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Day in the Life

Jul 1, 1838

Journal Entry

July 01, 1838 ~ Sunday

JULY 1st 1838. On this seventh month the first day of the month and the first day of the week
which is called Sunday some of the most important events transpired with me that I ever witness-
ed since I had a being, events worthy to be recorded upon the ARCHIEVES OF HEAVEN o or to
be engraven with an iron pen & laid upin a rock forever upon the EARTH. For I know that my Redeemer
liveth & he hath this day given me with my friends a victory over the Devil that tries the souls of men that dwell
upon the face of the earth. My Father Aphek Woodruff, the son of Eldad Woodruff, which was the son of Josiah
Woodruff, is a man that hath been seeking religion & the favor of God & light & truth for many years at times, & for
more than 20 years have a numerous circle of friends made his case a subject of prayer & pled with God in his
behalf. But as oft as my father hath strugled for a victory over sin & its influence heretofore Satan hath temp-
ted him & hindered him from gaining the victory. But since I had be[c]ame a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints &
entered the New & Everlasting Covenant & had a dispensation of the gospel committed unto me, I felt a deeper interest
than ever in the salvation of the soul of my Father. I had now come to declare a message to my father & his houshold
& teach them words whareby they might be saved. I began to cry unto God for my father & his houshold & the Lord
showed me in a night vision that a great victory was nigh, but the devil fell upon the whole household with great
wrath & tempations some of the time one was ready to fall back & rejiect the gospel & then again annother. his
power rested upon me at the same time as if to devour me at once but after being confined to my bed for several
hours under his grasp, in the name of Jesus Christ I with my friends birst the powers of darknes. I went & stood befo
re the people & declaired the gospel of Jesus Christ, & shout O Heavens and rejoice O earth for the victory the Lord
hath given us for after preaching the gospel to the peopl, I immediately assembled upon the bank of Farmington river
whare there was much water & lead six of my friends into the waters of Baptism five of them were my relatives
viz my Father, my Mother, & my ownly Sister Eunice, aunt Anna Cossett, & Cousin Seth Woodruff & the other was
Mr Dwight Webster a methodist class leader. We returned from the water rejoiceing & confirmed them by the laying
on of hands at my fathers house. I organized this small branch of the Church being 9 in number 8 of which were my relatives
I ordained Brother Dwight Webster to the office of a Priest. I communed with these Saints, & unbosomed my feelings unto
them which closed the scenes of this interesting day which have come to pass in fullfilment of my patriarchal blessing under the hands
of the Patriarch JOSEPH

Written upon what came to pass on the in fulfillment of Revelation

O GOD my heart inspire my pen direct while I record this scene of thy
mercy this blessing of thy love a blessing promised me by the testimony
of JESUS CHRIST. Could I claim it yes by faith all things are possible even that
my parents & friends could in the new covenant with me stand. Without shame
I stood the gospel to declare. It was a sword to pierce the hearts of my friends.
The day had come: they felt that God had sent they must obey. O'er the thresh-
hold of my father's house I walked accompanied by my friends, towa-
rds the appointed place we bent our way untill upon the rivers bank we
stood. All nature spread her fields of pleasing green. The canal
bold in her bed lay ready her inland commerce to convey. The sun
shed forth her golden beams to gladden earth while the silver
stream was rolling at my feet as if to say I am ready for thee
amid this scenery with feelings better imagined than described
I cast my eyes upon the audiance while we sung praises to the
God of Israel. Who would not have bowed the knee while offe-
ring the sacrifice of the heart and imploreing the blessings of hea-
ven that the spirit of God the candidates & the waters might
pervade. As from our knees we arose I entered the wattery element
and asked who was ashamed of the bed whare Jesus lay. Many
eyes were turned to behold this scene and deep solemnity veiled
their faces while I took my Father by the hand, my Father did I
say yes HE covenanted to walk with God and for the remission
of his sins I Baptized him. Feeling the victory won my Mother
followed his steps and by obediance was sealed a Saint a member
of the kingdom. Eunice my sister my ownly sister was ready, her
noble soul by Ephraim's spirit inspired her garb of pride had rent
and broke the gentiles chain, fearless of the world's despiseing
she freely recieved the watery bed her Master to imitate while her
firm example should say celestial glory is my boast the garb of
Saints my pride

