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Church History Library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
Collection Name | Wilford Woodruff journals and papers, 1828-1898 |
Collection Description | Wilford Woodruff journal, 1886 January-1892 December |
Collection Number | MS 1352 |
Collection Page | 1-474 |
Source Link | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
Rights and Use | Copyright and Use Information |
Transcript | View Full Transcript |
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Brother Franklin D Richards came in and Anounced that Our Office was all surrounded by a body of Marshals I imediately locked up my Papers in a draw[er] Put on my overshues hung up my overcoat and took a survey of our position I saw we had some 20 Marshals surrounded the Gardo House & Our office, and there was No Escape Brother Erastus Snow & myself were the ownly two Persons that they would be liable to arest we went up into a small Bed Room & locked ourselves in & we were there an hour watching the Marshals guarding outside while others were searching the Gardo House they searched that Building from top to Bottom also the Lion & Behive House & President Offices and were searching the Tithing Office and after we had Been shut up an hour in our little bed Room like two Rats in a trap we thought it was not wisdom for us to be go caught in that Brother Milando Pratt thought they were about to search the office Brother Snow & myself then went down into the Lower Room occupied By F D Richards we saw the front of the Office occupied By the Marshals I saw we had got to take some desperate chance and But Little time to do it in the Marshals wer all around & many were gath[er]ing in the streets At first the Brethren seemed to think that one of the Brethren had better drvive a Buggy up to the door
It is confirmed to day that George Q Cannon is arested & in the Hands of the Marshals we are in the Midst of a National Persecution The United States Government is making war upon the Latter Day Saints Judgment is begining at the House of God But if the Saints suffer for their Religion our Persecuters will suffer for ther sins Great things await this Generation Behold the signs of the times watch for the coming of the Son of Man
Jan 1, 1887 we have commenced another important year in the History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This New Years Day finds scores of the Leading Men of the Church in prision and the Presidency & Twelve & many others in Exile for obeying the Law of God. The saints have been mobed, & persecuted by towns counties & States and the general Government has united together to Mob the saints under the form of Law and they are depriving the Latter day Saints of all Civil Religious & political rights which the Constitution guarantees unto us and to for our religion Earth & Hell with the priests & people of this Nation are uniting together to try to destroy the Church of Christ & the Zion & Kingdom of God from off the Earth. But the God of Israel still reigns and He will protect the Righteous and Defend his kingdom and fulfill his promises whare the End of this year will find the presidency & 12 Apostles of the Church & myself in particular time will determine
I dreamed last night that the L D Saints were holding a [FIGURES] great Conference at Salt Lake City at the great Temple and thousands of Mechanics were laboring hard to finish the Temple I was requested to open the Conference As I was an Exile and they might not have me with them long the [FIGURE] Key of the Temple was given me to open it As I went to the door A large company were assembbled and I overtook President Brigham Young and He asked what the matter was with the great company at the Door some one Ans[were]d the Elders did not want to Let the people into the Temple He said oh, oh, oh and turned to me & said let all all into the Temple who seek for Salvation I saw several who were Dead and among the Number my wife Phebe I Believe there is some meaning to this dream
I was sealed to day at the Altar in the Temple for 37 couple of Dead friends total in the two days 73 couple I find I have still after this date 265 more dead friends to get Endowments fo[r] to finish up my record for 3200 souls for my Father & Mothers House for the Woodruff Hart & Thompson families. it has been among the most pleasing and important Labor of my life to accomplish this work
President John Taylor DIED 5 Minutes to 8 oclok P. M. July 25, 1887 Aged 78 Years 8 Months, & 24 days Thus another President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has passed away President John Taylor is twice a Marter at the Death of the Prophet Joseph & Hyrum Smith in Carthage Jail He was shot with four Balls & Mingled his Blood with the Martered Prophets This was in 1844. Now in 1887 Now He is Driven into Exile By the United States officers for his religion untill through his confinement and suffering He lays down his life and suffers Death
July 25 1887 [FIGURES] President John Taylor Died to day at 5 Minuts to 8 oclk which Lays the responsibility of the care of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints upon my shoulders as President of the Church or President of the Twelve Apostles which is the presiding authority of the Church in the Absens of the first Presidency, this places me in a vary Peculiar situation A Position I have never looked for during my life But in the Providence of God it is laid upon me, And I pray God my Heavenly Father to give me Grace Equil to my Day, it is a High and responsible position for any Man to occupy and a position that Needs great wisdom
Bishop Edward Hunter in several instances said I should outlive President Taylor and be president of the Church I chashed him on those occasions, and asked him not to Prophesy to me upon that subject He said Nevertheless it was true. It certainly has come to Pass And I can ownly say Marvelous are thy ways O Lord God Almighty, For thou has certainly chosen the weak thing of this world to perform thy work on the Earth. May thy servant Wilford be prepared for whatever awaits him on Earth and have power to perform whatever is required at his hands by the God of Heaven, I ask this Blessing of my Heavenly Father in the Name of Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God
W Woodruff Expressed his views upon the present Position of Affairs and the authority of the Twelve Apostles, that they presided in all the world when there was No first Presidency and when there was a first Presidency the Apostls presided in all the world whare the first Presidency were not. A Vote was taken to reinstate George Q Cannon & Joseph F Smith into their former place into the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
