author
William Clayton
1814–1879
Remembered as a careful diarist of the early Latter-day Saint movement, he also wrote the words to the pioneer hymn “Come, Come, Ye Saints.” His journals and records have made him an important firsthand witness to a formative period in 19th-century religious history.
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About the author
Born in Lancashire, England, in 1814, William Clayton became an early convert to the Latter-day Saint movement in 1837. He later emigrated to the United States and served in a wide range of roles, including clerk, scribe, missionary, musician, and record-keeper.
Clayton is especially known for his close work with Joseph Smith and for the detailed journals he kept, which historians still use as valuable primary sources on the Nauvoo period and the westward migration. He also wrote the text of “Come, Come, Ye Saints,” one of the best-known hymns associated with the Mormon pioneer experience.
Beyond his writing, he was involved in journalism, administration, and practical invention during the settlement of the American West. He died in Salt Lake City in 1879, leaving behind a record of everyday life, faith, and movement that continues to interest readers and historians alike.