Joseph L. Heywood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Joseph L. Heywood |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 1, 1815 Grafton, Massachusetts, United States |
| Died | October 16, 1910 Panguitch, Utah, United States |
Joseph L. Heywood (born August 1, 1815 – died October 16, 1910) was an important leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the 1800s. He is also known for helping to start the city of Nephi, Utah.
Contents
Joseph L. Heywood: A Pioneer Leader
Joseph L. Heywood played a key role in the early history of the Latter-day Saints. He helped establish new communities and served in important positions. His life shows how people worked together to build new homes in the American West.
Early Life and New Faith
Joseph L. Heywood was born in Grafton, Massachusetts on August 1, 1815. In 1839, he moved to Quincy, Illinois, where he worked as a merchant. This means he bought and sold goods.
While in Quincy, he met members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He later visited Nauvoo, Illinois, which was a main gathering place for the Church. There, he decided to join the Church himself. He was baptized by a Church leader named Orson Hyde. While still in Nauvoo, Joseph Heywood was called to serve as a bishop. A bishop is a local leader in the Church.
Helping the Church Move West
In 1846, the Latter-day Saints began to leave Nauvoo. Joseph Heywood was given an important job. He was appointed as a trustee, along with Almon Babbitt and John S. Fullmer. Their task was to sell property belonging to the Church. This helped the Church gather money as its members moved west.
Building New Communities
Later, after moving to Utah, Joseph Heywood continued to serve. He became the first bishop of the 17th Ward in Salt Lake City. A "ward" is a local congregation, or group of Church members.
Heywood also served as the first United States Marshal for the Utah Territory. This was a very important job, as a marshal helps keep law and order.
He did more than just supervise the settlement of Nephi, Utah. He also traveled with Orson Hyde to the Carson Valley in Nevada. There, they helped set up the first Latter-day Saint settlement. This place was called Mormon Station, which is now known as Genoa.
From 1861, Joseph Heywood lived mainly in Panguitch, Utah. In that area, he served as an LDS patriarch. A patriarch gives special blessings to Church members. His house in Salt Lake City was on the land where the LDS Conference Center stands today. Even after he moved south, his old house was still known by his name. It was also the first home of John Morgan when he arrived in Utah.
