 1832-1878, reel 55, box 41, fd. 28

Robert L. Campbell, Journal extracts (30 June

Robert L. Campbell, Journal extracts (30 June, 19 October 1848. Transcript for Robert L. Campbell, Journal extracts (30 June-19 October 1848) in Historical Department office journal, 1844-2012

Rollins, James H., Sketches from camp journal of Pres. Amasa Lyman's Company

Rollins, James H., Sketches from camp journal of Pres. Amasa Lyman's Company, 24 July 1848. Transcript for Rollins, James H., Sketches from camp journal of Pres. Amasa Lyman's Company [24 July 1848 report], in George Albert Smith, Papers, 1834-1882, box 4, fd. 11

Rollins, James Henry, Reminiscences 1896; 1898, 29-31

Rollins, James Henry, Reminiscences 1896; 1898, 29-31. Transcript for Rollins, James Henry, Reminiscences 1896; 1898, 29-31

"The Utah Pioneers," Deseret Weekly

"The Utah Pioneers," Deseret Weekly, 25 August 1894.

Wilford Woodruff journal

Wilford Woodruff journal, January. Transcript for Wilford Woodruff journal, 1847 January-1853 December, 25-77

William H. Adams autobiography, 1916, 11-15

William H. Adams autobiography, 1916, 11-15. Transcript for William H. Adams autobiography, 1916, 11-15

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