For the consolation of Israel Anna long had look'd and rejoiced
that she could now the ancient path persue, upon the scene her
daughters gazed as if to say Great God prepare us likewise thy
will to do. Seth in his early youth was not to young his God to se-
rve, he desired to follow the example of his father, mother, and brother
that they might be one. Ozem, Hannah, and John, the parents & brother
of Seth were baptized on the 12 of July 1837 as my Journal declares
Dwight though not of consanguine blood to me desired baptism
at my hands for by the blood of Christ we were united,
thrice the cross he strove to pass & as oft the spirit pressed his
honest soul & he submitted to obey. Thus ended this scene of
wonder shall I say? yes and of mercy to, for heaven counten-
ance'd the deed for it was Gods command an ordinance of the
gospel. TO be permitted to stand in ones own native land and the gosp
el of JESUS CHRIST to declare in the last dispensation & while
dividing the word through the power of the priesthood to his kindred
his townsman to behold the pride of the great, the rich, the lea-
rned, by the spirit of God humbled at his feet then to exper-
ience the living reality of a Father, a Mother an ownly sister
meekly with other kindred receiving the ordinances of the
house of God at the hand of their son and brother is to me
at least a scene of Interest. As we retired from the rolling
stream to a Father's roof my spirit was ready to say forget this
not O my soul regard it as the mercy of thy God while thou dost
pay thy vows thy covenants fulfill. While upon the head of these
Saints my hands were lade I implored the mercy of God for the
Holy Ghost upon them to rest & guide them right. The bread and wi-
ne was bles'd & we partook to remember him who died for us. O, Eternal
God these Saints inspire, protect, support, & defend untill in Zion they stand
and with celestial glory crowned an heir with GOD AND CHRIST

Farmington Connecticut, , by Willford Woodruff

TITLES NAMES
FATHER APHEK WOODRUFF
MOTHER AZUBAH WOODRUFF
SISTER EUNICE WOODRUFF
UNCLE OZEM WOODRUFF
AUNT HANNAH WOODRUFF
COUSIN JOHN WOODRUFF
COUSIN SETH WOODRUFF
AUNT ANNA COSSETT
PRIEST DWIGHT WEBSTER

WILLFORD

People

Browse people Wilford Woodruff mentioned on this day in his journal.

56 mentions
Family
Woodruff, Aphek, b. 1779
11 Nov 1779 - 28 May 1861
540 mentions
Family
Woodruff, Azubah Hart
31 Jul 1792 - 20 Mar 1851
251 mentions
Family
Webster, Dwight
13 Apr 1814 - 19 Aug 1868
126 mentions
Family
Woodruff, Eldad, b. 1747
1747 - 28 Dec 1805
37 mentions
Family
99 mentions
Scriptural Figure
Webster, Eunice Hart Woodruff
19 Jun 1821 - 15 Jun 1853
258 mentions
Family
Woodruff, Hannah Day Hart
20 Mar 1799 - 26 Dec 1887
58 mentions
Family
Woodruff, John
15 Oct 1818 - 17 Sep 1886
24 mentions
Family
Smith, Joseph (Sr.)
12 Jul 1771 - 14 Sep 1840
127 mentions
Woodruff, Josiah, b. 1706
18 Apr 1706 - 8 May 1789
27 mentions
Family
Woodruff, Ozem, b. 1787
3 Nov 1787 - 18 Feb 1871
154 mentions
Family
Woodruff, Seth
15 Dec 1822 - 30 Jul 1900
23 mentions
Family

Places

Browse places mentioned in Wilford Woodruff's journal entry on this day.

Farmington River, Hartford County, Connecticut
Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut

Related Documents

Browse other documents with this same date. These could include pages from Wilford Woodruff's autobiographies, daybooks, letters, histories, and personal papers.

