Erastus Snow was born on November 9, 1818, in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. He was introduced to the LDS Church in 1832 by Orson Pratt, another prom-inent early leader of the church. Snow was baptized in 3 Feb. 1833 at the age of 14. Shortly after his baptism, he began serving as a missionary, sharing the teachings of the church with others in the northeastern United States.

Member of Brigham Young pioneer company to Salt Lake Valley, 1847

Snow was a dedicated missionary throughout his life. He served several missions, including significant efforts a mission to eastern states, 1847–1848

He was ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, one of the church’s highest governing bodies, on February 12, 1849. This role made him a prominent leader within the LDS Church, where he contributed to both its spiritual and administrative growth.

He we appointed to serve colonizing mission to Iron Co., Utah Territory, Oct. 1852. One of Snow’s most no-table contributions was his role in the colonization of the American West. After the Latter-day Saints migrated to the Salt Lake Valley under Brigham Young’s leadership, Snow was instru-mental in establishing settlements in what is now Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.

Snow is perhaps best known for his efforts in southern Utah, where he helped found the city of St. George in 1861. St. George became a crucial agricultural hub and the base for further LDS settlements in the region. Snow’s leadership in this area earned him the title “Father of St. George.”

Snow also led the establishment of several settlements in Arizona, including Snowflake, which was named in part after him.

Erastus Snow continued to serve in various leadership capacities within the LDS Church until his death on May 27, 1888, in Salt Lake City, Utah. His legacy is deeply connected to the expansion and establishment of LDS communities in the western United States. Many of the towns and cities he helped found continue to thrive, and he is remembered as a key figure in the church’s history and the broader history of the American West.

Snow was known for his large family, as he practiced plural marriage, which was common among early LDS Church leaders. He had several wives and many children, some of whom became prominent figures in their own right.