Levi W. Hancock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Levi W. Hancock |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| First Seven Presidents of the Seventy | |
| September 3, 1837 – June 10, 1882 | |
| Called by | Joseph Smith |
| First Seven Presidents of the Seventy | |
| March 1, 1835 – April 6, 1837 | |
| Called by | Joseph Smith |
| End reason | Honorably released because it was mistakenly thought he had been previously ordained a high priest |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Levi Ward Hancock April 7, 1803 Springfield, Massachusetts, United States |
| Died | June 10, 1882 (aged 79) Washington, Utah Territory, United States |
| Resting place | Washington City Cemetery 37°07′55″N 113°30′11″W / 37.132°N 113.503°W |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth W. Hovey Emily M. Richey Clarissa Reed Anna Tew Mary Morgan (Maren) |
| Children | 18 |
| Parents | Thomas Hancock III Amy Ward |
Levi Ward Hancock (born April 7, 1803 – died June 10, 1882) was an important early member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He became a leader in the Church for almost 50 years. He was also one of the people who saw and confirmed the Book of Commandments.
Contents
Who Was Levi W. Hancock?
Levi W. Hancock was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. His parents were Thomas Hancock III and Amy Ward. In 1830, he was living in Ohio. There, he heard missionaries from the new Latter Day Saint church speak. These missionaries were Parley P. Pratt, Sidney Rigdon, and Oliver Cowdery.
Joining the Church
Levi was convinced by their message. He was baptized into the Latter Day Saint church on November 16, 1830. Soon after, he was made an elder. In 1831, he went on a mission to Missouri with Zebedee Coltrin to share his new faith.
Early Church Leadership
In 1834, Levi Hancock joined a group called Zion's Camp. They traveled from Ohio to Missouri to help Church members who were having problems there. On March 1, 1835, he was made a seventy in the Church. He was chosen as one of the first seven presidents of the Seventy.
On April 6, 1837, Levi was briefly released from this role. This happened because people mistakenly thought he had already been made a high priest. When they realized this was not true, he was put back in his position on September 3, 1837. He continued to serve as one of the presidents of the Seventy until he died. From July 1881 until his death in June 1882, he was the most senior president of the Seventy.
Talented Songwriter
Levi Hancock also wrote the words to several songs. One of his songs, "My Peaceful Home, 1837," showed how Latter-day Saints felt about their new communities. He also wrote a twelve-verse song that was sung when the Far West Temple cornerstones were placed in 1838.
Moving West and Serving
Hancock moved with the Latter Day Saints first to Missouri, then to Nauvoo, Illinois. He was part of the Nauvoo Legion, which was like a local militia. He also served on the Nauvoo police force. In 1843, he became the chief musician for the Nauvoo Legion.
Levi Hancock was one of the Church members in Missouri who confirmed the truth of the Book of Commandments. He signed his name with a pencil. He even added the words "never to be erased" because others had signed with a pen.
In 1844, Hancock became a member of the Council of Fifty. This was a group that helped plan for the future of the Church. In 1846, he joined the Mormon Battalion. This was a group of Latter-day Saints who served in the U.S. Army during the Mexican-American War.
On July 16, 1847, he left the Army in Pueblo Los Angeles. He then led about 100 men east along the California Trail to Utah. They joined other pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley on October 18. In Utah Territory, he became a member of the 1st Utah Territorial Legislature. He also served a mission for the Church to try and grow cotton in southern Utah.
Hancock helped settle Washington, Utah. In 1872, he was made a Church patriarch. He passed away in Washington, Utah, in 1882. He had 18 children.
