History Came to Life in First Ever Wilford Woodruff Papers Foundation Conference

by Maddie Christensen and Kristy Wheelwright Taylor

Three years ago, Jennifer Mackley and Don Parry created the Wilford Woodruff Papers Foundation, whose mission is to digitally preserve and publish Wilford Woodruff’s eyewitness account of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In celebration of these newly published documents, the Foundation hosted its first conference, Building Latter-day Faith. The conference was held at the Hinckley Center on the campus of Brigham Young University on Saturday, March 4, 2023, with over 350 people in attendance.

The Gospel Brings Life and Immortality to Light

by Jennifer Ann Mackley

On August 7, 1839, a very ill Wilford Woodruff prepared to leave his pregnant wife, Phebe, and his one-year-old daughter, Sarah Emma, to serve a mission with other members of the Quorum of the Twelve in the British Isles. He wrote, “I make a sacrifice of my all for Christ’s sake to do his work. It is no small trial of faith.”

"Who Hath Ears to Hear, Let Him Hear"

by Natalie Hancock

“Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” In the parable of the sower we learn that we should examine our hearts to discover whether we are giving our testimony of the gospel a way to flourish. In order to do this we must have humble hearts and continue to trust in God.

Draw Near unto Me and I Will Draw Near unto You

by Julia Collings

In one of the most famous verses of the New Testament, the Saviour declares, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” For many years I thought that the only place on earth where I could partake of the Lord’s rest was in His holy house. I relished the opportunity to attend the temple to do baptisms regularly and found great peace and connection to my Father in Heaven. I always left the temple feeling empowered to tackle whatever challenges life had in store for me that week. Then—almost on the turn of a dime, as it seemed to my teenage self—the temples closed. And then school closed. Doors were shutting everywhere I turned. It seemed surreal, but my world was crashing down, and just at the moment when I longed more than anything to be in the temple, I was forced to remain in my home.

Putting Trials into Perspective through Service

by Lyndie Jackson

“I have loved reading Wilford’s journals and letters,” says Susanne Price. “They have given me a personal glimpse of Wilford Woodruff’s life and remarkable character, as well as a glimpse of church history through his eyes.”

Susanne, who volunteers with the Wilford Woodruff Papers Foundation, works on marking inspirational and valuable quotes in Wilford Woodruff’s writings. She has enjoyed studying the experiences of Wilford Woodruff and his family throughout the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and sharing these insights with the public.

Wilford Woodruff: A House Built upon a Rock of Faith

by Jordan Woodruff Clements

One of the great challenges of our age is for members to remain committed to their covenants, notwithstanding opposition and adversity. As a leader among young adults for many years, I have observed some members conclude that because of challenges in their lives, God’s plan and promises don’t work. The life of Wilford Woodruff provides overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

His life was filled with adversity, especially during those periods immediately prior to leading great advances in the growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His life stands as a witness to the blessings that come to the “wise man, which buil[ds] his house upon a rock” of faith in Jesus Christ.

Yes, My Native Land I Love Thee

by Katlyn Linville

In a handwritten hymnbook from 1835, we find a song which Wilford called the “New Missionary Hymn.” More commonly known as “Yes, My Native Land I Love Thee,” the hymn expresses the sentiment of leaving home—a place familiar, beautiful, and loved—to travel to distant lands with the purpose of preaching the gospel of Christ.

Peace, Be Still

by Lexie Bailey

Paralyzed. Unable to breathe. Lying on the floor. The news was devastating. I thought my life was over. What is life without my children? The fear of losing them in a custody battle had overcome me and I was having a panic attack. The only thing that pulled me out of the depths of despair was hope—hope that this was not the end, hope that the Lord was with me and that with Him all things are possible. With this hope came peace. The sort of peace that can only come from Jesus Christ.

Building Latter-Day Faith: A Conference You Won’t Want to Miss

by Kristy Taylor and Maddie Christensen

Wilford Woodruff kept a journal from the time of his baptism at the close of 1833 until his death in 1898, saying, “I have ever been impressed . . . of the deep importance of keeping a journal and record of the dealings of God with his people.” His 65 years of records comprise more than 115,000 written pages (26,000 of which have been located), left to us as journals, letters, discourses, autobiographies, and personal papers. These records document a large part of the early Restoration of the gospel and reveal the process of faith and dedication that was required to establish the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

God Chooses the Weak Things of This World

by Karen Dupaix

Over the past few years, I’ve volunteered with the Wilford Woodruff Papers, finding inspirational quotes in the writings of Wilford Woodruff. In a talk given on May 15, 1892, he said ...