-editukx9hr2.png)
Birth and Childhood
Born on March 1, 1807, Wilford Woodruff was the third son of Aphek and Beulah Woodruff. His mother died of spotted fever when he was only fifteen months old, and he was raised by his father’s second wife, Azubah Hart. He spent the first 25 years of his life in Connecticut and, following his father’s footsteps, became a miller by trade. In 1832 he moved to New York where he and his brothers purchased land and a mill on Grindstone Creek.
Baptism and Conversion
Wilford Woodruff was introduced to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on December 29, 1833, when he heard two missionaries share their testimonies in a schoolhouse near his home. After their sermon, the two missionaries invited those in attendance to share their feelings for or against what they had heard. Wilford immediately stood because, in his words, “The spirit of the Lord urged me to bear testimony to the truth of the message delivered by . . . true servants of God. They had preached to us that night the pure gospel of Jesus Christ.” Wilford asked to be baptized the following day
Missions
After Wilford Woodruff was baptized, he spent ten of the next sixteen years as a missionary and mission president, sharing the truths of the restored gospel. Between 1835 and 1850 he served seven missions, first to the Southern states, then to the Fox Islands off the coast of Maine. It was while serving in Maine that he received the call to the apostleship, and in 1839 he left for England with other members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to share the gospel in the British Isles for two years. He returned to England in 1844 with his wife Phebe to preside over the missionary efforts throughout Europe. His seventh assignment was to the eastern United States from 1848 to 1850. Wilford is regarded as one of the greatest missionaries in the history of the Church. Further, he also assisted in extending mission calls to thousands as the President of the Church, and throughout his Church service, he assisted in setting apart over 5,550 missionaries.
Church Callings and Contributions
After Wilford Woodruff was baptized, he spent ten of the next sixteen years as a missionary and mission president, sharing the truths of the restored gospel. Between 1835 and 1850 he served seven missions, first to the Southern states, then to the Fox Islands off the coast of Maine. It was while serving in Maine that he received the call to the apostleship, and in 1839 he left for England with other members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to share the gospel in the British Isles for two years. He returned to England in 1844 with his wife Phebe to preside over the missionary efforts throughout Europe. His seventh assignment was to the eastern United States from 1848 to 1850. Wilford is regarded as one of the greatest missionaries in the history of the Church. Further, he also assisted in extending mission calls to thousands as the President of the Church, and throughout his Church service, he assisted in setting apart over 5,550 missionaries.
Death
Wilford firmly believed in revelation and the role of prophets but did not expect or exemplify perfection in either. He simply wanted to remain faithful so that at the close of his earthly probation, he would know he had done the best he could and, acting up to the best light he had, be welcomed into the kingdom of God. He delivered his final conference address on April 10, 1898. The previous year, he had celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the Saints’ arrival in the Salt Lake Valley, and his final public appearance on July 25, 1898, was at the dedication of Pioneer Park, the site of the fort he helped build in 1847. At the age of 91, six weeks after the dedication, he died in San Francisco, California, on September 2, 1898.
Enter your email to receive additional insights about Wilford Woodruff in your inbox.
