William Marks

William Marks (November 15, 1792 – May 22, 1872) was a leader in the early days of the Latter Day Saint movement and was a member of the First Presidency in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Marks is mentioned in the Doctrine and Covenants in sections 117 and 124 of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) edition and in section 115 of the Community of Christ edition. Early life Marks was born in Rutland, Vermont, on November 15, 1792 to Cornwall (or Cornell) Marks and Sarah Goodrich. He married Rosannah Robinson on May 2, 1813, and was the father of five children. Early church membership Marks was baptized a member of Church of Christ sometime in April 1835 in New York and ordained a priest shortly thereafter. He was ordained an elder on June 3, 1836. Partly due to the lack of records available on his baptism, Marks was rebaptized in proxy by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on January 29, 1965. In September 1837, Marks was appointed to the High Council at Kirtland, Ohio, and agent of the Messenger and Advocate when Joseph Smith and others fled Ohio under mob pressure. Marks was appointed by revelation (D&C 117) to leave Ohio and move to Far West, Missouri, to preside over the body of Saints. However, before he arrived, the Mormons were expelled from the state under the "Extermination Order" signed into law by Lilburn W. Boggs.