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Week 37: Helaman 13-16

Week 36

Week 38

Week 36

Week 37: Helaman 13-16

Week 38

“Glad Tidings of Great Joy”

Do I blame President Young because he chastises us? No. Would he be a father to us, a Prophet and a High Priest of God if he saw his brethren going wrong, and would not warn and chastise them? The chastisement of a friend is far better than the kisses of an enemy. [Proverbs 7:6##] When I am out of the way, and when you are out of the way I thank God that we have a man to preside over us, who loves us enough to chastise us; it is for our good, and I believe we have been always ready to receive the chastening rod from our superiors when they thought fit to give it to us, and kiss the rod that chastened us.

Letter from Abraham Owen Woodruff, 10 September 1894

“We have waited for Him, and He will save us.”¹ In our study of the Old Testament this year, we have learned about how the ancient Israelites eagerly anticipated the coming of the Messiah. This Christmas we can enthusiastically express our adoration for the birth and life of our Savior, that He performed the Atonement and has granted us our salvation.

But in addition to remembering Christ’s sacrifice during this Christmas season, as we reflect on the ongoing turmoil in the world, we also can echo the words, “We are waiting for Him, and He will save us.” Wilford Woodruff felt the heaviness of the world in 1887. One night after stewing over some discouraging news, he prayed that the Lord would give him some of His light. He went to bed filled with “prayer and meditation” and then awoke around midnight to receive a vision, known as the “Wilderness Revelation.”²

In this vision Wilford was comforted by the words of the Lord. While this vision contains many wondrous promises for covenant-keeping individuals as well as prophetic warnings about ensuing events, one message that Wilford received was to prepare for the Second Coming of the Lord. “The signs of Both Heaven and Earth indicate his coming as promised by the Mouth of my [disciples]. The fig trees are leaving and the hour is nigh. Therefore prepare yourselves O ye Saints of the Most High God with Oil in your Lamps, for Blessed is he that watcheth for the coming of the Son of man.”³ As we celebrate Christmas and reflect on the birth and life of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we can also use it as a time to find peace in preparing for His Second Coming to the earth. Someday, we will be able to sing with hearts overfilled with gratitude, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King!”⁴

— Ellie Hancock, Historian

Ellie Hancock, Historian for the Wilford Woodruff Papers Project, graduated with a BA in history from BYU in April 2022. Ellie loves being able to learn from the life, teachings, and testimony of Wilford Woodruff and is grateful to be a part of a project that gives new insight into the Restoration of the gospel.

Wilford Woodruff’s Related Documents & Events

Abraham Owen Woodruff about the need to warn the nations of the earth

Letter from Abraham Owen Woodruff, 10 September 1894

Asahel Hart Woodruff writes Wilford Woodruff about the difficulty of preaching the gospel to those who reject it. He says that the thing that motivates him to continue is " the kno[wledge] that we are doing the will of God, and if we grow not weary ^(of well doing)^ and faint not we shall reap our reward. Ours it is to preach and proclaim the message to the people, and theirs it is to accept or reject it."

Letter from Asahel Hart Woodruff, 28 July 1885