William E. McLellin

William E. McLellin was one of the original Twelve Apostles called in 1835 who was later excommunicated in 1838. A former schoolteacher from Tennessee, McLellin was well-educated and initially enthusiastic about Mormonism, though his relationship with Joseph Smith was tumultuous from the start.

McLellin tested Joseph Smith’s prophetic abilities by secretly composing questions that he asked Smith to answer through revelation—a test Smith apparently passed to McLellin’s initial satisfaction. However, McLellin frequently clashed with church leadership and was removed from the apostleship multiple times before his final excommunication.

In 1838, he sided against Joseph Smith during the Missouri conflicts and reportedly participated in a mob attack on Smith’s home. He later aligned with various splinter groups but never found lasting religious satisfaction.

McLellin spent years trying to write his own scriptural translations and supporting claims against Joseph Smith. His journals and papers, discovered in the 20th century, have provided historians with valuable (if biased) insights into early Mormon history.

His case illustrates the tumultuous nature of early church leadership and the many early apostles who eventually left or were removed.