Willard Richards

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Image:WillardRichardsPICture.jpg Willard Richards (June 24, 1804–March 11, 1854) was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and 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.

In 1836, Dr. Willard Richards worked at a medical practice in Boston, Massachusetts when he came across The Book of Mormon. 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.

Shortly following his ordination, Richards was called on a brief three-month mission to the Eastern United States. He was called on a more extended mission to Great Britain immediately upon his return. Richards met his wife, Jennetta Richards, while thus engaged.

He was ordained an Apostle on April 14, 1840 by Brigham Young. In 1841 he went to Nauvoo, Illinois to be with the body of the Church, and became the private secretary to Joseph Smith.

Richards was a member of the incarcerated party at Carthage Jail when Joseph Smith, Jr. and Hyrum Smith were martyred. 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."

After the death of Joseph Smith, he was called as Second Counselor in the First Presidency under Brigham Young on December 27, 1847 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.