Insight from the Letters Team

As I research the letters sent in response to mission calls from Wilford Woodruff when he was President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have been able to read the correspondence that some of my ancestors had with him. There is one particular letter that is meaningful to me, and it is the mission acceptance letter that my third-great-grandfather, George Godfrey, sent to President Woodruff.

George Godfrey, who was living in Cache Valley, Utah, at the time this letter was written, accepted his call to serve in Great Britain in 1891. With unknown circumstances that prohibited George from writing the letter himself, he enlisted the help of his bishop, John Jardine (my fourth-great-grandfather), to write the letter for him.

Despite the brevity of the letter, it illustrates the faith and dedication that both of my ancestors exemplified in following their prophet and heeding the call to serve where and how they were needed most. This letter is even more special to me as I too was able to serve as a missionary in Great Britain, returning home from the England Birmingham Mission not too long ago.

George’s letter, one of thousands that Wilford Woodruff received, is nevertheless unique because of the story it tells. It is the story of a pioneer–farmer from England who, after accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ and taking the necessary steps to come to Zion, was asked to return to his homeland to preach the life-changing message that blessed his life and that of his descendants. As more letters continue to become available on wilfordwoodruffpapers.org, it is my hope that more people will have the opportunity to discover their ancestors’ role in the Restoration of the Gospel as I did.

–– Jason Godfrey, Transcription Team Lead

Insight from the Journals Team

In a journal of Wilford Woodruff’s dated October 11, 1883, he recorded a unique and deeply spiritual experience that was shared by Zebedee Coltrin in a meeting with Church leadership. Zebedee was an Apostle and Patriarch who was with Joseph Smith in the early days of the School of the Prophets in Kirtland, Ohio. Wilford recounted Zebedee’s experience:

“A personage passed through the room dressed in usual clothing. Joseph said that was the Savior. Soon another personage passed through the house clothed in fire. His features and feet were visible but his body was wrapped in flames. Joseph said that was God the Father. He said . . . they saw a man sitting upon a throne whose hair was white as wool and a woman sitting beside of him, both dressed in white. Joseph said it was Adam and Eve.”

It is not often that we have the opportunity to read firsthand accounts of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. This lesser-known account invites us to picture what it must have been like for these men to watch the Savior of the world pass by them in, as Zebedee recalls, “usual clothing,” and to see a Heavenly Father so brilliant He was literally encompassed in flame. Rarer still is the vision of Adam and Eve, with Eve sitting beside Adam, both exquisitely enthroned. I found the mention of Eve surprising and equalizing, and an inspiration to all of God’s covenant keeping children: a hope for what, in Christ, we can eventually become.

— Mackenzie Jaggi, Assistant Editor

Insight from the Discourses Team

Wilford Woodruff shared an inspiring story in a discourse that he gave in 1880. One day while he was on his mission to the Southern States, he was walking with his companion across a Mississippi swamp. The distance was about 180 miles through mud and knee-deep water. This was very hard on Wilford and gave him an attack of rheumatism, or inflammation and pain in the joints or muscles. His companion left him because he wanted to continue down the Mississippi and get home. Wilford was left alone resting on a log without food and lame from rheumatism. He knew that he needed to do something, so he knelt in prayer to the Lord for healing. In the discourse he said, “I felt the operation of the Holy Spirit upon me; I arose from my knees, the pain having left me.” He was then able to continue his mission and teach many other people the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Wilford Woodruff had such a testimony of God. His belief that God had called him to serve was a powerful force. Even though it would have been easier for him to give up at that point, he was able to trust in God enough to be healed and continue his mission. A lesson can be learned from his faith shown in this experience and it is amazing to see the strength that he had even when he was alone, without food, and lame. He kept a record of all those who had joined the Church during his missionary service. Many people were blessed because of his faith and strength and willingness to continue on after this experience. 

— Natalie Hancock, Senior Editorial Assistant

Insight from the Additional Documents Team

A few months ago, the world’s population hit eight billion people. Eight billion stories, eight billion struggles, eight billion mouths to feed. Taken from such a macroscopic scale, it is easy to feel small and insignificant. Many in this world grapple with feelings of loneliness and insecurity. They wonder if there’s a place for them where they feel like they count. While browsing Wilford Woodruff’s records from his mission, I came across Membership Records he kept of the Saints he encountered. It reminded me of the Savior’s words in 3 Nephi, “But behold, ye have both heard my voice, and seen me; and ye are my sheep, and ye are numbered among those whom the Father hath given me.”

Just as Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know each of us as individuals, we are numbered in the Church so that we can serve and support each other. I cannot begin to count the number of times everyday Latter-day Saints, sometimes those I never knew, have ministered to my family. Every name is recorded and kept so that all may benefit. I am grateful to be part of an organization that seeks to look after each other like the Savior looks after us. As the world continues to experience war, strife, and natural disaster, the Lord will expect us to look after every member of His flock.

— Christian Decker, Archivist

Insight from the People & Places Research Team

“I was awoke in the morning with the loud talk of George Bothby.”

So recorded Wilford Woodruff on July 7, 1844, while visiting the Saints of Scarborough, Cumberland County, Maine, which included many of his wife’s extended family. Wilford was traveling throughout the East Coast and news of the martyrdom of Joseph Smith was just beginning to reach his ears.

With so many things to think about and do, why did Wilford record something so simple as how he was awakened in the morning? And who was George Boothby?

George was a distant and much older cousin of Phebe Whittemore Carter, the wife of Wilford Woodruff. He was born April 11, 1784, in Limington, York County, Maine, the son of Jonathan Boothby and Anna Haselton. George was a farmer and resided in York County his entire life. He was also a man who had the privilege of spending time in the company of Wilford Woodruff.

Most of the time, Wilford did not record the conversations that took place between himself and the people he associated with. The first time he mentioned George, he simply stated that he had “spent the day in visiting Mr. George Boothby in company with Mother Carter and my wife” (16 October 1837).

But, as a missionary and later an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we can well assume his conversations focused on sharing his testimony of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And George Boothby was likely a witness of the testimony Wilford bore. Although George was never baptized, Wilford never forgot him and initiated George’s temple work to be completed by proxy on June 1, 1870.

One of Wilford’s greatest legacies is his journals, wherein he recorded the names of the people he cared about. We know about George Boothby because Wilford recorded his name in his journal. And because Wilford was interested in George, we are interested in George.

— Erin Hills, Senior Research Assistant

Insight from the Content Team

On March 12, 1887, Wilford Woodruff wrote, “I dreamed last night that the Latter-day Saints were holding a great Conference at Salt Lake City at the great Temple and thousands of Mechanics were laboring hard to finish the Temple. I was requested to open the Conference as I was an Exile and they might not have me with them long. The Key of the Temple was given me to open it. As I went to the door, a large company were assembled and I overtook President Brigham Young and He asked what the matter was with the great company at the Door. Someone answered, ‘The Elders did not want to Let the people into the Temple.’ He said, ‘Oh, oh, oh,’ and turned to me and said, ‘Let all all into the Temple who seek for Salvation.’ I saw several who were Dead and among the Number my wife Phebe. I Believe there is some meaning to this dream.”

Wilford Woodruff spent his life working to redeem the dead. What an example for all of us. He spent countless hours giving and receiving ordinances for those he loved who had passed on. What dedication and testimony he showed in his life! This dream is a reminder to me of the many people still waiting to have their temple work done. His example is a wonderful memorial of what is truly important in this life and a personal reminder of where I should be spending my time. 

— Shauna Horne, Content Team Lead