Orson Pratt was born in New York in 1811. He was introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by his brother, Parley P. Pratt. Orson was baptized in 1830 and became a member of the first Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He served two missions in the British Isles and also aided in establishing missionary work in Austria. He was excommunicated for a brief period in 1842 due to a disagreement with the prophet Joseph Smith about polygamy, but he was re-baptized soon after and again joined the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He migrated west with Brigham Young and the rest of the members of the Church after Joseph Smith's death.

Nathaniel H. Felt was born in Salem, Massachuetts, on February 6, 1816. He became an apprentice in Lynn, Massachusetts, then moved back to Salem where he owned a mercantile business. He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1843. He moved to Nauvoo, Illinois in 1845, St. Louis, Missouri in 1847, and Salt Lake City in 1850. In Utah, Felt became a member of the Utah Territorial Legislature in 1851 and worked as an alderman in Salt Lake City. He served as chaplain of the Nauvoo Legion in 1851. From 1865 to 1867 Felt served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Great Britain, serving as president of the London District for a portion of that time. From 1869 to 1870 he also served a mission in New England. Felt died January 27, 1887.