Erastus Snow

Erastus Snow (November 9, 1818 – May 27, 1888) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1849 to until his death. Snow was also a leading figure in Mormon colonization of Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.

Born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, Snow joined the Church of Christ in Vermont in the early 1830s. One of the missionaries who taught him was Orson Pratt. His brother, Zerubbabel Snow, joined the church prior to him.

Snow moved to Kirtland, Ohio, where the church was headquartered, but spent much of his time on missions, primarily in Pennsylvania. He later served a mission to Salem, Massachusetts, where he baptized several converts, including Nathaniel Ashby, a man with whom he shared a duplex when they both resided in Nauvoo, Illinois.

Snow was in the first Mormon pioneer company to journey to the Salt Lake Valley. He and Orson Pratt were the first two Mormons to enter the Valley.

Snow was ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on February 12, 1849. On the same day, Charles C. Rich, Lorenzo Snow, and Franklin D. Richards were ordained.