Moses Thatcher

Moses Thatcher (2 February 1842—21 August 1909) was an apostle and a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 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, Illinois. 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.

Apostolic Service

Moses Thatcher was called to be an apostle and a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in April of 1879. He was called to replace Orson Hyde, who died on November 28, 1878. In 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. However, Thatcher was not excommunicated from the church and held the priesthood office of Apostle until his death. His problems were of a political nature (he sought public office without the approval of his employer, the church) rather than a matter of doctrine or morals. 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.

Post-Apostolic 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. He is buried in the Logan, Utah Cemetery.

See also

• Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages