Leonard W. Hardy

Who was Leonard W. Hardy?

Leonard Wilford Hardy was an early convert in the Latter Day Saint movement, a Mormon pioneer and a member of the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1856 until his death.

Hardy was born in Bradford, Massachusetts. On December 2, 1832, he joined the Latter Day Saint Church of Christ, being baptized by missionary Orson Hyde.

In December 1844, Hardy traveled to England as a church missionary with Wilford Woodruff, Dan Jones and Hiram Clark. Hardy was stationed in Preston, Lancashire, and was made the conference president in March 1845.

After returning to the United States, Hardy and his family emigrated to Utah Territory with other Mormon pioneers in 1850. Hardy contracted cholera but survived.

In Utah, Hardy was made a bishop of two different wards. On October 12, 1856, Hardy was called to be the first counselor to the church's Presiding Bishop, Edward Hunter. When Hunter died in 1883, William B. Preston became the new presiding bishop and Hardy was again selected as the first counselor. However, after just a few months working under Preston, Hardy died in Salt Lake City and was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery.