After helping her and their children start on the Mormon exodus to the west in 1846, Richards and his brother, Samuel, departed on a mission to Great Britain.

To fill the vacancy, and to bring the number of the quorum up to twelve, Richards was called and ordained as the fourth of four apostles on February 12, 1849.

In these positions, Richards also served as editor of the Millennial Star and as director of the Perpetual Emigrating Fund's operations in Europe.

He helped compile the documents that are now part of the Pearl of Great Price while serving as a mission president.

[5] Another grandson, Franklin D. Richards became a church general authority, serving as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve and later as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy.

Another descendant, Kent F. Richards, also served as a general authority seventy and transcribed the collection of journals created by Franklin D.