Charles C. Rich

Charles Coulson Rich (August 21, 1809 – November 17, 1883) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. He led one of the first groups of Mormon pioneers west from Illinois under the leadership of Brigham Young after Joseph Smith's murder.

Rich was chosen and served as an apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) under Brigham Young after the Church settled in Utah Territory. President Young asked Rich to open up San Bernardino, California, for settlement in 1850, and Bear Lake Valley, located in Utah and Idaho, in 1863. Rich founded many communities in Bear Lake Valley, including Paris, Montpelier, Fish Haven, Ovid, Georgetown, St. Charles, Bloomington, Bennington, Wardboro, Dingle, Glencoe and Pegram in Idaho, and Garden City, Meadowville, and Laketown in Utah.

Biography

Personal life Rich was born in on August 21, 1809, in Campbell County, Kentucky, to Joseph Rich and Nancy O'Neal. Rich was baptized into the early Latter Day Saint church on April 1, 1832, Rich followed the church's principle of plural marriage, taking six wives and fathering a total of 51 children.

Church leadership Rich was a leader in Caldwell County, Missouri, and fought in the Battle of Crooked River. It was recorded that, during the battle, Rich "dropped his sword... and administered to wounded Apostle David W. Patten, then assuming command and winning the battle." and as Brigadier-General in the Nauvoo Legion.

Brigham Young appointed Rich a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on February 12, 1849.

Rich helped form a Latter-day Saint settlement in San Bernardino, California.

Sermons Bust of Charles C. Rich outside of the Paris Idaho Tabernacle. "Privileges Better Appreciated By Absence—Present Salvation," Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, pp. 353–54 "Sufficiency of the Gospel—Obedience to Truth," Journal of Discourses, vol. 5, pp. 296–300 "Present Opportunities of Obtaining a Knowledge of the Principles of Truth—Importance of Improving Them," Journal of Discourses, vol. 10, pp. 90–95 "Building the Temple—General Duties of the Saints," Journal of Discourses, vol. 10, pp. 160–63 "Labor To Build Up The Kingdom," Journal of Discourses, vol. 12, pp. 3–5 "Saints Should Be Whole-Hearted—Seek First the Kingdom," Journal of Discourses, vol. 19, pp. 26–30 "Expectations Deferred," Journal of Discourses, vol. 19, pp. 161–68 "Blessing the Result of Obedience to Law—Our Agency in the Flesh," Journal of Discourses, vol. 19, pp. 249–58 "No Salvation in Ignorance," Journal of Discourses, vol. 19, pp. 371–76