William Smith (also found as William B. Smith) (b. Royalton, Vermont March 13 1811– d. November 13, 1893) was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an early member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, replacing Luke S. Johnson. William Smith was the 8th child of Joseph Smith, Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith. As such he was the younger brother of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. During his childhood, the Smith family suffered considerable financial problems and moved several times in the New England area.
William was still living in the home of his parents when his brother Joseph was permitted to bring the Golden Plates home and commence translation of the Book of Mormon. William is reported to have not been privileged to view them, but was allowed to feel them, open them and lift the soft case (much alike a pillow case) in which they were kept. He was baptized June 9, 1830 by David Whitmer, one of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon.
Smith served a term in the Illinois State Legislature in 1842.
The relationship between William and Joseph was, at times, quite rocky. William is believed to have physically fought with or attempted to fight with his brother Joseph on more than one occasion, and it is said that at the time Joseph died, he was still suffering the effects of a beating he had received from William some time earlier, a 'fist fight' was reportedly 'narrowly averted' between the two on October 29, 1835 in Kirtland.[1] It has also been claimed that Joseph Smith 'nearly killed William in a fist fight in the streets of Nauvoo' in 1844, after Joseph learned that William had sold church property for financial gain immediately after assuring Joseph he would not do so. [2]
During the succession crisis that followed the deaths of his brothers Joseph and Hyrum, Smith was excommunicated for apostasy in 1845 from the group that followed Brigham Young (which is currently called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). He was subsequently involved with the Strangite group for a time. Smith was later influential in the founding of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now called the Community of Christ), with Joseph Smith, III (his brother's son) as Prophet–President.
When Smith died at Osterdock, Clayton County, Iowa, he was the last surviving brother of Joseph Smith Jr., though his sisters Sophronia and Catherine survived him.
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| Preceded by Luke S. Johnson |
Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles February 15, 1835–May 4, 1839 |
Succeeded by Orson Pratt |
| Preceded by Orson Hyde |
Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles October 6, 1839–October 1845 |
Succeeded by Willard Richards |
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