Insight from the Letters Team

When working to transcribe a letter from Alonzo Knight to Wilford Woodruff on May 10, 1897, I was impressed that Alonzo was thanking Wilford Woodruff for a letter Wilford wrote to his daughter. The background of his letter is that Alonzo's daughter had a hard time caring for both her family and her infirm mother-in-law (who had to be taken care of like a child). One day, when her mother-in-law was really sick, the daughter prayed that her mother-in-law would die. She was immediately wracked with shame and thought there was no redemption for her and she was going to Hell. Even after she repented and was rebaptized, she still felt ashamed at her moment of weakness. But she wrote a letter to Wilford Woodruff about it, and he reassured her that this terrible guilt wasn't from God, but from the devil, and she should move forward and forgive herself. I think it's amazing that we are children of a God that doesn’t want us to feel guilty longer than is necessary for us to change our lives and our behavior. He forgives us, so we can forgive ourselves.

— Katlyn Linville, Editorial Assistant

Insight from the Journals Team

While working with the Wilford Woodruff Papers Project I have been consistently impressed by the amazing talks Wilford recounts hearing from early members of the Church. There is so much wisdom to be gained from the way they understood the gospel and the ways they taught each other. One such talk is one by President Brigham Young given on April 26, 1869, in which he says, “We must not live for ourselves alone, if you will not live to the light of the Lord you will fail.” To me, this quote perfectly sums up why members of the Church need to be willing to devote so much of our lives to studying and living the gospel. It is hard to put it into words as concisely as this quote here does, but we are not here to live for ourselves; we are here to look unto the Lord and follow His example and His promptings and to become more like Him. I am glad to know that it is natural for things to seem overwhelming and impossible, especially when I am trying to do everything on my own, because I am meant to need the Lord and His example in order to truly succeed in this life. I was grateful to read this quote and be reminded of such an important message. 

— Allison Andrews, Assistant Editor

Insight from the Discourses Team

While verifying a discourse that Wilford Woodruff gave in 1889, I was struck by his statement that, “No man can go forth and lift up his voice and declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ without revelation. He needs the Holy Priesthood with him; he needs the Holy Ghost with him every day of his life. I do not wish to be misunderstood in this matter. Every man or woman that has ever entered into the Church of God and been baptized for the remission of sins, has a right to revelation.” 

This was a powerful reminder to me that we need to be striving to have the Holy Ghost with us at all times. Because of our membership within the Lord’s restored Church, we have the privilege of being guided, directed, and comforted by the Holy Ghost. The Lord loves us, so He wants us to experience His presence and lead us to truth and righteousness. It is our responsibility to learn to recognize those promptings and to live worthy of the companionship of the Spirit. I am thankful that President Woodruff taught this profound truth, and that I had the opportunity to read his words and prepare them for publication so others could read them too. 

— Samuel Collier, Editorial Assistant

Insight from the Additional Documents Team

One of the things I love about studying Wilford Woodruff’s life is that I get to see how simple and consistent the Gospel is regardless of decade or prophet. On November 24, 1889, in a book he kept titled “Dreams and Visions,” President Woodruff recorded a revelation he had received from the Lord during a time of uncertainty for the Saints. As I read the Lord’s comforting words to Wilford Woodruff, I was reminded of the same comfort the Lord gives us now through revelation. “Thus saith the Lord . . . I the Lord hold the destiny of the Courts in your midst, and the destiny of this nation, and all the nations of the earth in mine own hands; and all that I have revealed, and promised, and decreed concerning the generation in which you live, shall come to pass, and no power shall stay my hand.”

Seeing how the Saints have survived and thrived thanks to their faith inspires me to hold fast to what light I have received. And what do we need to retain this light? The revelation from God counsels the Saints then and now to “gird up their loins, watch and be sober, and keep my commandments. Pray always and faint not; exercise faith in the Lord, and in the promises of God; be valiant in the testimony of Jesus Christ. The eyes of the Lord and the Heavenly Hosts are watching over you and your acts. Therefore be faithful until I come.” How wonderful it is to know that the Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever in His promises and counsel. 

— Christian Decker, Archivist

Insight from the People & Places Research Team

Wilford Woodruff had an amazing connection with people. Through his journals we have an opportunity to share a glimpse into their lives. On October 5, 1844, he wrote: “I arose in the morning; Light was the heavens adorning. I spent a pleasant hour beneath my father’s bower with my friends. I bent my knees in prayer. I pray for peace to abide forever there. After praying for the last time in the circle of my father’s family, I took the Parting hand with Father & Mother & Uncle Ozem Woodruff, left them in good health & spirits & again commenced my Journey.” 

Wilford used the phrase “parting hand” hundreds of times in his writing. It was common for his last moments with his family, friends, and associates to end with a human connection. But his day would not be complete until he wrote in his journals about his time with each individual. Today we can make connections with these people; some we might find are our ancestors; others might feel like long-lost friends. The biographies that are written for the Wilford Woodruff Papers Project are just the beginning of our journey to get to know the thousands of people Wilford knew and loved throughout his life. Try searching for your favorite name at wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/people and see what you might discover.

— Sarah Paul, Senior Research Assistant