As a young boy, John traveled with the Mormon pioneers from Illinois to the Salt Lake Valley.

Young served in this capacity until the First Presidency was dissolved by his father's death less than a year later on August 29, 1877.

During his time in the First Presidency, John Willard Young never spent much time in Salt Lake City attending to church leadership duties; since 1863 he had preferred living in New York City, where he was engaged in a number of business ventures that ultimately failed and resulted in him assuming a large amount of debt.

[1] After Young's resignation, he was formally released as a counselor to the Twelve at a conference of the church October 6, 1891.

[1] Although he lived another 33 years, Young never again served as a general authority of the LDS Church, though he remained an apostle for the rest of his life.

However, many of the general authorities disliked Young and felt that his succession to the presidency would be a disaster for the church.

After returning to New York City, Young was employed as an elevator operator in an exclusive hotel where he had once lived.

[13] Hooper's conviction had a devastating effect on John Willard, who had initially believed that his son was innocent.