Erastus Snow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Erastus Snow |
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| Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| February 12, 1849 – May 27, 1888 | |
| LDS Church Apostle | |
| February 12, 1849 – May 27, 1888 | |
| Reason | Reorganization of First Presidency; excommunication of Lyman Wight |
| Reorganization at end of term |
Marriner W. Merrill, Anthon H. Lund, and Abraham H. Cannon ordained |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Erastus Snow November 9, 1818 St. Johnsbury, Vermont, United States |
| Died | May 27, 1888 (aged 69) Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, United States |
| Resting place | Salt Lake City Cemetery 40°46′37.92″N 111°51′28.8″W / 40.7772000°N 111.858000°W |
| Spouse(s) | Artemisia Beman, 13 Dec 1838 Minerva White, 2 Apr 1844 Elizabeth Rebecca Ashby, 19 Dec 1847 Julia Josephine Spencer, 1856 |
| Children | 33 |
Erastus Snow (November 9, 1818 – May 27, 1888) was an important leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from 1849 until his death. Erastus Snow also played a big role in helping Latter-day Saints settle new areas. These areas included parts of Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.
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Early Life and Joining the Church
Erastus Snow was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, in 1818. In the early 1830s, he joined the Church of Christ. This church was the first name for what is now The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of the missionaries who taught him was Orson Pratt. Erastus's brothers, William and Zerubbabel Snow, had joined the church before him.
Moving to Kirtland
After joining the church, Erastus Snow moved to Kirtland, Ohio. This city was where the church had its main offices at the time. However, Erastus spent much of his time away from Kirtland. He served as a missionary, mostly in Pennsylvania. Later, he served another mission in Salem, Massachusetts. There, he helped many people join the church. One of these new members was Nathaniel Ashby. Erastus and Nathaniel later lived in the same duplex in Nauvoo, Illinois.
Journey to the Salt Lake Valley
Erastus Snow was part of the first group of Mormon pioneers to travel to the Salt Lake Valley. This journey was a very important event in the history of the church. Erastus Snow and Orson Pratt were the very first two Latter-day Saints to enter the Valley. This happened after a long and difficult journey across the American West.
Becoming an Apostle
On February 12, 1849, Erastus Snow became a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. This is a very high leadership position in the church. On the same day, three other men also became apostles. They were Charles C. Rich, Lorenzo Snow, and Franklin D. Richards.
Missions and Church Service
In October 1849, Erastus Snow was asked to lead a mission to Scandinavia. This region includes countries like Denmark and Sweden. He traveled with a Danish convert named Peter O. Hansen. Peter had joined the church in Boston. Erastus and Peter focused most of their efforts in Denmark. Another convert, John E. Forsgren, joined them and preached in Sweden.
Spreading the Gospel
While serving in Denmark, Erastus Snow helped the first Icelanders join the church. He also gave them priesthood authority. Then, he sent them to Iceland to share the gospel there. Before his mission ended, Erastus Snow started publishing a church newspaper in the Danish language. This helped many people learn about the church.
Leading in the Midwest
Later in the 1850s, Erastus Snow was in charge of the church in the midwest United States. His main office was in St. Louis. He returned to Utah Territory in 1857. There, he worked as a farmer.
Mission During Wartime
In 1860, Erastus Snow went on another mission with Orson Pratt. They traveled to the Eastern United States. By the time they arrived, Abraham Lincoln had just been elected president. A big war was about to begin. This was the American Civil War. Erastus and Orson helped many church members decide to move to Utah. A lot of this movement happened in 1861, after the war had started.
Southern Utah and Legacy
After returning to Utah in 1861, Erastus Snow was given a new assignment. He became the apostle in charge of the Latter-day Saint settlements in Southern Utah. He lived in St. George, Utah. He also helped establish new towns. These included Kingman and Snowflake, Arizona.
Erastus Snow died in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, when he was 69 years old. He was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
Many places are named after Erastus Snow. These include Snow Canyon State Park (near St. George, Utah). Also, Snow College (in Ephraim, Utah) and the town of Snowflake, Arizona carry his name.
