Born in Smith County, Tennessee, in 1806, William E. McLellin joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1831. He was called to serve in the first Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in this dispensation in 1835.
McLellin’s faith in the church wavered periodically. There were times when he was disfellowshipped or wrote a letter of withdrawal followed by full reinstatement in the church. He eventually left the church completely and became an enemy to the Prophet Joseph Smith. He associated with other religious factions from time to time but disassociated himself from all organized religions later in life.
Interestingly, biographers have noted that McLellin had faith in the Book of Mormon throughout his life. He spent his final years at Independence, Missouri, where he passed away in 1883 at the age of 77. He was buried at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Independence. The headstone seen here identifies the burial site but is a replacement for an earlier stone.