Autobiography 1858 Deseret News

Saints]] on the . He was a man of great charity, honesty, integrity and truth, and made himself poor by giving to the poor, and accommodating his fellow men by loaning money and becoming surety for his neighbors, and always saying yes, to every man who asked a favor at his hand. I was born in the north part of the town of Farmington, now called Avon, Hartford Co.,

Autobiography 1865 Millennial Star

the first day of . He was a man of great charity, honesty, inte- grity and truth, and made himself poor by giving to the poor, and accomoda- ting his fellow-men by loaning money and becoming surety for his neighbors, and always saying yes to every man who asked a favor at his hand. I was born in the north part of the town of Farmington, now called Avon, Hartford co., Conn., March 1, 1807. I assisted my father in attending the Farmington Mills, until I was twenty years of age. In April 1827, I took the flouring mill of my aunt, Helen Wheeler, which I attended three years. In May 1830, I took charge of the flour- ing mill of Mr. Colllins, the ax manu- facturer, in South Canton, Conn. At the end of one year it was demolished to make way for other machinery. In March 1831, I took charge of the flouring mill owned by Mr. Richard B. Cowles of New Hartford, Conn. In the spirng of 1832, in company with my oldeset brother, Azmon, I went to Richland, Oswego co., New York, and purchased a farm and saw mill, and settled in business. (To be continued.)

Autobiography 1865 Millennial Star

ther's house. , I baptized six persons in Farmington river, inclu- ding my father, stepmother and my only sister, Eunice; also cousin Seth Woodruff, aunt Anna Cossett and Dwight Webster, a Methodist class leader, who was boarding at my fa- ther's. When the Patriarch Joseph Smith, sen., gave me my blessing, he said I should bring my father's household into the kingdom of God, which words were fulfilled this day. I confirmed those baptized, and organized this small Branch of the

Autobiography 1857 Draft 1

of Latter day Saints I married her to Dwight Webster in Farmington Ct his household into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on the 1st day of July 1838. Although my Father was not a professor of religion He was a man of great charity, honesty, integrity, & truth. He made himself poor as to wealth by giving to the poor & accomodating his fellow man by loaning money and being surety for his neighbor, and always saying yes to evry man who asked a favor at his hand. I was born in the North part of the town of Farmington now called Avon, Hatford ^Hartford^

Autobiography 1857 Draft 1

to such as would come together to hear. Ond On the I baptized six persons in Farmington river including my Father, step Mother, and ^my ownly^ sister Unis Eunice, also cousin Seth Woodruff and aunt Anna Cossett, and Dwight Webster a Methodist class Leader who was boarding at my Fathers house. When Father J the Patriarch Joseph Smith sen gave me my blessing he said I should bring my Fathers household into the Kingdom of God, I felt that it had been fulfilled this day. I confirmed those baptized and organized this small branch of the Church consisting of 9 members 8 of which were relatives, I ordained Dwight Webster

Autobiography 1892 Deseret News Notes

of Latter day Saints]] . He was very honest & very charitable, freely loaning ^to neighbors,^ or giving to the poor, always saying yes to those who asked a favor. I was born in north part of Farmington, now called Avon, Hartford

Autobiography 1892 Deseret News Notes

Baptized 6 persons in Farmington River, mostly my relatives, including my father, stepmother, & my sister Eunice. over

Autobiography 1883 Tullidge's Quarterly Magazine

of Latter-day Saints]] on the first day of July, 1838. He was a man of great charity, honesty, integrity and truth, and made himself poor by giving to the poor, and accommodating his fellow men by loan- ing money and becoming surety for his neighbors, and always saying yes, to every man who asked a favor at his hand. I was born in the north part of the town of Farmington, now called Avon,

