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William H. Clayton (July 17, 1814 – December 4, 1879) was an early leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and acted as a clerk and scribe to the Mormon religious leader Joseph Smith. Clayton, born in England, is recognized as an American pioneer journalist, scribe, inventor, lyricist and musician. Clayton was born in Penwortham, Lancashire, England, the son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. He was the eldest of fourteen children. He married Ruth Moon on October 9, 1836. ==Early church service== In 1836, Clayton investigated the Church of the Latter Day Saints. Taught by church apostles Heber C. Kimball and Orson Hyde, Clayton was baptized October 21, 1837; ordained a priest in December; and a high priest on April 1, 1838.〔(Biography ) of William Clayton, The Joseph Smith Papers (accessed 21 December 2011)〕 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 a branch of the church in Manchester. In 1838, he served as second counselor to the British mission 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 Joseph Smith. In an 1840 letter, now held in archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), Clayton wrote to church members in Manchester 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. ===Plural marriage=== In 1843, Smith dictated a revelation on plural marriage to Clayton. As the practice of polygamy was initially secret, Clayton evidently spent time dealing with rumors and innuendo about the practice both in the church and surrounding community. Clayton accepted plural marriage as a religious principle, and ultimately married nine wives and fathered 42 children. Three of his wives later left him. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「William Clayton (Mormon)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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