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apostlewilliamsmith (W. B. Smith ** )

Elder William B. Smith, brother of the Prophet Joseph Smith


Information regarding William B. Smith

  • Apostle number:  11
  • Quorum of the Twelve number:  9
  • Date of birth:  March 13, 1811
  • Place of birth:  Royalton, Windsor County, Vermont
  • Date of apostolic ordination:  February 15, 1835
  • Age when ordained apostle:  23 years 11 months
  • End of apostolic service:  October 6, 1845
  • Total apostolic years:  10 years 7 months
  • Date called into the Quorum of the Twelve:  February 15, 1835
  • Tenure in the Quorum of the Twelve:  10 years 7 months
  • Date of death:  November 13, 1893
  • Age at death:  82 years 8 months
  • Place of death:  Osterdock, Clayton County, Iowa
  • RemarksWilliam Smith was the brother of Joseph Smith. He was removed from the Quorum due to apostasy on May 4, 1839, but readmitted to the Quorum on May 25, 1839.  He was then excommunicated for apostasy on October 6, 1845.  He followed James J. Strang for a time, and then started his own ‘LDS Church’ in Covington, Kentucky. In later years he joined the Reorganized Latter-day Saint Church (now known as the Community of Christ) and was a petitioner for Reorganized Latter-day Saint Church Patriarchate from April 1872 to 13 November 1893.
  • Quote regarding William Smith:  Oliver Cowdery stated, “William Smith was appointed to be one of the first members of the Twelve, contrary to our feelings and judgment, and to our deep mortification ever since.”

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