Volunteer Spotlight: Anna Buis

by Lyndie Jackson

“Volunteers at the Wilford Woodruff Papers Foundation are the bread and butter of the effort to bring Wilford's work to light,” said Anna Buis.

Anna, a volunteer researching Wilford Woodruff's ancestors who lived during the colonial era, joined the Project to maintain the research skills she learned at BYU–Idaho and to be part of a meaningful project connected to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She found the opportunity to volunteer through social media and didn’t hesitate to offer her help.

The Impact of Quiet Miracles

by Christian Decker

When I was a child, many of my favorite scripture stories involved dramatic miracles like those that Moses performed, stories that would excite my imagination and fill me with wonder. Whether it was the parting of the Red Sea, feeding of the 5,000, the fiery furnace of Nebuchadnezzar, or the protection granted to the stripling warriors, I knew from a young age that nothing was impossible with the Lord’s aid. I saw myself as inheriting the miracles of Adam, Moses, Elijah, Peter, John, Joseph, Wilford, and all the other Saints throughout time.

Faith and Imperfection: Wilford Woodruff's Witness

by Ed Evans

Have you ever had an experience in which your life changed course, permanently and positively? In these pivotal moments when the threads of your life come together and strengthen you, when you are given power beyond your own to move forward, you can become more confident and trusting in your own faith. Reading Jennifer Mackley’s book Wilford Woodruff’s Witness: The Development of Temple Doctrine was one of these moments for me.

Straightway They Forsook Their Nets and Followed Him

by Krystyna Hales

“And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.”¹ I love this passage. Jesus said come and straightway they came. They dropped what they were doing and followed.

Since learning more about Wilford Woodruff’s life and his faithfulness to the gospel of Jesus Christ, I’ve been humbled and inspired by how he responded to the invitations from, and calls to, the Savior. One such example was his first introduction to the restored gospel.

The Baptist, the Apostle, and Wilford Woodruff: “We have found the Messias”

by Kristy Taylor

The Apostle John the Beloved presents a humble yet powerful witness of the Savior in the Gospel of John. He begins with repeated testimonies of the Savior’s divine mission, both his own testimony and that of John the Baptist. Eric D. Huntsman, Brigham Young University professor of Ancient Scripture, explained that “beyond his friendship with the Savior, other passages reveal [the Apostle John] as a powerful witness of the most important events of Jesus’s mission: he stood at the foot of the cross to witness the Lord’s death as a sacrifice for sin, ran to the tomb after the Resurrection to confirm that it was empty, and saw the resurrected Savior.”

Historic Nonprofit Moving to the Next Level

by Maddie Christensen

This winter, three new board members will add a wealth of knowledge and experience to take an innovative nonprofit to the next level. LeGrand R. Curtis Jr., recently released Church Historian and Recorder and emeritus General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has volunteered to serve on the Board of Directors for the Wilford Woodruff Papers Foundation. Brad Sawyer, Senior Vice President at Merrill Lynch, a Bank of America company, is also joining the team to assist on the Development and Finance Committees.

Volunteer Work Guided By the Spirit

by Lyndie Jackson

“I love genealogical work because it provides a unique experience of continual guidance and inspiration from the Holy Ghost and from the other side of the veil,” commented Kristy Thieme.

After volunteering for the Wilford Woodruff Papers for a little over a year, Kristy was offered a position as a Research Assistant. In this role, she researches and shares information on the many people Wilford mentioned in his journals while he was serving a mission in England.

We Are Responsible for Our Own Learning

by Jacob Edmunds

In his opening remarks at general conference in October 2018, President Russell M. Nelson declared, “It is time for a home-centered Church, supported by what takes place inside our branch, ward, and stake buildings.” Elder Quentin L. Cook then announced adjustments to our Sunday meeting schedule and introduced a new home-study resource called “Come, Follow Me.”  These changes were made to deepen our conversion to Jesus Christ and encourage us to take responsibility for our own gospel learning.

"We have waited for Him, and He will save us"

by Ellie Hancock

“We have waited for Him, and He will save us.” 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.

Wilford Woodruff Papers Basis for New Editions of Wilford Woodruff’s Witness

by Maddie Christensen