William Clayton (Mormon) - Early Church Service

Early Church Service

In 1836, Clayton investigated the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Taught by Church Apostles Heber C. Kimball and Orson Hyde, he was baptized October 21, 1837; ordained a priest in December; and a high priest on April 1, 1838. Clayton's parents and siblings also joined the church. Clayton put aside his employment as a factory clerk to devote his time to missionary service in England, and was successful in founding an LDS branch in Manchester. In 1838, he served as second counselor to the British Mission's President Joseph Fielding, with Willard Richards as first counselor.

In September 1840, Clayton led a group of British converts and emigrated to the United States. He and his family first attempted to farm in Iowa Territory, then settled in the predominantly Latter Day Saint community of Nauvoo, Illinois. There he acted as a clerk and scribe to the prophet Joseph Smith. In an 1840 letter, now held in archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Clayton wrote Church members in Manchester, England, about interacting with Smith:

We have had the privilege of conversing with Joseph Smith Jr. and we are delighted with his company. We have had a privilege of ascertaining in a great measure from whence all the evil reports have arisen and hitherto have every reason to believe him innocent. He is not an idiot, but a man of sound judgment, and possessed of abundance of intelligence and whilst you listen to his conversation you receive intelligence which expands your mind and causes your heart to rejoice. He is very familiar, and delights to instruct the poor saints. I can converse with him just as easy as I can with you, and with regard to being willing to communicate instruction he says, 'I receive it freely and I will give it freely.' He is willing to answer any question I have put to him and is pleased when we ask him questions.

Clayton was responsible for maintaining many church records in Nauvoo, including those considered private and sacred. Other positions in the church and community included:

• recorder and clerk of the Nauvoo City Council,
• elected treasurer of Nauvoo,
• secretary pro tem of the Nauvoo Masonic Lodge,
• an officer in the Nauvoo Music Association,
• a member of the church's influential Council of Fifty, and
• a member of Joseph Smith's private prayer circle where the Latter Day Saint temple ceremonies were first introduced.