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Taylor, John, 1808-1887

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1808 - 1887

Biographical History

John Taylor (1808-1887) was the third president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

John Taylor was born November 1, 1808 in Milnthorpe, England to James Taylor and Agnes Taylor. John immigrated to Canada with his parents in 1832, where he met and married Leonora Cannon on January 28, 1833. On May 9, 1836 he was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Parley P. Pratt and 2 short years later joined the saints in Far West, Missouri. That year, on December 19, 1838 in Far West, John Taylor was ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve by Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball. John served a proselytizing mission to the British Isles from 1839–1841 and then again from 1846–1847. He worked to translate the Book of Mormon into French and German. Following death of Brigham Young, he presided over the church from 1877 to 1887 and was ordained president of church on October 10, 1880. He served in that position until his death on July 25, 1887 in Kaysville, Utah Territory. He was buried in Salt Lake City.

Citation:
Rasmussen, D.M. The illustrated story of President John Taylor, c1982 (1983 printing): p. 6, etc. (b. 11-1-1808; d. 7-25-1887; third president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 1992: p.1648(Taylor, John b.Nov 1, 1808, Milnthorpe, England; d. July 25, 1887, Kaysville, Utah; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints President Oct. 10, 1880-July 25, 1887; made an Apostle Dec. 19, 1838; occupation: farmer) p.1438-1439 (migrates with parents from England to Canada in 1832; baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1836; moves to Far West, Missouri 1838; misison to British Isles 1839; Nauvoo City Councilman; Nauvoo Legion; newspaper editor of Times and Seasons (1842-1846) and the Nauvoo Neighbor (1843-1846); pioneer-arrived Salt Lake Valley 1847; Utah territorial legislature, 1853-1876; Probate judge Utah County, 1868-1870; Territorial superintendent of schools, 1876; preside over missionary work in Fance and Germany, 1849; author; founded Deseret Manufacturing Company while in Europe)

Joseph Smith Papers, via WWW, March 21, 2018 (1 Nov. 1808–25 July 1887; Preacher, editor, publisher, politician; Born at Milnthorpe, Westmoreland, England; Son of James Taylor and Agnes Taylor; Migrated from England to Upper Canada, 1832; Married Leonora Cannon, 28 Jan. 1833, at York; Baptized into LDS church by Parley P. Pratt, 9 May 1836; Moved to Kirtland Ohio; Moved to Far West, Missouri, 1838; Ordained member of Quorum of the Twelve by Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball, 19 Dec. 1838, at Far West; Served mission to England, 1839–1841, 1846–1847; worked on translations of the Book of Mormon into French and German; Following death of Brigham Young, presided over church from 1877 to 1887; Ordained president of church, 10 Oct. 1880; Died at Kaysville, Davis Co., Utah Territory; Buried in Salt Lake City)

Found in 7 Collections and/or Records:

John Smith correspondence, 1848-1911

 Series
Identifier: Vault MSS 803 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains letters to and from Smith from family members and acquaintances, including his aunt Emma Smith Bidamon, his wife Hellen, his sons Alvin and Hyrum, his step brother Joseph F. Smith, and his cousin Joseph Smith III. Also includes some letters from LDS Church Presidents, including John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff. Dated 1848-1911.

Dates: 1848-1911

John Smith letters received, 1848-1911

 Sub-Series
Identifier: Vault MSS 803 Series 2 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Letters written to John Smith from family members and acquaintances, including Alexander Hale Smith, Hyrum F. Smith, Hyrum Gibbs Smith, George A. Smith, Hellen Smith, Joseph Smith III, Joseph F. Smith, Samuel H. B. Smith, John Taylor, Charles Lowell Walker, Orson F. Whitney, and Wilford Woodruff. Dated 1848-1911.

Dates: 1848-1911

John Smith letters sent, 1854-1911

 Sub-Series
Identifier: Vault MSS 803 Series 2 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Letters written by John Smith and sent to family members and other acquaintances, including his wife, Hellen, sons Alvin and Hyrum F., cousin Joseph Smith III, and step-brother Joseph F. Smith. Dated 1954-1911.

Dates: 1854-1911

John Smith mission papers, 1862-1864

 Series
Identifier: Vault MSS 803 Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains papers related to Smith's mission to Denmark for the LDS Church from 1862-1864. Includes four diaries, three of which are originals and one of which is a photocopy and transcription. Also includes his mission blessing, papers related to daily mission activities, a provision list for Danish Saints on the "Monarch of the Seas," a record of priesthood ordinations, a Danish grammar book, and letters to his wife, Hellen, and children. Dated 1862-1864.

Dates: 1862-1864

John Smith personal papers, 1852-1962

 Series
Identifier: Vault MSS 803 Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains papers related to Smith's personal and family life, genealogical information, business interests, and his role as Presiding Patriarch of the LDS Church. Includes patriarchal blessings given to him, as well as those he gave to others. Also includes tithing receipts, legal documents, documents regarding stock held by Smith, commendations for Smith, miscellaneous correspondence, documents related to Joseph Smith III, and articles regarding John Smith. Dated 1852-1962.

Dates: 1852-1962

John Taylor letter to John Smith, 1877 September 15

 File — Box 1: Series 1; Series 2 [Barcode: 31197232548872], Folder: 43
Identifier: Vault MSS 803 Series 2 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Letter from President John Taylor to Smith regarding an invitation to accompany him to the laying of the cornerstones of the Logan Temple. Dated September 15, 1877.

Dates: 1877 September 15

Samuel Bateman diary, book 1, 1886-1888

 Item — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197227633978], Folder: 1
Identifier: MSS 128 Item 1
Scope and Contents Original handwritten diary of Samuel Bateman, including entries while he served as bodyguard for Latter-day Saint Church President John Taylor until his death in July 1887. Diary includes nearly daily entries of his work as a bodyguard, and includes details of the last days of John Taylor while living in the "Underground" for plural marriage. Bateman later served as bodyguard to President Wilford Woodruff as well. Much of the diary is his interactions and travels with various Church leaders...
Dates: 1886-1888