I have been in the Church 54 years last December I pray the Lord to give me power to finish my labors on the Earth in a way and Manner that will be Acceptable unto Him The United States Government are now siezing the Church property through a receiver and what the End will be God ownly Knows May his will be done
In company with F D Richards G Q Cannon & several Brethren I visited Erastus Snow who was considered almost in a Dying condition G Q Cannon Anointed him & we laid hands upon him and I was Mouth and I rebuked the power of Death and the Destroyer and commanded it to Depart from him in the Name of the Lord
I felt to thank God that I had lived on the Earth to once More have the privilege of Dedicating another Temple in the Rocky Mountains unto the Most High God And I Pray God my Eternal Father that He will protect the Manti Temple and all other Temples we have buuilt in these unto His Holy Name that they may Never go into the Hands of the Gentiles our Enemies to be defiled by them
May 18, 1888 ~ Friday 18 [FIGURE] We Met in the upper room & I set Daniel H Wells Apart to Preside over the Temple L Snow set apart Lund to be his Assistant. After considerable conversation we bid ade to All in the Temple. Before leaving I consecrated upon the Altar the seers stone that Joseph Smith found by Revelation some 30 feet under the Earth carried By him through life
Thus The Apostle Erastus Snow has left us, and gone into the spirit world to Join with the rest of the Apostles He making the Twelfth Apostle who has died in the Church since our Arival into these vallies on the 27 July 1847 My turn must soon come I Pray God I may be prepared for that solemn Event, which awaits us all. I feel left almost alone, as I am the ownly Man living who was An Apostle in the days of Joseph the Prophet
This day commenses a New year. 1888 is past and gone and borne its report to Heaven of all Men. what 1889 will bring to Pass time must Determin. Darkness covers the Earth, & gross Darkness the People And the warfare of Priest & People is still against the Church & Kingdom of God on the Earth. There is an Exertion made in Washington to get Utah Admitted into the Union as a state with the other Territories but there is a strong opposition to it by our Enemies.
April 5, 1889 ~ Friday 5th April 11 of the Twelve Apostles met in Council [FIGURES] and we organized the first Presidency By Apointing Wilford Woodruff President & George Q Cannon & Joseph F Smith Councillers
] Wilford Woodruff was Appointed President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints April 7 1889 This 7 day of April 1839 [1889] was one of the most important days of my life, for upon this sabbath day I was Appointed The President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter [day] Saints by the Unanimous vote of Ten Thousand Latter Day Saints. The vote was first taken By Quorums, then by the whole Assembly of the Saints of God, Then my Two Councillors George Q Cannon, & Joseph F Smith, were voted in in the same Manner This is the Highest office Ever Confered upon Man in the flesh And what a responsibility it places upon me or any other Man in the same Position This office is placed upon me in my 83, year of my ^life^ I pray toGod to Proteck me during my remaining Days, and give me power to Magnify my calling to the End of my days The Lord has watched over me from my birth untill the present day. I wish to council my wives & children & whoever may read this Journal to honor God & keep his Commandments to the End of their lives that they may receive Eternal Life & Celestial Glory in the presence of God and the Lamb.
Nov 24, 1889. Revelation given to Wilford Woodruff, Sunday Nov 24, 1889. Thus Saith the Lord, to my servant Wilford, I the Lord have heard thy prayers and thy request, and will answer thee by the voice of my spirit. Thus Saith the Lord, unto my servants the Presidency of my church, who hold the Keys of the Kingdom of God on this earth, I the Lord hold the destiny of the courts in your midst, and the destiny of this nation, and all other nations of the earth in mine own hands, and all that I have revealed, and promised and decreed concerning the generation in which you live, shall come to pass, and no power shall stay my hand. Let not my servants who are called to the Presidency of my church, deny my word or my law, which concerns the salvation of the children of men. Let them pray for the Holy Spirit, which shall be given them to guide them in their acts. Place not yourselves in jeopardy to your enemies by promise, your enemies seek your distruction and the distructions of my people. If the Saints will hearken unto my voice, and the counsel of my servants, the wicked shall not prevail. Let my servants, who officiate as your counselors before the courts, make their pleadings as they are moved upon by the Holy spirit, without any further pledges from the Priesthood. I the Lord will hold the courts, with the officers of government, and the nation responsible for their acts towards the inhabitants of Zion. I, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, am in your midst. I am your advocate with the Father. Fear not little flock, it is your father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Fear not the wicked and ungodly. Search the scriptures, for they are they which testify of me, also those revelations which I have given to my servant Joseph, and to all my servants since the world began, which are recorded in the records of divine truths. Those revelations contain the judgments of God, which are to be poured out upon all nations under the heavens, which include Great Babylon. These judg- ments are at the door, they will be fulfilled as God lives. Leave judgment with me, it is mine saith the Lord. Watch the signs of the times, and they will show the fulfillment of the words of the Lord. Let my servants call upon the Lord in mighty prayer; retain the Holy Ghost as your constant com- panion, and act as you are moved upon by that spirit, and all will be well with you. The wicked are fast ripening in iniquity, and they will be cut off by the judgments of God. Great events await you and this generation, and are nigh at your doors. Awake, O, Israel, and have faith in God, and His promises, and he will not forsake you. I the Lord will deliver my Saints from the dominion of the wicked, in mine own due time and way. I cannot deny my word, neither in blessing nor judgments. Therefore let mine Anointed gird up their loins, watch and be sober, and keep my commandments. Pray always and faint not; exercise faith in the Lord and in the promises of God; be valient in the testimony of Jesus Christ. The eyes of the Lord and the Heavenly Hosts are watching over you and your acts. Therefore be faithful until I come. I come quickly to reward every man according to the deeds done in the body. Even so, amen.
