Only four years old when he made the great trek from Nauvoo to the Rocky Mountains.
He practiced plural marriage and opened the Mexico Mission to which he devoted seventeen years of his life, he made twenty-three trips to Mexico and back covering a quarter of a million miles.
Later getting involved in politics, as was other fellow General-Authorities of the Church, the First Presidency presented a "Political Manifesto," requesting all General Authorities to seek permission from the First Presidency and remaining Quorum of the Twelve to get involved in politics which would interfere with Apostolic duties.
Elder Thatcher refused to sign the Manifesto, being openly opposed to the issue, and continued further to invest his energies into his political career.
As a result, he was dropped from his position as an Apostle, but continued as an active member of the Church.
