Wilford Woodruff, His Life and Labors

In summing up his own life a few years before his death, Wilford Woodruff said:


“From the beginning of my ministry in 1834 until the close of 1895 I have traveled in all 172,369 miles; held 7,655 meetings; preached 3,526 discourses; organized 51 branches of the Church and 77 preaching places; my journeys cover England, Scotland, Wales, and 23 states and 5 territories of the Union. My life abounds in incidents which to me surely indicate the direct inter-position of God whom I firmly believe has guided my every step. On 27 distinct occasions I have been saved from dangers which threatened my life. I am the father of 17 sons and 16 daughters. I have a posterity of 100 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.”


This lion of the Lord lived through, and chronicled his experiences, in nearly eveny significant event in the early history of the church. From Zion’s Camp, through his many missions in the United States and United Kingdom, during the Missouri and Nauvoo periods, across the plains, throughout the early years in the Salt Lake Valley and the building of three temples, and during his time as the president of the Church which included the revelations and Official Declaration that ended the practice of plural marriage. President Woodruff and the journals he kept are one of the most important sources we have for so much of important Church history. 


This wonderful volume was writted by Elder Matthias F. Cowley and published in 1909 under the auspices of the Woodruff Family Foundation. The original dedication reads:


TO HIS NUMEROUS AND EVER INCREASING FAMILY, 

AND TO ALL WHO LOVE THE NAME AND MEMORY OF 

PRES. WILFORD WOODRUFF 

THIS WORK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED


Missionaries, priesthood leaders, lovers of Church history, and anyone with an interest in the lives of early Church leaders and prophets will enjoy the marvelous experiences shared in this book. It has greatly strengthened my faith, and I hope it will do the same for yours.