Biography
Hardy was born in Bradford, Massachusetts on December 31, 1805. On December 2, 1832, he joined the Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints), Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, being baptized by Mormon missionary, missionary Orson Hyde. In December 1844, Hardy traveled to England as a church missionary with Wilford Woodruff, Dan Jones (Mormon), Dan Jones, and Hiram Clark. Hardy was stationed in Preston, Lancashire, and was made the District (LDS Church), conference president in March 1845. After returning to the United States, Hardy and his family emigrated to Utah Territory with other Mormon pioneers in 1850. Hardy contracted cholera but survived. In Utah, Hardy was made a Bishop (Latter Day Saints), bishop of two different Ward (LDS Church), wards. On October 12, 1856, Hardy was called to be the first counselor to the church's Presiding Bishop (LDS Church), Presiding Bishop, Edward Hunter (Mormon), Edward Hunter. When Hunter died in 1883, William B. Preston (Mormon), William B. Preston became the new presiding bishop and Hardy was again selected as the first counselor. However, after just a few months working under Preston, Hardy died at his home in Salt Lake City and was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery. Hardy practiced plural marriage and was the father of 18 children. Among his five wives were three sisters, Sophia Lois, Esther Smylinda, and Harriet Ann Goodridge (name also shown as Goodrich in some sources). His other two wives were Elizabeth Harriman Nichols and Rachel Smith Gardner. Leonard Wilford Hardy is the namesake of the community of Wilford, Idaho.Notes
References
*Andrew Jenson, ''Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia'', vol.1External links