Hi my name is Erin Hills and I’m a Senior Research assistant for the Wilford Woodruff papers. Today, I am on a ferry traveling to North Haven, formerly known as the North Fox Island. 

In the spring of 1837, Wilford Woodruff was called to serve a mission to New England. As he traveled with his missionary companion, Jonathan Hale, the two men felt inspired to focus much of their efforts on the Fox Islands of Maine. Many of the island people listened to the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Some left the islands and traveled to Nauvoo, others stayed on the islands, or moved elsewhere.

Then, on June 23, 1849 Wilford Woodruff went back to the island and recorded in his journal, "It is an exceeding hot day as was yesterday. Twelve years ago I brought the Gospel to this Island in company with Jonathan H. Hale I spent a year upon this Island and baptized near a hundred persons and took about 60 persons with me & my family to Quincy.  Since I was upon this Island before, I have crossed the Atlantic four times [a]nd traveled in all about 50,000 miles and I now find my- [s]elf treading this soil again to visit the few remaining Saints that they may be gathered to Zion.”

It is so special for me to be on this island where Wilford Woodruff shared the gospel so many years ago. Where have you been able to share the gospel?