Moses Thatcher
Encyclopedia
Moses Thatcher was an apostle
and a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was one of only a few members of the Quorum of the Twelve to be dropped from the Quorum but to remain in good standing in the church and retain the priesthood office of apostle.
. The Thatcher family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1843, and moved to Macedonia
, Illinois
and later to Nauvoo
. Together with the main body of the church, they began their trek westward in 1846 and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley
in September 1847.
Hezekiah and Alena, with seven of their eight living children (including Moses), departed for California
in 1849, seeking to acquire wealth by taking advantage of the Gold Rush
, but they returned to Utah
in 1857. Moses, although only fifteen years of age, was called to serve a mission for the church, from which he returned in 1858. In 1859, the family settled in Cache Valley
, where Moses helped Hezekiah locate canal and mill sites.
From 1860 to 1861 Moses studied at the University of Deseret. From 1866 to 1868 he served a second mission, this one to the United Kingdom
and France
. He later served as the church's first mission president
in Mexico
.
, who died on November 28, 1878.
At the April 1896 General Conference
of the church, Thatcher was dropped from the Quorum of the Twelve in consequence of his not being "in harmony" with the other leaders of the church in regards to a proposed policy called "The Political Rule of the Church" and commonly referred to as "the political Manifesto." This policy would have required LDS Church officials to obtain approval from their priesthood superiors in the church prior to taking on "any position, political or otherwise." This statement was signed by all the apostles at the time except Thatcher, who refused on grounds of conscience, citing the church's long-standing position on neutrality in political matters. (Apostle Anthon Lund also did not sign the document due to his absence while presiding over the church's European Mission
.)
However, Thatcher was not excommunicated from the church and held the priesthood office of Apostle until his death. Thatcher remained supportive of the church after being removed from the Quorum, testifying on many occasions of the divinity of the work and the divinity of the calling of its leaders. Matthias F. Cowley
was called to replace Thatcher in the Quorum of the Twelve.
Thatcher died at his home on August 21, 1909 in Logan, Utah
. He is buried in the Logan, Utah
Cemetery.
Apostle (Mormonism)
In the Latter Day Saint movement, an Apostle is a "special witness of the name of Jesus Christ who is sent to teach the principles of salvation to others." In many Latter Day Saint churches, an Apostle is a priesthood office of high authority within the church hierarchy. In many churches, apostles...
and a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was one of only a few members of the Quorum of the Twelve to be dropped from the Quorum but to remain in good standing in the church and retain the priesthood office of apostle.
Early life
Moses' parents were Hezekiah and Alena Kitchen Thatcher. Moses was born in Sangamon County, IllinoisSangamon County, Illinois
Sangamon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 197,465, which is an increase of 4.5% from 188,951 in 2000...
. The Thatcher family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1843, and moved to Macedonia
Macedonia, Illinois
Macedonia is a village in Hamilton and Franklin counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 51 at the 2000 census.The Hamilton County portion of Macedonia is part of the Mount Vernon Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
and later to Nauvoo
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
. Together with the main body of the church, they began their trek westward in 1846 and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley is a valley in Salt Lake County in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Utah. It contains Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs, notably West Valley City, Murray, Sandy, and West Jordan; its total population is 1,029,655 as of 2010...
in September 1847.
Hezekiah and Alena, with seven of their eight living children (including Moses), departed for California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1849, seeking to acquire wealth by taking advantage of the Gold Rush
Gold rush
A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers to an area that has had a dramatic discovery of gold. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, while smaller gold rushes took place elsewhere.In the 19th and early...
, but they returned to Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
in 1857. Moses, although only fifteen years of age, was called to serve a mission for the church, from which he returned in 1858. In 1859, the family settled in Cache Valley
Cache Valley
The Cache Valley is an agricultural valley of northern Utah and southeast Idaho that includes the Logan metropolitan area. The valley was used by 19th century mountain men and was the site of the 1863 Bear River Massacre.-History:...
, where Moses helped Hezekiah locate canal and mill sites.
From 1860 to 1861 Moses studied at the University of Deseret. From 1866 to 1868 he served a second mission, this one to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He later served as the church's first mission president
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Apostolic service
Moses Thatcher was called to be an apostle and a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in April 1879. He was called to replace Orson HydeOrson Hyde
Orson Hyde was a leader in the early Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles...
, who died on November 28, 1878.
At the April 1896 General Conference
General conference (Mormonism)
In the Latter Day Saint movement, a general conference is a meeting for all members of the church for conducting general church business and instruction....
of the church, Thatcher was dropped from the Quorum of the Twelve in consequence of his not being "in harmony" with the other leaders of the church in regards to a proposed policy called "The Political Rule of the Church" and commonly referred to as "the political Manifesto." This policy would have required LDS Church officials to obtain approval from their priesthood superiors in the church prior to taking on "any position, political or otherwise." This statement was signed by all the apostles at the time except Thatcher, who refused on grounds of conscience, citing the church's long-standing position on neutrality in political matters. (Apostle Anthon Lund also did not sign the document due to his absence while presiding over the church's European Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
.)
However, Thatcher was not excommunicated from the church and held the priesthood office of Apostle until his death. Thatcher remained supportive of the church after being removed from the Quorum, testifying on many occasions of the divinity of the work and the divinity of the calling of its leaders. Matthias F. Cowley
Matthias F. Cowley
Matthias Foss Cowley , born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1897 until 1905. The town of Cowley in Wyoming is named after him. He was the father of Apostle Matthew Cowley by Abbie Hyde. ...
was called to replace Thatcher in the Quorum of the Twelve.
Post-Quorum of the Twelve Service
After being removed from the quorum, Thatcher testified in the Reed Smoot Investigation held before the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections. He was supportive of the church and its positions.Thatcher died at his home on August 21, 1909 in Logan, Utah
Logan, Utah
-Layout of the City:Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 , though some streets have non-numeric names...
. He is buried in the Logan, Utah
Logan, Utah
-Layout of the City:Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 , though some streets have non-numeric names...
Cemetery.
External links
- Moses Thatcher's Missionary Diaries Digital Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University
- Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages: Moses Thatcher