Autobiography 1883 Tullidge's Quarterly Magazine

On the , one of the most interesting events transpired of my whole life in the ministry. When Father Joseph Smith gave me my patriarchal blessing, among the many wonderful things of my life, he promised me that I should bring my father's house- hold into the kingdom of God, and I felt that if ever I obtained the blessing, the time had come for me to perform it. By the help of God, I preached the gospel faithfully to my father's house- hold and to all that were with him, as well as to my other relatives, and I had appointed a meeting on Sunday, the 1st of July, at my father's home. My father was believing my testimony, as were all in his household, but upon this occasion the devil was determined to hinder the fulfillment of the promise of the patriarch unto me. It seemed as though Lucifer, the son of the morning, had gathered together the hosts of hell and exerted his powers upon us all. Distress overwhelmed the whole household, and all were tempted to reject the work. And it seemed as though the same power would devour me. I had to take to my bed for an hour before the time of meeting. I there prayed unto the Lord with my whole soul for deliverance, for I knew the power of the devil was exercised to hin- der me from accomplishing what God had promised me. The Lord heard my prayer and an- swered my petition, and when the hour of meeting had come I arose from my bed, and could sing and shout for joy to think I had been delivered from the power of the evil one. Filled with the power of God, I stood up in the midst of the congregation and preached the gospel of Jesus Christ unto the people in great plainness. At the close of the meeting we assem- bled on the banks of the Farmington River, "because there was much water there," [John 3:23] and I led six of my friends into the river and baptized them for the re- mission of their sins. All of my father's household were in- cluded in this number, according to the promise of the Patriarch. They were all relatives except Dwight Webster, who was a Methodist class-leader and was boarding with my father's family. I organized the small number of nine persons, eight of whom were my relatives, into a branch of the Church, and or- dained Dwight Webster to the office of a priest and administered the sacrament unto them. It was truly a day of joy to my soul. My father, stepmother, and sister were among the number baptized. I after- wards added a number of relatives. I felt that this day's work alone amply re- paid me for all my labors in the min- istry. Now, as my mission to my native land was accomplished, which I felt im- pressed to take while I was upon the islands, I felt it my duty to return here.

Daybook (9 May - 9 July 1838)

July 1st Shout O heavens rejoice ofO Earth & prays the Lord O my Soul for the glorious events of this day yes prays the Lord for certain victory is gained for Satan has pitched upon my fathers houshold each one of us feeling his grasp for 24 hours but now we can Shout victory over him. I preached at my fathers house in the afternoon & after meeting I led my father & all his houshold with several others into the waters of Baptism the company consisted of father Mother Sister Eunice Aunt Anna Cosset cousin Seth Woodruff & Mr. Dwight Webster a Methodist class leader making 6 in all we had an interesting time in the confermation.

Daybook (9 May - 9 July 1838)

at half past 5 oclock I met at early candle light with the Church & unbo- somed my Soul unto them according to the voice of the church I ordained Brother Webster unto the office of a priest. I then broke bread unto the Saints which closed the scenes of this interesting day which have come to pass in fulfillment of revelation under the hands of the patriarch cousin Betsey & Ann Cossett spent the day & night with us remember this day forever.

Autobiography 1883 Tullidge's Quarterly Magazine Notes 1

"(Written upon what came to pass on the first "day of July 1838 in fulfilment of Revelation) "O God inspire my pen while I record this scene of "thy mercy and fulfilment of the blessing promised me "by the testimony of Jesus Christ. Could I claim by "faith all things are possible Even as by faith I have brought by the power of God my friends and kindred

Autobiography 1882 Leaves from My Journal

On the , one of the most interesting events transpired of my whole life in the ministry. When Father Joseph Smith gave me my patriarchal bles- sing, among the many wonderful things of my life, he prom- ised me that I should bring my father's household into the kingdom of God, and I felt that if I ever obtained the bles- sing, the time had come for me to perform it. By the help of God, I preached the gospel faithfully to my father's household and to all that were with him, as well as to my other relatives, and I had appointed a meeting on Sunday, the 1st of July at my father's home. My father was believing my testimony, as were all in his household, but upon this occasion the devil was determined to hinder the fulfillment of the promise of the patriarch unto me. It seemed as though Lucifer, the son of the morning, had gathered together the hosts of hell and exerted his powers upon us all. Distress overwhelmed the whole household, and all were tempted to reject the work. And it seemed as though the same power would devour me. I had to take to my bed for an hour before the time of meeting. I there prayed unto the Lord with my whole soul for deliverance, for I knew the power of the devil was exercised to hinder me from accomplishing what God had promised me.

Events

View selected events in the two months surrounding this date in Wilford Woodruff's life.

August 9, 1838
Wilford receives news of his calling as an apostle; and call to go on mission to England with apostles.

Jul 1, 1838