The biggest change for the Richins family came about with their introduction to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Prophet Joseph Smith sent some of the Apostles to open up the British Isles for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The harvest was bountiful as the gathered choice people to the Church.

Charles Shill, Charles Blackwell, William Davis and other missionaries went to the Painswick area and found fertile ground in the Richins family. Charles Richins was the first of the family to be converted; he was baptized on December 26, 1849. He desired this great blessing with all his family. William and Charlotte were baptized on January 1, 1850 by Charles Shill. They were confirmed members of the Church January 3, 1850 by Charles Blackwell and William Davis, respectively. Their son Joseph was also baptized on January 1, 1850 by Charles Shill. He was confirmed on January 3, 1850 by Charles Blackwell. His wife Jane was baptized a month later on February 10, 1850 by William Nichols and confirmed the same day by Charles Blackwell.

After Charles Richins was ordained a Priest he baptized Peter (10) and Leonard (21) on July 7, 1850. Charles Blackwell confirmed Peter on July 8, 1850 and Leonard on July 13, 1850. Enoch Richins joined the Church and was baptized by Charles Blackwell on April 21, 1850. Miriam was baptized November 3, 1856 by Robert Jones, whom she later married.

All William and Charlotte’s family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and eventually emigrated to Utah.
William was ordained an Elder on April 27, 1856 by J.W. Coward/Cornord and Joseph was ordained a Priest April 27, 1854 by Robert Jones. Leonard was ordained a Priest on December 22, 1850.

Elders Ezra T. Benson and Parley P. Pratt arrived in England in 1857 to commence their missions. They called for a reformation and rededication and a renewing of covenants. The Lord said he would give line upon line and precept upon precept, so there was sometimes a misunderstanding when a new principle was introduced. At first Church members did not realize that baptism not only washed away past sins, but also future sins (hinged on proper repentance). This misunderstanding caused some of the converts to be baptized several times. William and Charlotte were rebaptized in 1857. Miriam was rebaptized in 1866 before emigrating to America with her parents. Many of the Richins family were rebaptized upon arriving in Utah or before they went to the Endowment House of the Temple.

When William was in his 60th year he had the desire to emigrate to Utah. He and his wife Charlotte made their plans and sailed from Liverpool, England on April 30, 1866 with their daughter Miriam and her son Arthur and their grandson Lorenzo. They traveled on the ship John Bright. There were 764 Saints in the company under the direction of C.M. Gillet.

They had to contend with strong head winds while crossing the Atlantic Ocean, such that the ship made very little progress for three days. Most of the passengers became seasick because of the turbulent seas. There were not more than twenty people of the entire company that could render assistance to their neighbors and these people were kept busy carrying slop buckets to every quarter of the ship. Calmer waters prevailed after three days and before long everything was put in order again.

The captain and officers of the John Bright were pleased with the company and spoke highly of them. The ship’s company was organized into wards under the supervision of the Elders on board. In selecting the leaders they chose those whom they felt the Lord wanted to take charge.

The provisions on board ship were very good and all spoke of them with high regard. There was a good water supply, but prudence was used in dealing water out to the passengers, as they didn’t know what emergencies might arise. The wards took turns cooking and passing out the water. They would commence dealing out the water at 5:30 am. While one ward was doing this, the others cleaned the ship and made ready for the morning prayer, which was held at 7:00 am. With such a large company, they had to get an early start or night would be upon them before they were finished.

The first ward took its turn and cooked breakfast. The company was so large that when breakfast was over the first ward started in cooking dinner. No dinner meals were cooked until all 764 Saints had been served breakfast. The next day a different ward took its turn. These duties were rotated among the wards so everyone had an opportunity to cook the meals and pass out the water. This arrangement worked very well considering the large number of people involved.

The company had their evening prayer at 8:00 pm. At 9:00 pm the hurricane deck was cleared of all sisters and guards were posted to ensure no females went on deck and no sailors went below. There was a brass band aboard ship and their music, songs and hymns of the Saints helped cheer their hearts and enliven the voyage. The Saints prayed often for God’s blessings to be upon them while on their voyage to Utah.

The ship anchored in New York City on June 6, 1866. From there the Saints began their trek to Utah. They went by way of New Haven, Connecticut; Montreal, Canada; Detroit, Michigan; Chicago and Quincy, Illinois; and St. Joseph, Missouri, arriving in Wyoming, Nebraska on June 19, 1866.

On July 7^th, William Richins and his group left Wyoming in the company of Captain Samuel D. White’s Mule Train. They arrived in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, September 5, 1866. Upon arriving in the Salt lake Valley William and his wife settled in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Miriam and Lorenzo went to live in Henefer.

William was a quiet, mild mannered man who worked as an agricultural laborer. He always carried a cane, as that was his style, but he seldom used it. William and his wife moved from Pleasant Grove to Provo, Utah, where he passed away on December 8, 1873. He was laid to rest in the Provo City (Utah) Cemetery. His wife Charlotte went to Henefer, Utah to live with her daughter Miriam Richins Jones. Charlotte lived in Henefer until her death in 1878. She was laid to rest in the Henefer (Utah) Cemetery.