Wilford Woodruff, a prominent missionary and the third president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, shaped much of the denomination's modern temple doctrine and missionary practices during his 91-year life. From his conversion in 1833 to his death in 1898, Woodruff's leadership included significant administrative changes, including the end of plural marriage and the restructuring of family sealing ordinances.
Early Conversion and Missionary Service
Woodruff's religious journey began on December 29, 1833, when he heard two missionaries sharing their testimonies in a schoolhouse near his home. According to the Wilford Woodruff Papers, Woodruff immediately stood to bear testimony to the message, stating that the spirit of the Lord urged him to testify to the truth of the message delivered by true servants of God. He requested baptism the following day.
A Lifelong Missionary
Following his baptism, Woodruff dedicated much of his life to missionary work, serving seven missions between 1835 and 1850. His assignments included service in the Southern States and the Fox Islands off the coast of Maine. During his time in Maine, he received a call to the apostleship, which led to a two-year assignment in the British Isles starting in 1839 alongside other members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He returned to England in 1844 with his wife, Phebe, to oversee missionary efforts across Europe, before completing his seventh assignment in the eastern United States from 1848 to 1850.
Extensive Travels and Ordinations
Woodruff's impact on the church's mission was characterized by immense physical and oratorical dedication. Between 1834 and 1898, he traveled over 180,000 miles, sometimes traveling up to 60 miles a day on foot. His travels spanned 34 states in the United States and included trips to Canada, England, Scotland, and Wales. Throughout his service, he preached almost 3,600 discourses and participated in the ordination of approximately 11,000 men to various offices within the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods, including nine Apostles.
Foundations of Temple Doctrine
A central theme of Woodruff's life was the development and implementation of temple ordinances. During his tenure presiding over the St. George Utah Temple from 1877 to 1884, Woodruff and Brigham Young administered ordinances for both the living and the dead for the first time in that dispensation. This period provided a focused opportunity for revelation, and the practices codified in the St. George temple were later replicated in the temples built in Logan, Manti, and Salt Lake City.
Policy and Organizational Changes
Woodruff's leadership also oversaw major shifts in church policy and organization. He was sustained as President of the Church on April 7, 1889. In 1890, following inspiration he received, he wrote the Manifesto to end the practice of plural marriage. Furthermore, in April 1894, Woodruff received a revelation regarding the Law of Adoption and generational family sealings, which led to a complete restructuring of sealing ordinances. His administrative reach also included overseeing the organization of the Utah Genealogical Society later in 1894.
Final Years and Legacy
Wilford Woodruff's life concluded in San Francisco, California, where he died on September 2, 1898, at the age of 91. His final public appearance occurred on July 25, 1898, at the dedication of Pioneer Park, a site for the fort he helped build in 1847. His final conference address was delivered on April 10, 1898.
Preserving the Historical Record
The historical record of Woodruff's life is preserved through the Wilford Woodruff Papers, a collection of all extant documents written by him or to him that have been digitized. This collection includes 12,791 letters, 890 discourses, 15 journals, 15 daybooks, and 16 autobiographies. The project aims to provide an eyewitness account of the unfolding Restoration through his unique perspective.
