Willard Richards
Posted by: 
Mooroid
N 40° 42.513 W 111° 48.117
12T E 432258 N 4506713
Marker located on SUP balcony
Waymark Code: WMB1KB
Location: Utah, United States
Date Posted: 03/23/2011
Views: 9
Willard Richards, born in Hopkinton, Massachussets, June 24, 1804. Died in Salt Lake City, Utah, March ll, 1854 at the age of 49. DR. WILLARD RICHARDS founder of the "Deseret News", "the mountain west's first newspaper." Willard Richards, a cousin of Brigham Young, having read the Book of Mormon, traveled 700 miles to Ohio to meet Joseph Smith. He was a dentist and doctor of herbs. WILLARD RICHARDS was baptised in the Chagrin River, near Kirkland, December 21, 1836, after the ice was broken over the river. One of the first four missionaries to England. Willard Richards was ordained as apostle April 14, 1840 at Preston, England with seven apostles present. Married his first English convert Janetta Richards. Willard Richards was appointed by the Quorum of the Twelve in England to edit the "Millenial Star". Willard Richards officiated at the first baptisms for the dead in the new Nauvoo Temple Twelve Oxen Font, and was the Editor of the "Times & Seasons" newspaper published in Nauvoo. Willard Richards in 1841 was the man Joseph Smith said he had been searching for all his life to trust with his business in all things, "the Keeper of the Roles." Willard Richards was General of the Nauvoo Legion, Mayor of Nauvoo, largest city in Illinois and Post Master of Nauvoo. Willard Richards prepared with Joseph Smith the first three volumes of "The History of the Church", for publication in the "Times and Seasons". Willard Richards nominated Joseph Smith and his running partner, Arlington Bennett, for President and Vic President of the United States. Willard Richards, on the eve of martyrdom looked west and said "out West, perhaps, in the tops of the mountains, an ensign may be raised to the Lord." Willard Richards said to the Prophet Joseph, "you didn't ask me to go to Iowa, or to come here to Carthage, but I am here, and I will hang for you if they will not release you." Willard Richards was with the Prophet and Hyrum when they were murdered in Carthage jail. Willard Richards arrived in the Valley with Brigham Young, July 24, 1847, and was elected to the first Legislative Counsel of the Territory and served as its President. Willard Richards was the first Historian, Recorder, Post Master and Keeper of the Official Seal of the Territory of Deseret, and a member of the First Presidency of the Church. Willard Richards was the first Secretary of State for the established Territorial Organization.
Marker Name: Willard Richards
Marker Type: City
County: Salt Lake
City: Salt Lake City
Group Responsible for Placement: Sons of Utah Pioneers
Date Dedicated: August 9, 1986
Marker Number: None
Web link(s) for additional information:
http://history.utah.gov/apps/markers/detailed_results.php?markerid=2482
Addtional Information: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
In your log, please say if you learned something new, and if you took any extra time to explore the area once you stopped at the historic marker waymark.
If possible please post a photo of you OR your GPS at the marker location.
Also if you know of any additional links not already mentioned about this bit of Utah history please include that in your log.