“We are earnestly seeking to explode the vicious principles of Joseph Smith.” — William Law¹

William Law was born in 1809 and joined the Church before 1837.² He was appointed as a counselor in the First Presidency in 1841. Law grew angry with Joseph Smith after his request to be sealed to his wife Jane was denied because Law had recently confessed to having committed adultery.³ Law also opposed Joseph’s teaching on plural marriage and the nature of God, and believed that the church needed to reform.⁴ He was removed from the First Presidency in January 1844 and was excommunicated in April, after which he started his own church.^2,5 Around this time, Law was also involved in a conspiracy to kill Joseph.⁴ In June 1844, in conjunction with other disaffected Saints, Law published the Nauvoo Expositor, a newspaper that openly attacked the prophet and accused him of straying from gospel principles.¹

1. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 43, 533-534

2. “Law, William,” josephsmithpapers.org

3. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 42, 511-512

4. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 43, 526-528

5. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 43, 530