William Whitaker Taylor
Encyclopedia
William Whitaker Taylor (September 11, 1853 – August 1, 1884) was a member of the Utah Territorial
Legislature, member of the Presidency of the Seventy in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), and a son of LDS Church president John Taylor. He was a half brother to John W. Taylor, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who was dropped from the body and excommunicated for refusing to give up plural marriage
, and a brother-in-law to George Q. Cannon
.
William served a mission in England with his half brother John, but before leaving married the youngest daughter of Abraham Hoagland
and Agnes Taylor
, 20-year-old Sarah Taylor Hoagland, with whom he eventually had six children.
William reported that while crossing the ocean with John on the Steamship Dakota
on the way to England, he had a dream in which Jesus Christ appeared to him, took him by the hand, looked in his face, and asked "Will you ever doubt again?"
Two years after returning from his mission, William was named one of the First Seven Presidents of the Seventy at the age of 26. Soon thereafter he was also appointed to the Council of Fifty
.
Despite the near-universal view that John Taylor refused compromise on plural marriage, over a third of general authorities appointed under Taylor were monogamists, including William and his half brother. It wasn't until just before his death that William took on a plural wife, Selma van Cott, daughter of fellow Seventies president John Van Cott
.
In addition to his rise within the church, William was elected to the Utah Territorial Legislature
in the 1883 general election. Within months, he was also elected assessor and collector of taxes for Salt Lake City in February 1884. However, on a Saturday evening that summer, he was attacked with "bilious colic
" and died from the effects within a week. He left six children, eight years and under, from his first wife and none from his second.
Given his meteoric rise in church and public office, one historian commented that Taylor would be much better known if his life hadn't ended at such an early age. His father, who was president of the LDS Church at the time, said in his obituary "I cannot think of anything which I wish he had done differently." John Morgan
took his place as one of the presidents of the Seventy.
At Taylor's funeral in the Salt Lake Tabernacle
, Wilford Woodruff
, Robert T. Burton
, Joseph F. Smith
, George Q. Cannon
, and John Taylor each spoke.
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
Legislature, member of the Presidency of the Seventy in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), and a son of LDS Church president John Taylor. He was a half brother to John W. Taylor, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who was dropped from the body and excommunicated for refusing to give up plural marriage
Plural marriage
Polygamy was taught by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for more than half of the 19th century, and practiced publicly from 1852 to 1890.The Church's practice of polygamy has been highly controversial, both within...
, and a brother-in-law to George Q. Cannon
George Q. Cannon
George Quayle Cannon was an early member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and served in the First Presidency under four successive presidents of the church: Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow...
.
William served a mission in England with his half brother John, but before leaving married the youngest daughter of Abraham Hoagland
Abraham Hoagland
Abraham Lucas Hoagland was an early Mormon leader, pioneer, and one of the founders of Royal Oak, Michigan, and Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.-Early life:...
and Agnes Taylor
Agnes Taylor
Agnes Taylor Rich Hoagland Schwartz was a Mormon pioneer who played a key role in helping her brother, LDS Church president John Taylor, evade authorities during the federal crackdown on polygamy in the mid-1880s. She was also the mother-in-law of later church president Joseph F. Smith and of...
, 20-year-old Sarah Taylor Hoagland, with whom he eventually had six children.
William reported that while crossing the ocean with John on the Steamship Dakota
SS Dakota
right|thumb|300px|SS DakotaThe SS Dakota was a steamship built by the Eastern Shipbuilding Company in Groton, Connecticut and owned by railroad magnate James J...
on the way to England, he had a dream in which Jesus Christ appeared to him, took him by the hand, looked in his face, and asked "Will you ever doubt again?"
Two years after returning from his mission, William was named one of the First Seven Presidents of the Seventy at the age of 26. Soon thereafter he was also appointed to the Council of Fifty
Council of Fifty
The Council of Fifty was a Latter Day Saint organization established by Joseph Smith, Jr...
.
Despite the near-universal view that John Taylor refused compromise on plural marriage, over a third of general authorities appointed under Taylor were monogamists, including William and his half brother. It wasn't until just before his death that William took on a plural wife, Selma van Cott, daughter of fellow Seventies president John Van Cott
John Van Cott
John Van Cott was a prominent member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving as a member of the Quorum of the Seventy, as one of the Seven Presidents of the Seventy, and also as president of the Scandinavian Mission.-Early life and conversion:John Van Cott was descended from a...
.
In addition to his rise within the church, William was elected to the Utah Territorial Legislature
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
in the 1883 general election. Within months, he was also elected assessor and collector of taxes for Salt Lake City in February 1884. However, on a Saturday evening that summer, he was attacked with "bilious colic
Abdominal pain
Abdominal pain can be one of the symptoms associated with transient disorders or serious disease. Making a definitive diagnosis of the cause of abdominal pain can be difficult, because many diseases can result in this symptom. Abdominal pain is a common problem...
" and died from the effects within a week. He left six children, eight years and under, from his first wife and none from his second.
Given his meteoric rise in church and public office, one historian commented that Taylor would be much better known if his life hadn't ended at such an early age. His father, who was president of the LDS Church at the time, said in his obituary "I cannot think of anything which I wish he had done differently." John Morgan
John Hamilton Morgan
John Hamilton Morgan , was an early educator in Utah Territory, an official of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and a politician.-Biography:...
took his place as one of the presidents of the Seventy.
At Taylor's funeral in the Salt Lake Tabernacle
Salt Lake Tabernacle
The Salt Lake Tabernacle, also known as the Mormon Tabernacle, is located on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah along with the Salt Lake Assembly Hall and Salt Lake Temple.-History:...
, Wilford Woodruff
Wilford Woodruff
Wilford Woodruff, Sr. was the fourth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1889 until his death...
, Robert T. Burton
Robert T. Burton
Robert Taylor Burton was a member of the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1874 until his death...
, Joseph F. Smith
Joseph F. Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
, George Q. Cannon
George Q. Cannon
George Quayle Cannon was an early member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and served in the First Presidency under four successive presidents of the church: Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow...
, and John Taylor each spoke.