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| Moses Thatcher | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| April 9, 1879 (1879-04-09) – April 6, 1896 (1896-04-06) | |
| End reason | Released from the Quorum by avote of the church |
| LDS ChurchApostle | |
| April 9, 1879 (1879-04-09) – August 22, 1909 (1909-08-22)[b] | |
| Reason | Deaths ofBrigham Young andOrson Hyde[a] |
| Reorganization at end of term | No apostles ordained[c] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Moses Thatcher (1842-02-02)February 2, 1842 Sangamon County, Illinois, United States |
| Died | August 22, 1909(1909-08-22) (aged 67) Logan, Utah, United States |
| Signature | |
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Moses Thatcher (February 2, 1842 – August 22, 1909) was anapostle and a member of theQuorum of the Twelve Apostles inthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). 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 ofapostle.
Thatcher was born inSangamon County, Illinois, to Hezekiah Thatcher and Alena Kitchen. The Thatcher family joined theChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1843, and moved toMacedonia, Illinois, and later toNauvoo. Together, with the main body of the church, they began their trek westward in 1846 and arrived in theSalt Lake Valley in September 1847.[1][citation needed]
Hezekiah and Alena, with seven of their eight living children (including Thatcher), departed forCalifornia in 1849, seeking to acquire wealth through theGold Rush. They returned toUtah Territory in 1857. Thatcher served a mission for the church at age 15, from which he returned in 1858. In 1859, the family settled inCache Valley, where Thatcher helped Hezekiah locate canal and mill sites.[1][citation needed]
From 1860 to 1861, Thatcher studied at theUniversity of Deseret. From 1866 to 1868, he served a second mission, this one to theUnited Kingdom andFrance. He later served as the church'smission president inMexico from October 10, 1879 to February 4, 1880.[2]
Thatcher became anapostle and a member of theQuorum of the Twelve Apostles in April 1879.[citation needed] He replacedOrson Hyde, who died on November 28, 1878.[citation needed]
From 1880 to 1898, Thatcher was the second assistant toWilford Woodruff in the superintendency of theYoung Men's Mutual Improvement Association (YMMIA).[citation needed]
At the April 1896General 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 about a proposed policy called "The Political Rule of the Church," commonly referred to as "the political Manifesto." This policy would have required that the general authorities of the church to obtain the approval of the First Presidency before seeking public office. This statement was signed by all the apostles at the time except Thatcher, who refused on grounds of conscience, citing the church's long-standing position on political neutrality. (ApostleAnthon Lund also did not sign the document due to his absence while presiding over the church's EuropeanMission.)[3]
However, Thatcher was not excommunicated from the church and retained his position in the leadership of the YMMIA.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed]Matthias F. Cowley replaced Thatcher in the Quorum of the Twelve. Thatcher held the priesthood office of apostle until his death.[citation needed]
After being removed from the quorum, Thatcher testified in theReed Smoot hearings held before the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections.[4] He was supportive of the church and its positions.[citation needed]
Thatcher died at his home on August 22, 1909, inLogan, Utah.[5]
| The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titles | ||
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| Preceded by | Quorum of the Twelve Apostles April 9, 1879 – April, 1896 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