Thus Ends the year 1889 And the word of the Prophet Joseph Smith is begining to be fulfilled that the whole Nation would turn against Zion & make war upon the Saints. The Nation has never been filled so full of lies against the Saints as to Day 1890 will be an important year with the Latter Day Saints & the American Nation
May 19, 1890 ~ Monday May 19. The Spupreme Court of the United States Decided to day Against the Church of Jesus Christ of latter Day Saints. They Decided to Escheat all the Church Property Real & Personal This is turning the last [FIGURE] [key] that will seal the condemnation of this Nation
September 25, 1890 ~ Friday 25 I sigdned 34 Recommends & Receivd 19 Letters [FIGURES] I have arived at a point in the History of my life as the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints whare I am under the necessity of acting for the Temporal Salvation of the Church. The United State Government has taken a stand & passed Laws to destroy the Latter day Saints upon the subject of poligamy or Patriarchal order of Maraiage. And after Praying to the Lord & feeling inspired by his spirit I have issued the following Proclamation which is sustaind by My Councillors and the 12 Apostles
Jan 1, 1891 This is New Years day And the year that has been looked upon by many as one of the most important years of the world. There is a combination of all the wicked Men & Devels through the press and pulpit to destroy the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day from off the Earth Wickedness of Every kind is increasing throughout the World
I wish to make the following remarks upon the principal of Revelation. Some had thought that Revelation had sceased, But this is not the case The Lord is with us & gives us Revelation. But I will say for myself that I wish to Avoid saying Thus Saith the Lord as far as I can when I give the will of the Lord to the people In the Days of Joseph Smith it was "Thus saith the Lord almost Daily untill the Revelations now embodied in the Book of Doctrins & Covenants had Been given, Since that day President Brigham Young John Taylor & myself have seldom used the words (Thus saith ^the^ Lord) when giving the word of the Lord to the people. In the 68 Sec of the Book of D & C we are informed that
April 6, 1892 ^[FIGURES]^ This was the Most interesting day in some respects the Church has Ever Seen since its organization The Temple Cap Stone was laid with imposing ceremonies with Electricity by President Wilford Woodruff it was Judged there was 50000 on the Temple Grounds At 10 oclok The Big Tabernacle was crouded to its utmost capacity The Meeting was Addressed By G Q Cannon & Lorenzo Snow The Latter instructed the congregation in the ceremony of the shout of Hosannah which was repeated several times The following is taken from the Salt Lake Herald President Woodruff made the following Address. If there is any on the face of the Earth that will Attract the Attention of the God of Heaven and the Heavenly hosts it is the one before us to day The Assembling of the people, the shout of Hosannah, the laying of the Top Stone of the Temple of our God * we want to finish the Temple as soon as we can so we can Dedicate it to God so we can go to work therein & Redeem the Dead. At the close of the Meeting in the Tabernacle we went out By Cuorums took our place upon the stands And the whole Temple Block was covered with some 50000 human beings After singing & Prayer the reporter says That Wilford Woodruff President seer & Revelator of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in all the world bearing well the four score and and five years, and thirty 7 days have passed over his head. then arose and raising both hands to heaven proclaimed with a loud voice Harken all ye House of Israel And All ye Nations of the Earth, we will now lay the top Stone of the Temple of our God
President Lorenzo Snow then arose and preaching to the front of the platform and waving a large silk hankerchiefs was Joined by the multitude in shouting Hosann, Hosanna, Hosanna To God and the Lamb Amen Amen and Amen This repeated three times This was performed by some 40,000 persons with the waving of the white handkercheifs This was the most impressive scene of the day After some more music the great congregation was dismissed It was the largest Assembly I Ever saw meet on any occasion of the Latter Day Saints The likenesses of the vast Assembly And the Temple & the cap stone with Moroni blowing the gospel Trump all published in Salt Lake Herald of April 7, 1892 This was certainly the greatest Day the Latter Day Saints Ever saw in these Mountains